Originally Published in Christian Headlines More than 100 Chinese police officers and SWAT team members closed a newly constructed church and beat dozens of Christians who were guarding it, and then buried Bibles and hymnbooks before leaving. The incident in Henan – China’s third largest province – took place in […]
Asia
Brunei adopts Sharia law — conversion from Islam carries death penalty
Originally published in Open Doors USA Yesterday, the full extent of Sharia law goes into effect in Brunei. The newest and third phase of the law is difficult news for Christian converts who are expected to have to go into deeper hiding in the small Sultan-ruled country on the Southeast […]
Hindu push in Nepal reminiscent of India extremism
Originally published in Mission Network News A group in Nepal is calling for the nation to once again return to a Hindu state. The pro-Hindu Rastriya Prajatantra Party recently launched an initiative in each province to push its pro-Hindu agenda in the country. Currently, Nepal is a secular republic, but […]
More than 100 underground churches planted in North Korea last year
By Mark Ellis –Originally published in God Reports More than 100 underground house churches were planted in North Korea by North Koreans, with some trained in China, according to a report by Cornerstone Ministries International. “I was surprised to see what God did in 2018,” says Peter Kim, with Cornerstone. […]
Pakistan Supreme Court sets date to review Asia Bibi’s acquittal
Originally published in Persecution.org Pakistan’s Supreme Court has announced that it will hear arguments regarding a petition to review Asia Bibi’s acquittal on Tuesday January 29. The news has left many Pakistani Christians worried that the court will give into pressure from extremists calling for Bibi to be executed. The […]
China bans Zion, Beijing’s biggest house church
Originally published in Christianity Today Beijing authorities threatened to close Zion Church last month after the 1 500-member congregation, one of the Chinese capital’s largest house churches, refused to install surveillance cameras in its sanctuary. After services on Sunday, officials delivered on their threat to the unofficial Protestant congregation, which […]
Two Christians sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy
Originally published in Premier Brothers from Lahore have been sentenced to death after posting on a website in 2011. Qasir and Amoon are said to have posted disrespectful material on their own website, after which they fled Lahore for four years but then returned. Their case was heard by the […]
US blacklists Pakistan over religious freedom
Originally published in Faith Wire Earlier this week, Pakistan was added to the list of Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act in light of the landmark blasphemy case against Christian mother Asia Bibi. “In far too many places across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, […]
Chinese Christians: We will ‘stand strong’
Originally published in Baptist Press News As China continues to hunt down and arrest members of a house church in Sichuan Province, many of the 100 or more Christians arrested reportedly pledged in advance to persevere even until death. Gina Goh, Southeast Asia regional manager for International Christian Concern, said […]
Asia Bibi ‘hunted door-to-door’
Originally published in Assist News Supporters appeal for Asia Bibi and her family to be given asylum PAKISTAN (ANS – Nov. 23, 2018) — The family of Asia Bibi, the Christian woman who spent eight years on death row in Pakistan for blasphemy before being acquitted three weeks ago, claim […]