Asia

China intensifies crackdown, removing Christian symbols

Originally published in Charisma News The Chinese Communist Party has made efforts to exercise control of the churches in China, replacing Christian images with pictures of President Xi Jinping. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom released a report on the matter, saying the Chinese government has “implemented the coercive ‘sinicisation of […]

Christian mother sentenced to death in Pakistan for blasphemy

A Christian mother of four children on Wednesday received the death sentence after a judge convicted her under Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, her attorney said. Shagufta Kiran, 40, was convicted under Section 295-C of Pakistan’s widely-condemned blasphemy laws for insulting Muhammad, the prophet of Islam, which carries a mandatory death sentence. […]

Indonesia to normalise relations with Israel

Originally published in Worthy Christian News Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim nation, is to normalise relations with Israel, well-informed Israeli sources said on Thursday. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) secretary-general Mathias Cormann informed Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz about Indonesia’s plans, Worthy News learned. Katz, in a letter […]

Vietnamese man given four-and-a-half years in prison for hosting prayer meetings

Originally published in Premier Christian News A 48-year-old Vietnamese Montagnard Christian, Nay Y Blang, has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison for conducting prayer meetings in his home. A member of the Central Highlands Evangelical Church of Christ, Blang was convicted on January 26 without access to legal representation. […]