Middle East

Egypt bans 55 000 mosque preachers

Originally published in WND Around 55,000 unlicensed clerics in Egypt will be barred from preaching in mosques, the country’s minister of religious endowments said on Tuesday. The move is the latest against supporters and sympathizers of deposed Islamist President Mohammad Morsi. The minister, Mohammad Mokhtar Gomaa, said the clerics lack […]

Christian leaders in Middle East largely opposed to US military strike in Syria, says WEA

Originally published in Christian Post Christian leaders in the Middle East believe that a US military intervention in Syria will have a “detrimental effect” on Christians in the region, Geoff Tunnicliffe of the World Evangelical Alliance said in a statement to the White House on Thursday. Tunnicliffe, who serves as […]

Syrian Christians attacked by Al-Qaeda-linked group, churches shelled, orphans flee to caves

Originally published in Christian Post An Al-Qaeda-linked Syrian rebel group has attacked the small, historically Christian village of Maaloula on Wednesday. Early Wednesday morning, a suicide bomber blew himself up at a government checkpoint entrance to the village. The fighter was believed to be a member of the Jabhat al-Nusra […]

Syria could become another Iraq on religious freedom, says retired army man

By Michael Gryboski — Originally published in Christian Post A retired Army lieutenant colonel with years of experience in the Pentagon believes that American involvement in Syria could have results similar to the Iraq War on religious freedom. Lt. Col. Robert L. Maginnis, who presently serves as senior fellow for […]

Iran rejects jailed US pastor’s appeal

Originally published in CBN News An Iranian court has rejected the appeal of Saeed Abedini, the American pastor jailed in Iran for his Christian faith, according the American Center for Law and Justice. In a “devastating” blow to Abedini’s family, the ACLJ said the Tehran court refused to reduce the […]

Iranian Christian man jailed for distributing Gospel

Originally published in Aruts 7 An Iranian convert from Islam to Christianity has been sentenced to a decade in prison for proselytizing, the Christian news network Agenzia Fides reports. The man, Mohammed-Hadi “Mostafa” Bordbar, was officially charged with “crimes against state security.” Bordbar had previously faced criminal charges for converting […]

Christians in Iran jailed for ‘propaganda’

US pastor marks 300 days in Tehran prison Originally published in Baptist Press Eight Iranian Christians were charged with “action against the national security” and “propaganda against the system” recently after being arrested in a raid of an evening prayer service, evidence of ongoing persecution of Christians in Iran. The […]