24
January
USCIRF Condemns Harsh Sentence for Christian Bookseller in China
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) condemns the harsh and disproportionate sentence handed down to Chinese Christian bookseller Chen Yu.
24
January
Attacks on Christian churches at Christmas in Nigeria results in death and destruction
We need to keep reminding the world of the impact of hatred – Boko Haram continues its campaign of viciousness
06
January
A region in Sudan is allowing the construction of church buildings
The Governor of Sudan’s Gezira state, Abdalla Ali Ahmed Idriss, has authorized the construction of four church buildings and has granted land for the construction, in what is a unique historic development.
05
January
Treasure Hunters Damage Chapel in Turkey
Turkey now has a dubious reputation for limiting rights of religious and cultural minorities. Rhetoric used by political figures appears to validate social perceptions about Christians that lead to treasure hunting and other types of challenges.
04
January
Indonesia Bans Hardline Muslim Group FPI
The security minister of Indonesia has announced that the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) was being disbanded for violating the law and disrupting peace and security.
31
December
Hindu temple demolished in Pakistan province
Another example of the failure of Pakistan to put in place the controls to limit extremism.
30
December
USCIRF Calls for Release of Ramy Kamel
Coptic activist Ramy Kamel was arrested in late 2019 by Egyptian authorities and has been held in pretrial detention since. This call for his release comes following news of his rapidly declining health.
30
December
Legal Restrictions to Religious Freedom in Brunei
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has done a series of excellent reports on specific nations and their activities on religious freedom. Here is a recent Spotlight episode on Brunei
19
December
Intolerance in India continues to grow
The failure of government leaders to condemn acts of violence on minorities has contributed to growing fears amongst faith groups.
Government officials in Shanxi’s Taiyuan city destroyed a temple’s religious books and threw them to the trash.
15
December
The Chinese government has turned up the pressure on Christians withing China
After banning anyone under 18 from even entering a church building they are now going after printed material. Books that were previously published are now being used as evidence to sentence printers and authors to long term prison sentence.
14
December
Boko Haram claims attack in Niger that killed dozens
Attacks by Boko Haram in northeastern spread to neighbouring countries such as Niger, Cameroon and Chad. Here is the account of a preChristmas attack in Niger
14
December
Christmas in China’s prison cells
Here is a tribute to so many in China who were paying a price this Christmas for their courage.
09
December
It's Time to Get Concerned About Russia
Russian persecution of religious minorities has continued to accelerate over the last year. While the evidence is abundant, the consequences have been minimal and Russia has only accelerated its persecution in recent years.
09
December
Detention of human rights defender Ramy Kamel
On 27 February 2020, the Criminal Court of Cairo rejected the appeal of human rights defender Ramy Kamel and renewed his detention for an additional 15 days. The human rights defender has been detained since 23 November 2019.
08
December
Extremist Group Arrests Villagers in Syria
Although the Yazidi community had suffered immense persecution at the hands of ISIS, their safety is not assured even as people return to the area in which the once lived as other groups move and continue persecution.
Arzoo Raja, 13-year-old Christian girl in Karachi, and Ali Azhar on far right. (Photo released by Sindh government)
23
November
Parents Denied Custody of Allegedly Kidnapped Daughter
A high court in Pakistan has ruled that a 13-year-old Catholic girl allegedly abducted and forcibly converted and married to a Muslim man must remain in a government shelter home until she reaches age 18.
28
October
UN HRC 45 Side Event: China Bans Faith for All Children
Here is an introduction to a very important event highlighting the incredible pressure China is putting on parents and children as they continue to decimate personal rights, in this case the right to belief.
Professor Naeem Ud Din Khattak was shot dead on his way home from college in a religiously motivated attack. (Photo supplied)
06
October
Ahmadi professor shot dead in Pakistan for his faith
Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistian continues, with more deaths.
03
October
Religious freedom under assault in 'Europe's last dictatorship'
Belarus President Lukashenko makes no secret of his atheism. He has mostly refrained from overt actions against religious groups, but now there are worrying signs that his government is actively undermining the independence of religious groups.
The Snezhkov family at a protest in Gomel on September 27
03
October
Old Believers denounce illegal detention of peaceful family in Belarus
Children taken by Belarus officials after parent express personal beliefs by protesting
Members of the mob damage a home in one of the villages. Credit: CSW
29
September
Christian families from tribal communities in five villages attacked by mob
Christian families belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community located in five villages in Kondagaon District, Chhattisgarh had their homes ransacked and farmland and property destroyed by a large mob in attacks which took place over two days.
28
September
Genocide Should Be Bad For Business
How far Do regimes like China and Mynamar have to go before right minded people and governments make them pay a price for their cruelty?
24
September
China continues to erase the cultures of its own citizens’
The Chinese Government has embarked on a systematic and intentional campaign to rewrite the cultural heritage of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
23
September
China continues to interfere with families and with the fundamental right of children to believe
NGO's demand the U.N. pressure China to take immediate steps to ensure the right to Freedom of Religion and Belief for children in China and cease violence against children from religious faiths.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
22
September
Seeking a Viable Alternative to Indonesia’s Blasphemy Laws
Instead of criminalizing blasphemy, Indonesia should focus on penalizing incitement to discrimination, hostility, and violence.
