News

Showing 151 to 175 of 273 posts.

20 March

Complications arising from ‘DIY’ home abortions massively underreported, new data suggests

The rates of complication reported are far below the rates that were reported during the limited trials that were done. Here is an article highlighting the underreporting which is taking place.

20 March

Patients being offered euthanasia contrary to Fraser Health policy

We knew it wasn’t going to be long before prodeath advocates began to push the limits of the law in Canada around government sanctioned assisted suicide.

20 March

Kyrgyzstan modeling its new Constitution on Russia

A close watch needs to be kept to ensure that religious minorities are not subjected to the same persecution that they face from Moscow.

08 March

Biden Fires Attorney Who Defended Religious Liberty of Employees

Did President Biden at his inauguration really say,’ ‘The right to dissent peaceably, within the guardrails of our Republic, is perhaps our nation’s greatest strength.’ If so he needs to reconsider this decision.

07 March

Switzerland Voters support ban on face coverings in public

Switzerland votes to ban face coverings. What right does the government have to tell citizens what they can or cannot wear?

05 March

Global support calls for Iran to return ancestral lands to Bahá’ís

A global campaign is demanding Iran return ancestral lands which were illegally confiscated solely because of the landowners’ religious beliefs.

24 January

Violating Rights: Enforcing the World’s Blasphemy Laws

For more information on blasphemy laws around the world, please see USCIRF's recent comprehensive report.

24 January

China brings its cruel crackdown on Uighur advocates to the U.S.

I have had the privilege of meeting with Ziba Murat and Rushan Abbas to hear their agonizing story - of a elderly relative, a retired medical doctor being punished by the Chinese regime because they dare to speak up about the Uighur persecution.

24 January

Turkish Parliamentary approves extradition with China in its hunt for Uyghur refugees

China continues to expand its global reach to punish those who dare to speak out about the regime’s abuses.

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

The Torture in My Mind

The Right to Mental Health for Rohingya Survivors of Genocide in Myanmar and Bangladesh, addresses the unimaginable trauma faced by many in the Rohinga community.

06 January

Reporters without Borders report on journalists detained, held hostage and missing

This report from Reporters without Borders details these incarcerations and the challenges faced by both professional and non- professional reporters. journalists detained, held hostage and missing

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.

Bodnarius family
05 January

Court dismisses legal challenge against Norway's removal of children from Christian parents

A five year old battle over parental rights in Norway fails to come to a solid resolution.

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.

Children ride on bicycles past a wall broken by Boko Haram who kidnapped students from their school (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)
16 December

Islamic Terror Group Kidnaps Nigerian Students

In December over 300 Nigerian School children were abducted. Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the kidnapping. The students were freed a week later.

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.