Cancelling the Hajj would be unprecedented in modern times, but curbing attendance from high-risk areas has happened before [Saudi Press Agency via Reuters]
20
June
Indonesia to skip Hajj pilgrimage over coronavirus fears
Largest contingent of worshippers will not be doing the annual trip to Saudi Arabia.
The Cox's Bazar camps are home to nearly a million refugees(Photo: Tearfund)
20
June
Fears for Rohingya refugees as Covid-19 reaches camps
There are fears for hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh after the first confirmed cases of Covid-19 were reported in the camps this week. The Cox's Bazar camps are home to over 850,000 Rohingya refugees.
19
June
Hopes Wilt for Teaching Christianity in Schools in Sudan
Hopes that the transitional government in Sudan would bring back Christianity as a school subject alongside Islam wilted when officials omitted it from an academic schedule released last week.
Rahim Akhundov, 2016 c. Rahim Akhundov [CC BY-NC-ND 4.0]
18
June
AZERBAIJAN: Will fired parliamentary staffer be reinstated?
Former parliamentary staff member Rahim Akhundov, who says he was dismissed from his jobin December 2018 on the orders of the secret police because of his Christian faith, will take his suit for reinstatement to Azerbaijan's Supreme Court.
17
June
YouTube censors John Piper's audiobook, 'Coronavirus and Christ'
YouTube has censored the audiobook version of Reformed theologian John Piper's new book, Coronavirus and Christ, claiming it violated "community standards."
17
June
Blasphemy a Capital Offense in Some Countries, Expunged in Others
More than seventy of the world’s countries have some kind of anti-blasphemy laws, the worst of which are Iran Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Qatar, Egypt and Italy. Western nations have no blasphemy laws so detractors may say what they want.
15
June
Nigeria: Unfolding Genocide?
The All-Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief has launched a new report into Nigeria. Members have been alarmed by the dramatic and escalating violence in Nigeria characterised as the farmer-herder conflict.
12
June
1,202 Defenseless Christians Hacked To Death By Jihadists In Six Months (Jan-June 2020)
A special report from Intersociety, Onitsha, Eastern Nigeria.
Iranian authorities target at least 77 Baha’is across the country in recent weeks despite the present health crisis.
11
June
Escalation in persecution of Baha’is in Iran
Iranian authorities have escalated their persecution of the Baha’is, targeting at least 77 individuals across the country in recent weeks despite the present health crisis afflicting the country.
10
June
Freedom of Religion or Belief in China Today
Repressed, Removed, Re-Educated: The stranglehold on religious life in China
Pastor Acharya and his family (c) Morningstarnews.org
09
June
Nepalese police arrest pastor for preaching about COVID-19
In Nepal, praying in public could mean prison time. Recently, the police arrested a pastor for allegedly spreading misinformation about Corona virus and praying for his congregation in fear of the pandemic.
President and Mrs. Trump visit the John Paul II Shrine prior to the President signing the Executive Order. (Photo credit: LifeSite News)
05
June
A Huge Step for Advancing International Religious Freedom
President Trump has issued an executive order “Advancing International Religious Freedom.” The Institute on Religion and Democracy commends the President for his ongoing commitment to defend persecuted Christians and other religious believers.
04
June
The Gospel According to Xi
Beijing considers publishing official translations of holy texts like the Bible. (requires a log in)
AP Video Screenshot. Terrence Floyd condemns violent riots, asks for peaceful protests
02
June
George Floyd's Brother Condemns Riots: 'He Would Not Want You All to be Doing This'
George Floyd’s younger brother is begging for the violence to stop.
"Do this peacefully, please," he pleaded on Monday as a crowd of grieving protesters gathered at the site where his brother died after being pinned under a police officer’s knee.
Left to right: Khalil Dehghanpour, Mohammed Vafadar, Kamal Naamanian, Hossein Kadivar.
02
June
Iranian House Church Leaders Summoned to Begin Five-Year Prison Sentences
Four Iranian Christian converts have been summoned to begin their five-year jail sentences for leading house-churches, for which they were convicted of “acting against national security.”
01
June
Nigerian Bishop Abducted by Gunmen, Christian Organization Urges Officials to Take Action
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is urging officials to take all necessary steps to see that its chairman of the Nasarawa State unit, Bishop Joseph Masin is safely released from his captors.
31
May
48 State-Run Churches Shut Down in One County in Two Weeks
Protestants in Jiangxi Province’s Yugan county have been suffering CCP’s persecution for the past few years. Attacks renewed after coronavirus lockdown was lifted.
Romina Ashrafi reportedly told police that she feared for her life if forced to return home
27
May
Outrage in Iran after girl murdered 'for eloping'
Police in Iran have arrested a man accused of murdering his 14-year-old daughter in a so-called honour killing that has sparked widespread outrage.
23
May
Ugandan Muslim Father Burns Christian Daughter
A young woman converts to Christianity during a business trip with her father, who upon hearing what happened attempted to burn her. The woman escapes, shielded by the man's sister.
18
May
GOD TV spat exposes tensions between Israel, evangelicals
An evangelical broadcaster who boasted of miraculously securing a TV license in Israel now risks being taken off the air over suspicions of trying to convert Jews to Christianity.
18
May
620 Nigerian Christians Killed So Far This Year by Muslim Militants Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen
620 Nigerian Christians Killed So Far This Year by Muslim Militants Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen
17
May
Iranian Christian Converts Imprisoned
Four Iranian Christian converts who were arrested in February have been sent to Lakan Prison after they were unable to afford the bail ($30,000 each) established by Branch 10 of the Revolutionary Courts.
16
May
Pastor in Nepal charged with 'Outraging Religious Feelings' and 'Proselytizing'
A pastor arrested in Nepal in March on charges of giving false information for saying prayer could heal COVID-19 was released last month – and then immediately re-arrested on new charges, sources said.
15
May
In Jerusalem, Ramadan Restrictions Last Seen During the Crusades Return
The coronavirus pandemic has done what the intervening centuries had not: largely emptying the often crowded and chaotic spaces of Islam's third holiest site, where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven.
15
May
The Fire of Faith
There is no religious freedom in the wider Middle East region. There is instead a tyranny of the majority over the minority in all walks of life, be it the religious, political, social, cultural, or economic sphere.
