SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Muslims in a village in northeastern Indonesia’s portion of Borneo Island prohibited a church from constructing a worship building, sources said. Local leaders of Selumit village, in Tarakan City in North Kalimantan Province, stated in a Feb. 28 letter that Mawar Sharon Christian Church’s proposed construction was against state regulations […]
Muslims Block Christians’ Construction in Indonesia
Another congregation wins right to build after initial ban.
March 13, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
Christians’ Sunday Worship Broken Up in Indonesia
Local official, others intrude into church service.
February 22, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A local village official in Indonesia stopped a church service on Sunday (Feb. 19) in what became a mob intrusion, sources said. On western Indonesia’s Sumatra Island, the head of the Rukun Tetangga area of Rajabasa Jaya village, Wawan Kurniawan, leaped over a meter-high fence to intrude into the […]
Police Arrest Christian Apologist in Indonesia
Professor compared Christianity and Islam on social media.
February 8, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A Christian apologist whose comparisons of Christianity with Islam were widely disseminated on his blog and YouTube channel has disappeared since his arrest in December, sources said. Nothing has been heard from Gratia Pello, a professor at a small Christian theological school in East Java Province, since a crowd of police […]
Christian Worship Service Prohibited in Indonesia
Church blocked from renting one venue is banned from new site.
January 19, 2023 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A church in Indonesia on Jan. 8 was prohibited from holding a Sunday service in front of a city hall building, where it had gone after losing its prior worship venue in a mall, sources said. Following opposition to the church’s services in a mall in Medan, North Sumatra Province, […]
Muslim Villagers Halt Christmas Celebrations in Indonesia
Home worship stopped within hours of president’s appeal for unity.
December 29, 2022 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Muslim villagers in West Java, Indonesia on Christmas Day stopped a congregation from celebrating Christmas in a home, according to various sources. The interference came within hours of Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s historic visits to two churches in nearby Bogor, where he urged congregations to continue harmonious relations with people […]
Official Bans Christmas Celebrations in District in Indonesia
Action comes despite lack of national-level restrictions.
December 21, 2022 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – A high-level official in western Indonesia on Saturday (Dec. 17) announced an agreement with a multi-faith body that prohibits Christmas celebrations in a district at sites without government approval. The agreement effectively bans religious Christmas celebrations in Java Island’s Maja District, Banten Province as strict requirements and bureaucratic opposition make obtaining […]
Pastor in Laos Was Tortured and Killed, Sources Say
Christian was leader of officially recognized church.
November 14, 2022 By - 5 Comments
(Morning Star News) – The body of a pastor with an officially recognized church in Laos was found last month with signs that he was tortured and killed for his faith, area sources said. Christian leaders and police in central Laos’ Khammouane Province believe Pastor Seetoud, who went by a single name, was killed for […]
Officials Join Opposition to Church Construction in Indonesia
Government interference comes into the open in western Java.
November 2, 2022 By - Leave a Comment
SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Two local officials in Indonesia joined Islamist organizations’ call to block construction of a Christian church, triggering objections nationwide the past two months, according to published reports. In western Java Island’s Banten Province, Cilegon Mayor Heldy Agustian and his deputy, Sanuji Pentamarta, were among those who signed a petition to ban […]
China ‘Liquidates’ House Church as Part of Crackdown
Pastors and other workers arrested.
August 26, 2022 By - Leave a Comment
(Morning Star News) – Authorities in China on Aug. 19 officially “liquidated” an historical house church in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, as part of a crackdown on churches that refuse to join the state-controlled Three-Self Church, rights advocates said. The Church of Abundance, which began about 30 years ago, had been targeted as a “cult” that […]
Hmong Christians in Vietnam Suffering Severe Persecution
Federal authorities do nothing as local officials violate religion law.
July 25, 2022 By - 1 Comment
(Morning Star News) – Severe persecution of Hmong Christians is underway in Nghe An Province in Vietnam. In the central Vietnam province, officials vying with each other to create “Christian-free zones” operate “with no conscience or humanity,” as if they were in a different country than the one whose religious freedom measures they are violating, […]