Converts from Islam in Malaysia Detained in ‘Faith Purification Centers’

Violators of sharia sentenced – or arbitrarily sent – to re-education camps.

(Morning Star News) – Converts to non-Islamic faiths in Malaysia can be detained for more than three months in “Faith Purification Centers.” While some converts are arbitrarily arrested and sent to the centers, detention in one of the three camps is “slowly gaining preference among sharia judges in Malaysia” as an alternative to prison sentencing, […]

Persecuted Rights Advocates in Vietnam Seek Help from World’s Democracies

Beatings, prison also constitute an attack on liberty.

(Morning Star News) – In 2006, the U.S. State Department removed Vietnam from its list of Countries of Particular Concern, citing the release of religious prisoners and the easing of religious restrictions. Two months later, the United States granted Vietnam permanent normal trade status, paving the way for Vietnam to join the World Trade Organization […]

‘Accident’ Kills Evangelical Pastor, New Christian in Vietnam

Wife of pastor, church elder critically injured.

VINH, Vietnam (Morning Star News) – On the evening of May 5, pastor Dang Ba Nham, his wife, and a church elder were praying on a roadside with a woman who had recently converted to Christianity in this city on the north central coast of Vietnam. They stood in front of the property of the new […]

Christians in Burma Patiently Endure Building of Pagodas on Church Lands

Buddhist monk said to be using structures for religious, political aims.

YANGON, Burma (Morning Star News) – Striving for a peaceful legacy, Christians in Burma (also called Myanmar) are choosing to patiently endure an influential Buddhist monk’s campaign to build pagodas on church properties. Initially social media and news media registered an outcry from Christians when U Thuzana, a powerful monk better known as Myaing Kyee Ngu […]

Christian Lawyer in Malaysia Loses Appeal to Practice in Sharia Courts

Muslims who wish to change their religion must use Muslim attorneys.

(Morning Star News) – Victoria Jayaseele Martin yesterday lost her appeal to represent clients in Malaysia’s sharia (Islamic law) courts. Why would a Christian lawyer want to practice in an Islamic court? In Malaysia all ethnic Malays are Muslim, according to the constitution. Because of a number of affirmative action privileges for Malays, any ethnic […]

After Surviving Treacherous Roads of Nigeria, ‘Pilot’ Flies to Glory

Driver shared in the dangers of reporting persecution.

JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – I was about to leave for my office one morning in 2008 when a young man approached. “Good day, sir!” he said. After I returned the greeting, he said, “Sir, please can you employ me as your driver?” I asked him who had told him I needed a driver. With […]

China Now Cracking Down on ‘Official’ Churches

A new Cultural Revolution is upon us.

(Morning Star News) – Between 1958 and 1961, at least 18 million (and possibly as many as 45 million) Chinese died as a direct result of Chairman Mao’s disastrous socio-economic campaign known as the “Great Leap Forward.” Subsequently dissent rose within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). In 1966 Mao struck back, launching the socio-political movement […]

Morning Star News’ Top 10 Persecution Stories of 2015

Islamic violence accelerates in countries not known for religious conflict.

(Morning Star News) – Islamic extremist violence in countries not known for religious tensions, majority-Christian Kenya and Uganda, topped Morning Star News’ stories in 2015. While the Islamic State terrorized Christians in Syria, Iraq and Libya, and Muslim Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria killed innocent civilians in the shadow of Boko Haram, in northeast Kenya Al […]

The Problem of Islam and the Islamic State

An atheist and an Anglican offer bold solutions.

(Morning Star News) – Two remarkable pieces about Islamist violence were published last week in mainstream media – one answering the ambivalence thoughtful people feel on what to do about the Islamic State, and the other answering perplexity on what to do about Islam. They are remarkable first because, unconcerned about political correctness, they strongly […]

Supreme Court Ruling Said to Signal Positive Change in Pakistan

Upholding of death sentence for killer of critic of blasphemy laws a ‘strong sign,’ advocates say.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Morning Star News) – A Supreme Court decision to uphold the death sentence for an Islamist who killed Punjab Gov. Salman Taseer because of his objections to Pakistan’s blasphemy laws signals government resolve against Islamic extremism, human rights advocates said. The high court on Wednesday (Oct. 7) upheld the October 2011 death sentence for […]