Bullied 8-Year-Old Christian Boy Dies after Assault in Indonesia

Ruptured appendix is official cause of death.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – An 8-year-old Christian boy in Indonesia died from a ruptured appendix on May 26, days after older Muslim students beat him so severely he required hospital treatment, sources said. It was unclear whether the beating of second-grade student Khristopel Butarbutar in Buluh Rampai village, Seberida Sub-District, Riau Province, Sumatra on […]

Blasphemy Laws Misused to Seize Religious Minorities’ Property in Pakistan: HRW

Vulnerable communities displaced.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are being systematically misused to target religious minorities, dispossess the poor and settle personal and economic disputes, according to a new Human Rights Watch (HRW) report. Blasphemy accusations are increasingly weaponized to incite mob violence, displace vulnerable communities and seize their property with impunity, states […]

Christian Falsely Charged with Blasphemy in Pakistan Is Acquitted

28-year-old entrapped in false complaint.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – A judge in Pakistan on Thursday (June 12) acquitted a Christian of blasphemy and terrorism charges after the prosecution failed to prove its case against him, his lawyer said. Attorney Kashif Nemat said that Sahiwal District and Sessions Judge Zia Ullah Khan, who also presides over the anti-terrorism […]

Officials Affirm Egypt Will Not Seize Historic Monastery

Long-term legal status remains to be determined.

LONDON (Morning Star News) – Meeting on a possible forced closure of the world’s oldest continuously active Christian monastery, Greek and Egyptian officials last week stated the monastery and its monks would be protected but provided no clear legal guarantees on how that would be achieved. Orthodox Christians were shocked when news leaked on May 28 […]

Slaughter of Christians Escalates in Plateau State, Nigeria

Survivors appeal for help as relatives are slain and homes burned.

ABUJA, Nigeria (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – After slaughtering at least 50 Christians in one area of Plateau state, Nigeria in April, Fulani herdsmen this week killed five more in the same county, sources said. In Bassa County, residents said Fulani herdsmen killed two Christians on Wednesday (June 4) in Nkienwhie village and three on […]

Court in Pakistan Acquits Muslims Accused in Jaranwala Attacks

Attorney cites defective police investigation.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Defective police investigation resulted in the acquittal of 10 Muslims involved in burning a church building and ransacking a Christian’s home during the Aug. 16, 2023 riots in Jaranwala, Pakistan, an attorney said. Despite strong evidence against them, Faisalabad Anti-Terrorism Judge Javed Iqbal Sheikh on Wednesday (June 4) […]

Military Emergency Sought as Herdsmen Kill 86 Christians in Benue State, Nigeria

Prominent attorney petitions Nigerian president.

ABUJA, Nigeria (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News)  – A prominent attorney petitioned Nigeria’s president to declare a military emergency as Fulani herdsmen killed at least 86 people in predominantly Christian areas of Benue state in the past two weeks, including 46 on Sunday (June 1), sources said. Sebastine Hon, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), a prestigious […]

Herdsmen Kill 70-Year-Old Pastor, 35 other Christians in Nigeria

Slaughters carried out in one county of Plateau state.

ABUJA, Nigeria (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Fulani herdsmen this week killed at least nine Christians in Plateau state, Nigeria, following the slaughter of 27 others days before, sources said. The attacks took place in Bokkos County in the predominantly Christian communities of Hokk, Pangkap, Fokoldep, Kopmur, Margif, Horop, Mbor, Mushere and Kwahas, residents said. […]

Churches Targeted on Easter in India Remain Closed

Landlord pressured into refusing congregation use of building.

NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – More than a month after Hindu nationalist groups in India targeted two Christian congregations on Easter, the churches remain shut while awaiting police action, sources said. The Hindu extremists intimidated congregation members and leaders at both churches in the western coastal state of Gujarat, and one of the churches was […]

Order for Church to Leave Worship Site Overturned in Indonesia

Administrative court renders rare verdict.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – In a rare move in Indonesia, an administrative court earlier this year overturned a local government order for a church to vacate its worship site, sources said. The Jombang Regency Government in East Java is appealing the March 19 ruling of Surabaya State Administrative Court that overturned the regency’s order […]