(Morning Star News) – Indonesia took a huge leap backwards in its reputation as a moderate Islamic democracy today when a court sentenced the Christian governor of Jakarta, Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama, to two years in prison for “blasphemin The blasphemy accusation was key in Ahok’s defeat in a bid to be re-elected as governor […]
Indonesia Joins Repressive Islamic Regimes in Sentencing Ahok to Prison for ‘Blasphemy’
Statute treads on human rights in world’s largest Islamic country.
May 9, 2017 By -
Two Pastors in Burma Detained More than Three Months Without Trial
Baptist leaders tried to help couple who lost their house.
April 7, 2017 By -
YANGON, Burma (Morning Star News) – Two assistant pastors arrested by the Burma army have been jailed without trial for more than three months, sources said. Pastors Dom Dawng Nawng Latt, 65, and 35-year-old La Jaw Gam Hseng were arrested on Dec. 24 after helping local journalists cover military conflict in northern Shan state, eastern Burma […]
China’s New Policy Expected to Lead to More Religious Persecution
‘Sinicization’ a catalyst for attacking faith communities.
March 13, 2017 By -
March 13, 2017 (Morning Star News) – China Aid’s 2016 Annual Persecution Report details a seismic shift in the Chinese government’s approach to religious policy that is expected to lead to further persecution. The report’s core subject tracks a deviation in the Chinese government’s ideological approach to religious management. During the National Conference of Religious […]
Two Assistant Pastors in Burma Charged with Unlawful Association
Kachin Baptist Convention church leaders deny charges.
January 27, 2017 By -
MAE SOT, Thailand (Morning Star News) – The Burma (Myanmar) military on Wednesday (Jan. 25) charged two assistant pastors (not Catholic priests as previously reported) with unlawful association with an armed ethnic group, an accusation the Kachin Baptist Convention church leaders deny. Pastors Dom Dawng Nawng Latt, 65, and 35-year-old La Jaw Gam Hseng could face […]
Burma Army Admits Detaining Two Church Leaders
Pastors accused of aiding armed ethnic groups.
January 23, 2017 By -
YANGON, Burma (Morning Star News) – Burma (Myanmar) army officials have confirmed that they arrested two pastors missing since Dec. 24 and accused them of aiding ethnic separatists. The Burma army accused Dom Dawng Nawng Latt and La Jaw Gam Hseng of serving as “informers and spreading false news on behalf of the armed insurgents” in […]
Concerns Mount that Clergymen in Burma Have Been Killed
Two pastors missing for more than two weeks.
January 9, 2017 By -
YANGON, Burma (Morning Star News) – Villagers in Shan state, Burma (Myanmar) are increasingly concerned over indications that two pastors in Burma have been killed. Sources told Morning Star News that the Burma army arrested Kachin Baptist Church pastors Dom Dawng Nawng and La Jaw Gam Hseng (not Catholic assistant priests as previously reported) on Dec. […]
Morning Star News’ Top 10 Persecution Stories of 2016
Jihadists fight under the radar in Africa.
January 6, 2017 By -
(Morning Star News) – While war in the Middle East dominated international headlines, Islamic extremists in the shadows were taking jihad to Christian civilians in Africa with unprecedented intensity in 2016. In Nigeria, Muslim ethnic Fulanis looked less like nomadic herdsmen and more like well-armed, well-funded jihadist militants. Close Muslim relatives and Islamist village mobs […]
Clergymen Missing after Helping Reporters Cover Bombing of Church Building in Burma
Area Christians suspect government forces arrested them.
December 29, 2016 By -
YANGON, Burma (Morning Star News) – Two assistant priests in Burma (also called Myanmar) are missing after informing journalists about the bombing of a Catholic church building in Shan state, sources said. Dom Dawng Nawng and La Jaw Gam Hseng went missing on Saturday evening (Dec. 24) after helping journalists cover the bombing of their church […]
Authorities Foil Suspected Islamist Terror Attack in Melbourne, Australia
Anglican cathedral among targets.
December 23, 2016 By -
MELBOURNE, Australia (Morning Star News) – Police in Australia today arrested seven suspected Islamic terrorists after thwarting a planned bomb attack on three sites in Melbourne, including St. Paul’s Cathedral. Some 400 heavily-armed police raided homes in five of Melbourne’s northwestern suburbs. The raids reportedly culminated weeks of intensive investigations and monitoring by Victoria Police, Australian […]
Burma Armed Forces Bomb Church Building Previously Seized as Base, Sources Say
Such occupation, destruction 'routine,' USCIRF report says.
December 19, 2016 By -
YANGON, Burma (Morning Star News) – Burmese armed forces last month bombed a Catholic church building in northern Shan state that soldiers had occupied earlier in their fight against ethnic separatists, sources said. In a practice that a U.S. government report released last week described as “routine,” the Burma (also called Myanmar) soldiers occupied the church […]