Morning Star News’ Top 10 Persecution Stories of 2014

For once, good news – miraculous righting of horrific injustice in Sudan – tops list.

(Morning Star News) – In a year that saw a new level of cruelty unleashed upon Christians and other religious minorities across Syria, Iraq and Africa, one once obscure case of injustice in Sudan turned into a titanic battle that gripped the world’s attention. The battle appeared to be spiritual as much as legal. 1 – […]

Suspected Islamic Extremists in Libya Abduct 13 Egyptian Christians

Third attack on area Christians in two weeks.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – In the most recent of a series of kidnappings and killings targeting Egyptian Christians in Libya, 13 Christians in the country were abducted on Saturday (Jan. 3). A group of armed men thought to be members of an Islamic militia group burst into a housing complex in Sirte, Libya […]

Noted Convert from Islam in Egypt Wins Partial Appeal but Remains in Jail

Two of three charges dropped against Bishoy Armia Boulous, formerly Mohammed Hegazy.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – A noted convert in Egypt who was sentenced to five years in prison for documenting attacks on Christians has won a partial victory on appeal, but he remains in jail because of prior blasphemy charges. An appeals judge on Sunday (Dec. 28) found Bishoy Armia Boulous, 31, previously known as […]

How to Read a Persecution News Story

Pray – if you can figure out how.

(Morning Star News) – Any of you who regularly follow persecution news may find that it gets hard to read after a while. In response to reader requests on how to deal with so much horrific news – one becomes either despondent or desensitized – I’ll share how I handle it. The horror of some […]

One Year after Historic Attacks, Egypt Has Yet to Aid Christians

Few church buildings restored as Copts struggle to rebuild their lives.

ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – One year after the attacks, Mina Thabet can still see the ruins in his mind; a seemingly endless series of scorched, hollowed-out church buildings, schools, homes and businesses stretching out across Egypt. On Aug. 14, 2013, thousands of Muslims began a four-day rampage throughout the country seeking revenge for the military-backed, […]

Noted Convert in Egypt, Released in Appeal, Quickly Imprisoned Again

Mohammed Hegazy, now called Bishoy Armia Boulous, faces 2009 charges.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – A noted convert in Egypt released on bail this week for the appeal of his disputed conviction for “inciting sectarian violence” was quickly imprisoned again on equally controversial charges from 2009 of “defaming Islam,” his attorney said. Local security officials on Monday (July 21) turned Bishoy Armia Boulous, previously known […]

Copt Convicted of ‘Blasphemy’ in Egypt for ‘Liking’ Facebook Page

Severity of sentence shocks Christian community, free speech advocates.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – A young Christian man in Upper Egypt accused of blaspheming Islam for “liking” a Facebook page was sentenced Tuesday (June 24) to six years in prison, shocking the Coptic community and other Facebook users. Judge Hazim Hany of Armant Criminal Court found Kerolos Shouky Attallah, 29, of Al-Mahamid village near […]

Noted Convert in Egypt, Formerly Known as Hegazy, Sentenced to Five Years in Prison

Bishoy Armia Boulous convicted for photographing unrest.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – A judge in Egypt yesterday sentenced Bishoy Armia Boulous – formerly Mohammed Hegazy, the first Egyptian to try to legally change his religious identity on his official ID – to five years in prison, his attorney said. The 31-year-old Christian received the prison term and a fine of 500 Egyptian […]

Coptic Teacher Loses Appeal, Sentenced to Prison in Egypt for ‘Blasphemy’

Falsely accused woman likely to remain in permanent exile, advocates say.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – A Coptic woman has lost her appeal of what human rights activists call a false conviction for blaspheming Islam and has been sentenced to six months in an Egytian prison. The appellate court ruling, handed down on Sunday (June 15), shocked the Christian woman, 25-year-old Demyana Abd al-Nour, her family […]

Commitment to Egypt’s New Constitution Questioned after ‘Blasphemy’ Charge

Christian on trial for ‘liking’ Facebook page run by converts from Islam.

ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Charges of “blasphemy” against a Christian in Egypt for “liking” a Facebook page run by converts from Islam call into question the government’s commitment to a new constitution guaranteeing freedom of belief and thought, rights activists said. Kerolos Shouky Attallah, of Al-Mahamid village near Luxor, is accused of violating Article […]