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 […]
Commitment to Egypt’s New Constitution Questioned after ‘Blasphemy’ Charge
Christian on trial for ‘liking’ Facebook page run by converts from Islam.
June 10, 2014 By -
Church Website Blocked as ‘Porn’ in Turkish Parliament, Legislator Says
Lawmaker demands investigation.
May 31, 2014 By -
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – A Turkish legislator is demanding an investigation into why the website of at least one Turkish church was labeled pornography and blocked from computers at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM). While doing research on Wednesday (May 28) for a trip to Diyarbakir, Aykan Erdemir, a legislator from Bursa […]
Iran Steps Up Campaign of Terror against House Churches
Saeed Abedini tortured, beaten.
May 30, 2014 By -
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Iran’s secret police and Revolutionary Guard are subjecting Christians to a continuing wave of arrests, and increased torture and brutal beatings, in an effort to crush the house-church movement, activists said. Human rights activists confirmed that there has been a noticeable increase this month in the number of reported assaults […]
Lawyers Press for ‘Insanity Defense’ in Killing of Christian Woman in Egypt
Attorneys undeterred by psychiatric evaluation saying confessed killer is mentally fit.
May 26, 2014 By -
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Lawyers for a Muslim accused of stabbing a Coptic woman to death in Egypt are persisting with a claim of innocence by reason of insanity, in spite of a psychiatric evaluation that found he was fit to stand trial. Confirming fears of human rights activists who said attorneys for Mahmoud […]
Christian Teacher in Exile Awaiting Appeal of Her ‘Blasphemy’ Case in Egypt
False accusations in climate of hostility drive young woman to France.
May 2, 2014 By -
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – One year after Muslim extremists in Egypt accused her of committing blasphemy during class, a Christian teacher who suspected she would not get a fair trial remains trapped in exile. Demyana Abd Al-Nour, 25, a first-year social studies teacher at Sheikh Sultan Primary School in a village in Upper Egypt, fled […]
Malatya, Seven Years Later – Signs of Hope Amid Oppression in Turkey
New church, renewed faith accompany commemoration of martyrs.
April 29, 2014 By -
MALATYA, Turkey (Morning Star News) – On the stone base over the grave of Uğur Yüksel, three words are etched into the blood-red marble: “Killed like Jesus.” These few words indict the men who killed Yüksel for his faith, encourage Christians he left behind and call to Turks who suspect there might be a way to […]
Three Egyptian Cousins Go to Libya; None Comes Back Alive
Once viewed as a center of opportunity, Benghazi now seen as danger zone.
April 24, 2014 By -
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – The youngest cousin was carried back home in an ambulance, half dead with a bullet lodged in his skull. The next came back to the village just a month after he left, to be buried in a Coptic cemetery. Another cousin disappeared in 2012; he is thought to have been […]
Christians Killed in Egypt Reflect Growing Hatred in Segments of Society
Coptic teacher in Minya Province, woman in Cairo latest victims of vitriol.
April 12, 2014 By -
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – A Coptic Christian teacher in Egypt allegedly shot by the teenage brother of one of his students has died, human rights activists said yesterday. Ashraf Alahm Atef Hanna, an English teacher at Marzouk Prep School in the village of Marzouk in Minya Province, succumbed to injuries from the shooting on […]
Syrian Christians Mourn Murdered Priest
Dutch clergyman refused to leave embattled country’s people in spite of dangers.
April 8, 2014 By -
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – Christians across Syria are mourning the loss of a Dutch priest who, despite grave personal danger, refused to leave the civilian population stranded in Homs. The Rev. Frans Van der Lugt, 75, a Jesuit priest, was killed Monday morning (April 7) in Homs, according to the Jesuit Curia of the […]
Christian Prisoner in Iran Protests Harsh Treatment with Hunger Strike
Convert from Islam, others imprisoned for practicing their faith.
April 2, 2014 By -
ISTANBUL, Turkey (Morning Star News) – A convert from Islam in Iran sentenced to serve almost four years in prison for Christian activities has gone on a hunger strike to protest the government’s refusal to grant his request for release, religious freedom advocates said. Vahid Hakkani began his hunger strike on March 20 after authorities denied […]