(Morning Star News) – Christians worldwide just celebrated the birth of Jesus. For many in the West this was a festive season marked by worship services, gift-giving and time with family and friends. But for the church in the Middle East, fear of persecution cast a long, dark shadow over the Christmas holiday. Oppression […]
Will We Be Their Voice?
Bill would create special envoy for religious minorities in the Middle East/South Central Asia.
January 17, 2013 By -
Iranian-American Detained in Iran Facing Death Penalty
Pastor beaten, threatened with hanging.
January 15, 2013 By -
ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – An Iranian-American who will go on trial in Iran on Monday (Jan. 21) for apostasy, or leaving Islam, has been beaten and threatened with the death penalty during interrogation, sources said. Saeed Abedini, 32, will have his case handled by a judge notorious for handing death sentences to human rights […]
Attacked Christians in India Fear Returning Home
After assault on church, more than 100 tribal people in Maharashtra state flee.
January 14, 2013 By -
MUMBAI, India (Morning Star News) – After Hindu nationalists in Maharashtra state attacked Christians two weeks ago because they refused to honor a tribal deity – violence that led many to flee their homes – the extremists yesterday assaulted remaining Christians as they met for worship, sources said. As police stood by watching, about […]
Sudan Cracks Down on South Sudanese Christians
Church building demolished; student imprisoned.
January 10, 2013 By -
JUBA, South Sudan (Morning Star News) – Sudanese authorities rang in the new year by bulldozing a church building outside Khartoum because it belonged to Christians of South Sudanese origin and lacked a permit, a source said. South Sudanese have been ordered to leave the country following the new republic’s secession from Sudan in July […]
Christian Pastor Nadarkhani Freed from Jail in Iran after Christmas Day Arrest
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani has been freed -- yet again -- from an Iranian prison.
January 7, 2013 By -
(FoxNews.com) Youcef Nadarkhani, the Iranian Christian pastor who had been re-arrested on Christmas Day after serving nearly three years in prison for renouncing Islam, was released today, according to individuals close to the pastor and his family. Nadarkhani, 35, had been held since Christmas Day at Lakan Prison in Rasht, the facility where he was imprisoned from 2010 to 2012 in a case that made international headlines. Although he initially faced possible execution, he had been freed in November, with just 45 days left on a downgraded sentence issued after Fox News and other media outlets drew attention to his plight.
Nigerian President Defends Security amid Reports of Slaughters
One massacre confirmed while administration denies another.
January 5, 2013 By -
JOS, Nigeria (Morning Star News) – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan defended his administration’s efforts to protect churches as he visited a worship service in Abuja last Sunday (Dec. 30), amid disputed reports of massacred Christians in Borno state. While the administration says it found press reports of a massacre of 15 Christians in Chibok, Borno […]
Ordinary Muslims in Indonesia Violating Rights, Study Finds
Most religious rights violations were directed at Christians in 2012.
January 4, 2013 By -
NEW DELHI (Morning Star News) – Concerns are growing over at least 50 cases of religious freedom violations against Christians in Indonesia last year, as not only extremists but ordinary Muslims were responsible for many of the acts of intolerance and violence, according to a recent study. “Cases of intolerance against Christians remained high in the […]
Iran Re-Arrests Pastor Nadarkhani on Christmas Day
Move termed a deliberate message of hostility toward Christians.
January 1, 2013 By -
Update: Youcef Nadarkhani was released on Jan. 7. See https://morningstarnews.org/other-press/ ISTANBUL (Morning Star News) – An Iranian pastor freed from prison in September after nearly three years of detainment was re-arrested on Christmas Day in a move that human rights groups consider intentional harassment for rejecting Islam. Youcef Nadarkhani, 35, had faced the death penalty […]
Religious ‘Cleansing’ in the Middle East a Growing Threat
Christian communities under attack in the region.
January 1, 2013 By -
(Morning Star News) When Iran’s holocaust-denying President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proclaims, “Israel must be wiped off the map,” the United States rightly takes the threat of genocide seriously. President Obama, like his predecessor, is committed to preventing the eradication of the people of Israel. Conservative U.S. Christian leadership, as reflected by Christians United for Israel, has […]
Sudan Bombings Kill More Nuba Christians Around Christmas
Several children dead after aerial attacks.
December 31, 2012 By -
JUBA, South Sudan (Morning Star News) – Non-Arab Christians in Sudan’s Nuba Mountains said they feel forgotten after Sudanese air forces killed at least 11 of the faithful in bombings before and after Christmas, according to area sources. Following bombings of non-Arab civilians in Christian villages in Sudan’s South Kordofan state from Dec. 18 to […]