Church Sealed, Pastor Dragged and Threatened in Indonesia

Shop-house worship site among other businesses ‘secured’ by authorities.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – About 50 officials from Jombang Regency, Indonesia on Aug. 18 dragged a pastor from his worship site and sealed the shop where his church met, sources said. The sealing of the worship site was part of a Jombang government effort to recover dozens of shops the government says it owns […]

Officials in Pakistan Attempt to Ban Rights March Organizers

Sindh Province Home Department alleges march, not Islamists, incited unrest.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Sindh Province officials are trying to impose a ban on organizers of a minority rights march under pressure from an extremist Islamist party opposed to any changes in Pakistan’s harsh blasphemy laws, sources said. In an official letter to the Commissioner of Karachi Division on Friday (Aug. 23), […]

Poor Christian Brothers Charged with Blasphemy in Pakistan

Two illiterate 18-year-olds accused of desecrating the Quran.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Two Christian brothers in Pakistan were arrested and charged with blasphemy on Tuesday (Aug. 27) after they were accused of desecrating pages of the Quran, sources said. Tabish Shahid and Kalu Shahid, 18-year-old sons of Shahid Masih of Kalay Wala Tehsil, Kasur District, Punjab Province, were arrested on […]

Christian Slain with Swords by Muslim Extremists in Uganda

Evangelist worked in heavily Islamic areas.

NAIROBI, Kenya (Morning Star News) – Muslim extremists with swords in eastern Uganda on Monday (Aug. 19) killed a Christian for leading Muslims to Christ, sources said. The assailants attacked Yowabu Sebakaki as he was returning home by bicycle to his native Nyanza village, Nyanza North Zone, Nyanza Parish, Mugiti Sub-County in Budaka District, Uganda. He […]

Supreme Court of Pakistan Bows to Islamist Threats

Religious freedom takes a hard blow, sources say.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Islamist death threats compelled the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday (Aug. 22) to remove part of a ruling recognizing an Ahmadi’s religious freedom, a move that will lead to more persecution of religious minorities, sources said. The court’s surrender to Islamist demands came in an appeal by […]

Christian Parents Regain Custody of Three Girls in Pakistan

In rare case, judge allows children to talk with parents.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Three girls illegally detained by their employers were forced to testify that they had converted to Islam and wished to return to their captors, but a judge in Pakistan returned them to their Christian parents, sources said. Justice Shakil Ahmed of the Lahore High Court on Thursday (Aug. […]

Fate of Pastor, Daughter Kidnapped in Nigeria Unknown

Captors receive ransom payment but demand another.

ABUJA, Nigeria (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – The whereabouts of a pastor and his daughter kidnapped in northwestern Nigeria were unknown after their captors threatened to kill them even after receiving a ransom payment. Isa Andrew, chaplain with All Saints Protestant Church of the Zamfara State Police Command, and his 13-year-old daughter, Grace Isa Andrew, […]

One Year Later, Jaranwala, Pakistan Still Reeling from Attacks

Christians in the area lose jobs, business.

LAHORE, Pakistan (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – One year after one the worst attacks on Christians in Pakistan, Christians on Friday (Aug. 16) called for justice regarding the rioting in Jaranwala as most of those arrested have been discharged or released on bail, sources said. More than 25 churches and 85 homes of Christians in […]

Opposition Emerges to Easing Worship Permits in Indonesia

VP warns against efforts to end role of Muslim-dominated body.

SURABAYA, Indonesia (Morning Star News) – Opposition has emerged to a proposal by Indonesia’s Ministry of Religious Affairs to do away with the role of a Muslim-dominated body that has complicated efforts by minority religions to build houses of worship. Indonesia’s vice president last week warned against the effort to end the role of the Muslim-dominated […]

Muslims Burn Down Church Building in Central Nigeria

RCCG worship auditorium destroyed for second time.

ABUJA, Nigeria (Christian Daily International–Morning Star News) – Muslims burned down a church building in the early hours of Saturday (Aug. 10) in central Nigeria’s Niger state, sources said. The razing of the building of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) congregation in Kontagora town at about 3 a.m. was the second time Muslims have […]