Egypt – Coptic Orthodox Bishop Killed outside Cairo

Morning Star News October 13, 2017 

A Coptic Orthodox bishop from Upper Egypt was slain outside Cairo, Egypt yesterday.

The assailant struck Bishop Samaan Shehata in the head, neck and torso with a machete on the outskirts of Cairo, according to local reports. Shehata was born in 1972.

While a security spokesman said the suspect was mentally ill, (like many accused Muslims), neighbours reportedly denied this, saying he was a Muslim who had been “radicalized” a year ago. Since then, they said, Ibrahim had begun praying in the street, shouting loudly and calling Christians infidels.

Christians in Nepal Released from Prison

Morning Star September 22, 2017 

Four Christians in Nepal sentenced to five years in prison on false charges were released today after a high court annulled their convictions.

They had been convicted of witchcraft, violence and holding a woman against her will, though she testified that she was not mistreated or captive and had been healed by the prayer.

The Federation of National Christian Nepal (FNCN) representatives had petitioned for the Christians’ release.

The four Christians were not charged for months after their arrest, according to the FNCN.  Area church leaders believe the four Christians were set up and targeted for their faith.

The arrest and conviction of the four Christians came at a time when Nepal’s Hindu majority was increasingly influencing authorities to harass Christians.

Maldives – Christians losing the few rights they have

Barnabas Fund 09/21/2017 17:00

The government of the Maldives is increasingly controlling the courts and simply ignoring the law, leaving Christians in an even more vulnerable state.

56 lawyers who tried to petition the Supreme Court for the rule of law to be respected have been suspended from practising by the government.

Despite being a popular tourist destination, the Maldives is one of the most difficult places in the world to be a Christian. The 2008 Maldivian constitution bans Muslims from becoming Christians.

In 1998, the government arrested 50 Maldivians suspected of having become Christians, and is thought to have tortured them. Any Maldivian even found to have a Bible in their house faces a prison sentence.

The Maldivian government appears to be pursuing a slow process of Islamisation, last year passing in effect an Islamic blasphemy law.

Australia: Christians facing unprecedented violence

Barnabas Fund 28/09/2017

An Australian media outlet has published a shocking catalogue of violence, hate speech, discrimination and attempts to silence those opposed to the redefinition of marriage, most of whom it says are Christians. On 22 September Mercatornet stated:

“Everyone should be concerned over the growing discrimination, persecution and vilification of Christians which is occurring in Australia.”

Some of the threats and actual acts of violence include:

A meeting of four Christian groups had to be cancelled due to physical threats by LGBT activists. 

Protesters vandalized the office of a senator who supported traditional marriage and menaced his children’s school.

The Australian Christian Lobby’s headquarters was rammed last December by a vehicle filled with explosives driven by an LGBT activist who said he wanted to destroy ACL while he committed suicide.

Four weeks ago, LGBT activist and TV star Benjamin Law mused online about raping MPs opposed to same-sex marriage.

What Christians are being subjected to is very similar to some of the abuse suffered by LGBT people in the past.