CSW, 10 May 2018

A group of Catholic nuns peacefully protesting construction on land belonging to their congregation were physically assaulted on 9 May by unknown assailants.

Nuns of the Sisters of St Paul in Hanoi marched to the Hoan Kiem District People’s Committee Office and the Tran Hung Dao Ward Office on 8 May, carrying banners demanding that the authorities order a halt to the construction.

A group of unknown ‘thugs’ insulted and beat the nuns with batons as they tried to peacefully protest. Police nearby did not intervene. Numerous reports indicate that unknown assailants or ‘hired thugs’ are commonly used by police and authorities in Vietnam to intimidate, harass and assault religious communities.

After the assault, the nuns petitioned the authorities to intervene, but their request was not taken up.

CSW, 9 May 2018

Ten-year sentences handed down to Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani, Mohammadreza Omidi, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Saheb Fadaie in July 2017 have recently been upheld on appeal.

The four were arrested in May 2016 during raids by security agents on Christian homes and their church accused of receiving money from the British government.

In July 2017, they were found guilty of ‘acting against national security’ by ‘promoting Zionist Christianity’, and sentenced to ten years in prison.  The pastor and Mr Omidi received additional two-year sentences. 

Mr Mossayebzadeh, Mr Fadaie and Mr Omidi are also awaiting the outcome of their appeal against a sentence of 80 lashes each, following their conviction for drinking wine during a communion service.

CSW, 10 May 2018

The Odisha High Court has awarded enhanced compensation to 14 Christians who were victims of targeted attacks in Kandhamal in 2008.

Human rights lawyer Tehmina Arora stated that this outcome reflected the judiciary’s commitment to protecting the right to freedom of religion in the country.

In 2008, the Christian community in Kandhamal was attacked by hard-line Hindu nationalists. Over 90 people were killed, at least 54,000 displaced and over 300 churches destroyed. According to local sources, although over 3,300 complaints were made to the police, only 727 cases went to trial in fast-track courts, where 88.6% of the accused were acquitted.

Religion News Service, Thursday, April 26, 2018

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has cited more than two dozen countries as main contributors to an “ongoing downward trend” in religious liberty worldwide.

“Sadly, religious freedom conditions deteriorated in many countries in 2017,” said the independent watchdog in its 2018 report.

Examples of severe abuses in 28 countries include Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar; Tibetan Buddhists; Uighur Muslims; Falun Gong practitioners in China; Christians, Yazidis and Shiite Muslims under ISIS; and Russia’s harsh treatment of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims and Scientologists.

 “Entities of particular concern”, considered severe religious freedom violators, include ISIS in Iraq and Syria; Taliban in Afghanistan; and al-Shabab in Somalia.

Morning Star News | Thursday, April 26, 2018

Still shocked over a deadly attack on a Catholic congregation on April 24, Christians in Nigeria’s Benue state yesterday suffered another onslaught by Muslim Fulani herdsmen that reportedly left at least 39 people dead.

More than 160 houses were reported to have been set ablaze in heavily armed attacks.  Dozens of Christians were wounded, and at this writing the total number of those killed was not confirmed.

 A resident told how the herdsmen who invaded her community were dressed in military camouflage and armed with AK-47 weapons.

 Christians in Nigeria held a nationwide protest on Sunday, April 29, against attacks on Christian communities.

Barnabas Fund, 26 April 2018

Military authorities reportedly blocked a rescue plea as religious and community leaders raise concerns about the safety and survival of Kachin Christians trapped in a jungle region of Myanmar (Burma).

Over 2000 displaced Kachin people, including the elderly, infirm and pregnant women, have been trapped in the remote “Gold and Amber” region of the conflict-stricken Kachin State since 11 April.

Local news sources report that heavy fighting between Myanmar’s military and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) has led to thousands of people fleeing their homes as a decades-long, bitter civil war continues.

Christian and community leaders met government officials and a military commander to plead for humanitarian assistance and a rescue for the trapped civilians. However, at the time of reporting, the military has blocked any rescue efforts.

Religion Today, April 4, 2018

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman says he believes that Israelis and Palestinians both “have the right to” Israel.

 “But we have to have a peace agreement to assure stability for everyone and to have normal relations.”  Saudi Arabia has traditionally not recognized Israel.

 “There are a lot of interests we share with Israel and if there is peace, there would be a lot of interest between Israel and the Arab countries,” he said.

 Saudi Arabia and Israel may be headed toward better relations because of increasing tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Restoration may also be happening on Israel’s side as well.  Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti, Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh, has been invited to visit Israel.

And on the prince’s trip to the United States, he met with pro-Israel lobbyists and several Jewish groups.

Global Christian News, 15 April 2018

Four years into the abduction of about 300 school girls in Chibok, north eastern Nigeria, the Nigerian government has claimed that it has encountered difficulties in securing the release of the remaining girls.

 “We know that this is not the news parents want to hear after four whole years of waiting, but we want to be as honest as possible with you.” The statement added, “Don’t give up hope of seeing our daughters back home again.”

Contradicting the government’s position, Ahmad Salkida, a journalist has declared that only 15 out of the remaining 113 Chibok schoolgirls, are alive.

 “I regret to state here that only 15 out of the 113 Chibok girls are alive today, based on my investigations in the last three months and we have already seen some of them in a video.” Salkida claimed.

Bibles, already banned from stores, are now disappearing from online retailer websites. Amazon has been warned against the sale of Bibles as an “illegal publication”.

This follows the release of a government White Paper on religion.  A “5-year plan” outlines measures to enforce an interpretation of Scripture to affirm and promote “the core values ​​of socialism” within all Christian faith communities and forms of worship.  The latest crackdown appears to be an effort to enforce these restrictions across China.

The printing and distribution of Bibles resumed in China in the early 1980s, following the end of the Cultural Revolution.  

It is predicted that, by 2030, there could be over 160 million Chinese Christians across all denominations.