News stories about current issues. http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NTA2 Mon, 14 May 2012 06:49:18 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NTA2 The main defense attorney for Iranian pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who remains on death row, was himself sentenced to nine years in jail after being accused of acting against national security. Human rights lawyer and defense attorney Mohammad Ali Dadkhah learned of his prison sentence while defending another client in court. Dadkhah is also banned from teaching or practicing law for 10 years. Dadkhah provides legal services free of charge, and,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NTA1 Wed, 09 May 2012 06:42:10 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NTA1 Extremists killed 19 Christians, including two professors, as they worshiped on the grounds of Bayero University in Kano, Nigeria, on Sunday, April 22. An additional 22 people were injured. Christians from two churches, the Chapel of Victory and the St. Stephen Catholic Church, were meeting at the university when unidentified gunmen attacked them at about 9 a.m. The attackers hurled small, homemade explosives into the crowd of worshipers and...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NTA0 Wed, 02 May 2012 11:40:46 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NTA0 Khmu Christian Bounchan Kanthavong spent 13 years and eight months in prison in Laos for his faith. He was released earlier this year. Before he came to faith in Christ, Bounchan was an assistant district governor for the communists. In 1965, Bounchan had been a soldier in Laos. He eventually became the assistant of an important official. He first encountered Christians when he was sent to study politics in Tha Gnong in 1975. At the time, he...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDk5 Tue, 01 May 2012 11:49:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDk5 Dildar Yousaf, the Pakistani Christian arrested and charged with blasphemy for saving his 8-year-old nephew from Muslim attackers, was acquitted March 26 after prosecutors failed to produce any evidence against him. “I was produced in court three times during the case proceedings, but not one accuser ever turned up at the hearings,” Yousaf told Compass Direct News. “You cannot imagine my joy when the prison officials told me...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDk3 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:43:48 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDk3 The Voice of the Martyrs recently helped a Christian couple in Pakistan facing financial difficulty and threats from their Muslim family. “Aasim” and his wife, “Saba,” have had a hard life. In 2009, Aasim broke both legs and his right arm in an accident, leaving him unable to work. His wife worked to support their family. They have had to move three times to avoid Saba’s Muslim family, who have been looking for them...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDk2 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:32:53 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDk2 In VOM’s work we often think of I Cor. 12:26, which tells us that if one part of Christ’s Body suffers, the other parts feel that pain as well. VOM staff members usually think of this verse in relation to our persecuted brothers and sisters. But in the past 10 days we have been suffering, and so many within the Body of Christ have reached out to support us. Every member of the staff at The Voice of the Martyrs has been encouraged and...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDk1 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 06:47:28 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDk1 Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Dear Friend: My name may be unfamiliar to you, but I have served VOM as Chief Operating Officer for nearly 13 years and have served as both COO and President for the past five years. In addition, I served as a U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot in Vietnam and retired with the rank of Colonel. I am humbled and honored to serve at VOM. My first overseas trip with VOM was as part of a ministry team delivering Christmas...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDk0 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 10:27:15 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDk0 Today is the five-year anniversary of the martyrdom of three very special men. On April 18, 2007, Necati Aydin, Ugur Yuksel and Tilmann Geske were brutally murdered at a Christian publishing house in Malatya, a city in southeastern Turkey. Five young Islamists bound and tortured the two Turkish Christians and one German Christian before killing them at the Zirve Publishing House. Five suspects, Emre Gunaydin, Salih Guler, Cuma Ozdemir, Hamit...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDkz Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:22:26 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDkz April 20, 2012 The Voice of the Martyrs statement concerning the death of Tom White: The events of the last week are tragic. On Wednesday we learned that Tom White, VOM’s executive director, had died. Allegations were made to authorities this week that Tom had inappropriate contact with a young girl. Rather than face those allegations, and all of the resulting fallout for his family and this ministry and himself, Tom appears to have chosen...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDky Tue, 17 Apr 2012 06:31:18 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDky Hmong believers in Laos and Vietnam face opposition from village authorities because of their faith in Christ. Within the past month, authorities in several villages have expelled at least six families that converted to Christianity. The believers are struggling to farm and earn a living. Three families were expelled from their village in Cao Bang province, in northern Vietnam, because of their recent adoption of Christianity. Each family came...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDkx Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:17:54 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDkx A suicide bomber killed 36 people and injured 13 others in Kaduna on April 5, after church security workers turned him away from the church they were guarding. Deterred from attacking the church, the bomber detonated his weapon a few moments later in a crowded commercial district. At about 10 a.m. the day before Good Friday, a man in an ash-colored Honda approached the ECWA Good News Church in Kaduna. Francis Markus, a security guard, told the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDkw Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:42:07 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDkw UNITED STATES — A recent report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) identified 16 countries that had committed severe violations of religious rights, including torture, prolonged detentions without charges and disappearances. The USCIRF 2012 Annual Report reviews all religions, with particular attention to minority religions. The 16 countries listed as “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPC) by the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDg4 Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:57:36 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDg4 Four Protestants in Turkmenistan were arrested and fined in late February after police discovered Bibles in their possession. Although the judge initially refused to hear the case against the four Christians, citing a lack of evidence, she later changed her position and fined them for “violation of the law on religious organizations.” The Bibles were discovered when police searched a home where three believers were staying with a...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDg3 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:11:49 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDg3 Eleven orphans in Laos who were threatened with expulsion from a government school because of their Christian faith have continued to attend church. They slip away one by one on Sunday mornings and walk to church unnoticed. In August, the boys’ headmaster called them into his office and told them to stop attending church. Initially, seven of the boys stopped attending, but four of the boys refused to obey the headmaster despite the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDg1 Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:28:09 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDg1 Yet another Islamist attack on a church and a violent reaction Christian youth provide more evidence that Nigeria is closer than ever to sliding into a religious civil war. Thus far, authorities have been unable to stem the tide of violence, and in some cases, officials themselves are biased by their religious persuasions. Nigerian Christians are split between wanting to fight back and trying to follow Jesus’ teaching to turn the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDg0 Fri, 16 Mar 2012 14:45:13 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDg0 Officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) have informed pastor Naim Khoury of Bethlehem’s First Baptist Church that his church lacks the authority to function as a religious institution under the PA. The church can still gather to pray for now, but the PA’s decision, conveyed on Saturday, March 10, will have a real effect on church members. “They said that our legitimacy as a church from a governmental point of view is not...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDgz Thu, 15 Mar 2012 07:47:50 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDgz Three recent attacks against Christians in India reflect an increase in animosity against believers throughout the country. In Kerala state, a pastor and his children were attacked on Feb. 21. Pastor Titus Ignatius Kapan and his family were eating dinner at the house of a Hindu convert when Hindu extremists entered the house. They abused the pastor and his children before dropping huge boulders on the pastor’s car. Just days earlier, Hindu...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDgy Wed, 14 Mar 2012 08:38:47 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDgy Amid its ongoing bombing campaign in the Nuba Mountains area, the government of Sudan has enacted a new ethnic cleansing strategy denying citizenship to anyone deemed a “southerner.” The determination is based purely on ethnicity, rather than any of the traditional criteria for citizenship, such as residency or property rights. Khartoum has set April 8 as the deadline for “southerners” to leave or establish alien...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDgx Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:02:57 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDgx Iranian authorities continue to raid worship meetings and arrest Christians in a systematic series of arrests that began two months ago. Authorities launched the operation in hope of countering the growth of Christianity and stamping out the house church movement. Those arrested are rarely given a reason for their arrest. Their personal property is seized, and they are often transferred to unknown locations without notification of family. Giti...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc5 Fri, 02 Mar 2012 08:07:38 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc5 A religion law adopted last October has been used to revoke registration from religious groups of fewer than 50 adults, and small churches are now struggling to maintain legal status. In the past, authorities fined those who met without registration, but the new religion law officially bans all unregistered religious activity. The number of religious groups in Kazakhstan has declined 13 percent, from 4,551to 3,972, since the government...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc4 Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:47:04 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc4 Boko Haram terrorists bombed a large church in Jos on Sunday, killing a church member and a baby, along with themselves. Church security guards prevented the suicide bombers from reaching the church auditorium, where a service was in progress. Claiming responsibility for the attack, a Boko Haram spokesman said, “We have just started.” The suicide bombers arrived at the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) compound shortly after the 7...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc3 Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:52:33 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc3 Journalist and Christian activist Li Ying was released from prison in China on Dec. 25, 2011, just three years shy of completing a 15-year sentence she received because of her work on an underground Christian magazine. Li was arrested in April 2001 along with 16 others from the South China Church. China Aid Association founder and president Bob Fu spoke with Li on Friday, Feb. 10. Li is very grateful for the support she received from around the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc2 Fri, 24 Feb 2012 14:41:16 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc2 Authorities burst into a private home in Shiraz on Feb. 8, 2012, and arrested a group of believers who had gathered for worship. Iranians who convert from Islam to Christianity must worship in private homes because leaving Islam is forbidden by Iran’s Islamic government. Security officers confiscated Bibles, books, DVDs, teaching booklets, computers and a satellite dish. Between seven and 10 Christian were arrested, but Mohabat News was...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc1 Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:49:51 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc1 Protestant pastor Ilmurad Nurliev was released from prison on Feb. 18 as part of the president’s “Flag Day” amnesty, in which about 230 prisoners were freed. Pastor Nurliev’s wife, Maya, and other family members greeted him as he arrived on a train from the Seydi labor camp with other pardoned prisoners. “His release was so unexpected we forgot to get flowers,” she said. “It is such a joy I can't tell...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc0 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:29:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDc0 The Iranian Christian news agency Mohabat News recently published a list of Christians imprisoned in Iran. The list, which was current as of February 2012, consists of prisoners known by and confirmed by Mohabat News. For security reasons, the prisoners listed below or their families have asked that they not be featured on VOM’s www.prisoneralert.com. However, please pray for each one of these believers. For a list of Iranian prisoners to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDcz Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:20:26 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDcz A Jerusalem church was vandalized on Monday, Feb. 20, in an attack reflecting the sentiments of Jewish nationalists. Vandals spray-painted the words “Death to Christianity” on the wall of the Baptist Narkis Street Congregation church. The graffiti included profanity about Jesus and the words “Price Tag,” a slogan used by Jewish extremists to protest policies they perceive as anti-settlement. The vandals also slashed the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDcy Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:47:47 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDcy The Voice of the Martyrs recently received several hundred letters from believers in China who were given Bibles through VOM’s Bibles Unbound program. “Your love and contribution have encouraged many people’s hearts,” wrote a Chinese pastor whose church received 1,050 Bibles. “We believe these Bibles will become a strong power in the church.” The power of God’s Word has already touched a college...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDcx Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:53:14 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDcx Dildar Yousaf, 28, was arrested and charged with blasphemy after defending his 8-year-old nephew from a group of Muslim boys on June 10, 2011. That morning, Dildar’s nephew, Ehtasham, was taunted by a group of boys as he passed the madrassa on his way to the market. A madrassa is a school where Islamic students study the Quran. As Ehtasham walked by the madrassa, seven boys gathered around him and tried to force him to become a Muslim by...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDcw Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:38:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDcw For Khmu Christians in Laos, a shortwave radio is a lifeline to the outside world. The Khmu are some of the poorest people in Laos, and they subsist on the simple crops they farm in small, remote villages. Most of them are animists who worship their ancestors. Those who give up the traditional religious practices to follow Jesus Christ are labeled as traitors and followers of an evil, Western religion. Family pressure to recant can be immense,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDY5 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 08:45:53 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDY5 What do you do while imprisoned in solitary confinement for more than two years? The answer for one Pakistani Christian is “pray.” Asia Bibi has spent almost three years in prison on charges that she blasphemed Islam’s prophet Muhammad. She was convicted and sentenced to death, and she now awaits the ruling on her appeal. To protect her from other inmates, she has been kept in solitary confinement. She cooks her own food to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDY2 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:57:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDY2 Increasing violence in Nigeria has only strengthened local Christians’ faith, even sparking a revival at the Deeper Life Bible Church in Gombe, where nine Christians were martyred in a Jan. 5 attack on the church. During a funeral service on Jan. 19 for those killed, many believers rededicated their lives to Christ, and others came to faith in Christ for the first time, according to a VOM worker. Weeping and singing on their knees, a choir...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDY1 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:45:26 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDY1 Three Christian men, Pastor Farhad Sabokrouh, Davood (David) Ali-Jani and Naser Zamen-Dezfuli, remain in detention after their arrest on Dec. 23, 2011, at an Assemblies of God (AOG) church in Ahwaz, Iran. The pastor’s wife, Shahnaz Jizan, was also arrested and held until Jan. 1, when her $200,000 bail was paid. The families have not been told where the men are being held or what condition they are in, and officials have said they know...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDY0 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:43:39 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDY0 After the conclusion of Egypt’s parliamentary elections last week, many Christians fear that government control by Islamists will lock them into second-class status and increase persecution against Christians. However, some believers rejoice that the recent wave of persecution has prompted many nominal Christians to turn to Christ for solace. The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party and the Al Nour Party, made up of members...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDYz Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:20:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDYz Three years after the widespread persecution of Christians in Orissa state, India, gained worldwide attention, Christians in Kandhamal district continue to suffer at the hands of Hindu extremists. Three Christian leaders were brutally murdered in Kandhamal in 2011, and local authorities apparently did little to find and prosecute their killers. In 2007 and 2008, many Christians were killed and at least 50,000 displaced in large-scale riots in...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDYy Mon, 16 Jan 2012 12:24:43 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDYy Intolerance toward Christians continued to grow in 2011, according to year-end assessments by human-rights and Christian organizations. In particular, acts of violence against Christians during the holidays increased drastically. Stonegate Institute, a nonprofit organization that researches human rights issues, cited recent Nigerian church bombings — in which the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram killed more than 40 people attending a Christmas...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDYx Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:34:45 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDYx Six church leaders in Laos remain in prison after the local security force raided their Christmas celebration on Friday, Dec. 16. Under the Boukham village chief’s orders, eight church leaders were arrested and immediately escorted to the village government house. Four of the eight leaders were handcuffed and their feet placed in stocks, which are planks of wood fastened to the wall. Family members delivered blankets to the prisoners...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDU4 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 06:36:56 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDU4 Iran’s Ayatollah Sadegh Larijani, head of the judiciary, has ordered the judge presiding over Youcef Nadarkhani’s case to delay his written verdict for one year. The judge was specifically ordered to keep Nadarkhani in prison, using whatever means necessary to force him to recant his Christian faith and convert to Islam. According to Present Truth Ministries, the order was designed to cause the international community, specifically...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDU3 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:15:21 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDU3 Recent attacks on Christian-owned businesses in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region have put believers on edge in an area that was formerly considered safe for Christians. In a sermon on Dec. 2, 2011, Mullah Mala Ismail Osman Sindi complained of moral corruption in the northern town of Zakho. Incited by the sermon, a Muslim man stood up afterward and called out the names of Christian-owned businesses. A group of young men then marched to Zakho...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDU2 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:29:58 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDU2 The Voice of the Martyrs has developed a challenging Vacation Bible School curriculum that focuses on the persecuted church. The Kids of Courage VBS program teaches children about forgiveness, courage and perseverance — all through stories of persecuted Christians in the countries of China, Egypt, India, Nigeria and North Korea. “There is a lot kids can learn about persecution without going into graphic detail,” said a VOM worker who...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDUz Wed, 14 Dec 2011 07:36:40 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDUz A man who planted a bomb at the home of a Messianic Jewish family in the West Bank has been declared fit to stand trial. Yaakov “Jack” Teitel, 39, is accused of bombing the home of Pastor David Ortiz in March 2008. He is additionally charged in connection with the murder of two Palestinians and with other serious offenses. Teitel’s lawyers had argued that he was not mentally competent, but a district court judge in Jerusalem...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDUx Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:54:16 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDUx A Chinese theology student wrote an essay recently explaining why a group of Chinese Christians protested a Chinese Bible exhibit in the United States this year. The traveling exhibit was sponsored by the National Committee of the Three-Self Patriotic Movement of the Protestant Church in China, the communist committee that oversees China’s official church. The Bible exhibit, titled “Thy Word Is the Truth: The Bible Ministry...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDUw Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:51:25 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDUw After spending eight months in prison with no formal charges, two Iranian Christians fled Iran upon receiving threats from the Ministry of State Security. They now await resettlement in another country by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Arash Kermajani, 29, and his 26-year-old wife, Arezoo Teymouri, were detained while visiting Pastor Vahik Abrahamian and Sonia Keshish Avanesian in Hamedan in September 2010. The secret...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQ5 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 09:34:55 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQ5 On Nov. 13, on the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, a gang of men attacked leaders from the Agape Baptist Church who were participating in a spiritual renewal meeting at an evangelist’s home near Hanoi. One pastor was left unconscious for hours after the attack, and several others were seriously injured, including women and teenage children. The gang attacked the church leaders in Lai Tao village at 9:30 a.m., a...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQ3 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:57:28 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQ3 A team from The Voice of the Martyrs traveled to Washington, D.C., in November to make the first delivery of Call For Mercy petitions to the Pakistani Embassy. The team received a courteous response from Pakistani Embassy personnel, who accepted the more than 400,000 signatures that had been collected at that time, including the initial 150,000 from Christians inside Pakistan. “It’s hard to know what to expect when you call an...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQ2 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:54:11 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQ2 A state leader in Malaysia ruled that members of a church will not be prosecuted for allegedly attempting to convert Muslims to Christianity. Islamic religious officers will not be charged either, the sultan of Selangor state said on Oct. 11. The sultan stated lack of sufficient evidence. Controversy broke out after at least 20 officers of the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) raided an event at the Damansara Utama Methodist...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQ1 Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:13:40 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQ1 Attacks on Christians have continued near the Somalia-Kenya border since Kenya began air strikes and deployed troops last month to deter al-Shabab militants, an extremist Muslim group associated with al-Qaida. Last Saturday, Nov. 5, suspected extremists sympathetic to al-Shabab threw a grenade into a church elder’s home outside Garissa, Kenya, killing 8-year-old Winnie Mwenda Mutinda and 25-year-old John Kikavu. Three others in the house...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQz Tue, 08 Nov 2011 13:50:35 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQz Burmese soldiers targeted Christian civilians and church buildings in a recent attack against insurgents from the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO). The military, which accused church leaders of being part of the KIO, reportedly burned church property and several homes. On Oct. 16, 2011, soldiers opened fire on a church in Bhamo District in Kachin state as the congregation prepared for Sunday service. No one was injured in the gunfire, but...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQy Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:55:09 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQy WORLDWIDE MINISTRY TO PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS TO HOLD OPEN HOUSE SATURDAY, NOV.5 The Voice of the Martyrs – USA, a worldwide ministry headquartered in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, will open its Ministry Center headquarters to the public on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 5, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. “We’re excited with the facilities with which God has blessed this ministry, and we look forward to welcoming friends from the area to come and...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQx Thu, 27 Oct 2011 06:35:27 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDQx After teaching at a school in Maldives for two years, 30-year-old Indian Christian Shijo Kakkattu was deported on Oct. 14, 2011, after police found a Bible in his house, according to Compass Direct News. A co-worker reported Kakkattu to the National Administrative Center after finding Christian materials on a school computer. According to Minivan News, an independent news agency based in Maldives, Kakkattu accidentally transferred material from...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDM5 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 08:23:20 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDM5 A 17-year-old Christian was beheaded by al-Shabab extremists on Sept. 25 as he prepared for school. Al-Shabab, determined to rid Somalia of Christianity and Western influence, had carefully monitored Guled Jama Muktar and his family since their arrival from Kenya in 2008, a source told Compass Direct News. “I personally know this family as Christians who used to have secret Bible meetings in their house,” the source...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDM3 Tue, 25 Oct 2011 09:31:26 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDM3 The government of Kazakhstan enacted two new laws on Oct. 24, 2011, further restricting freedom of religion. All registered churches must now re-register with the government, and only churches meeting new criteria will be registered. As churches begin the rigorous re-registration process, organizations and human rights defenders from around the world are strongly criticizing the new laws. Jens Eschenbaecher, spokesperson for the Office...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDM2 Mon, 24 Oct 2011 13:58:59 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDM2 Chinese Pastor Zhang Rongliang, also known as Uncle Z, reports that the seven years and six months he spent in prison were a fruitful time of ministry. Zhang is still recovering from severe health problems after completing his full sentence on Aug. 31, 2011. He was immediately admitted to a hospital for 15 days where doctors monitored Zhang’s high blood pressure and diabetes. In early December 2004 Zhang disappeared, and eventually, the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDM1 Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:28:06 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDM1 After closing the Indonesia Pentecost Church (Gpdi) in Sumedang, Indonesia, for using an illegal building permit, authorities arrested the church’s pastor for forcing others to attend church. The church was built more than 24 years ago, and it has experienced threats only within the last few months. “This church building is a permanent building, and it has been there for more than 24 years,” said Theophilus Belo, director of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDM0 Tue, 11 Oct 2011 14:36:11 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDM0 A YouTube video of 25 Egyptian soldiers beating Coptic Christian Raef After Faheem prompted a protest by thousands of Coptic Christians on Sunday, Oct. 9. “[I] would like to let you know that millions of Egyptian Christians will go out to the streets all over Egypt — from all the cities — to demonstrate against the army leaders because of the video,” a VOM contact wrote the day before the protests. “The Muslim group and Salafi...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDMz Fri, 07 Oct 2011 14:14:12 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDMz Christians around the world will unite on Nov. 13 for the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Although we should always remember those in chains, IDOP is set aside as a special day to focus our prayers on the thousands of Christians around the world who are persecuted and martyred for their Christian faith. The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church reminds us to respond to the request that we hear so often...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDMy Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:25:49 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDMy A young Christian in Myanmar was forced to choose between faith and family recently when her relatives demanded that she recant her faith. On Sept. 19, 2011, 21-year-old Ying was preparing to leave for classes at an underground seminary when her relatives locked her in the house. They threatened to disown her, beat her and withdraw support — including food — if she continued to attend seminary or church. In addition, they threatened to send her...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDMx Wed, 28 Sep 2011 10:30:20 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDMx Five days before the beginning of fall semester at Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky, while many college students were moving into their dorms, 18-year-old Christina Kuo stood in front of a video camera. “Jesus Christ gave up his life for you. What would you give up for him?” she asked, looking into the camera. “[Asia Bibi’s] life is on the line, but we as her brothers and sisters in Christ have a voice. With God...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDMw Tue, 27 Sep 2011 06:06:09 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDMw Muslim extremists carried out new attacks on villages in Nigeria’s Plateau state in September, killing more than 100 Christians, including entire families, according to Compass Direct News. On Sept. 10, 2011, Muslim extremists stormed Vwang Fwil village at 3 a.m., killing 13 Christians. Attackers killed 14 more Christians, including one pregnant woman, when they attacked the Christian community of Vwang Kogot on Sept. 9. And on Sept. 8, 10...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDI5 Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:30:41 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDI5 Agents of Iran’s intelligence ministry recently took a Christian couple’s adopted child, demanding that the couple file a complaint against other Christians being held in prison, according to Mohabat News. The couple was taken to the hospital because of emotional stress caused by the loss of their child. “This is the first time I have ever seen this tactic — taking a child hostage,” said a VOM contact. “In the past,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDI3 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:17:43 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDI3 After an extensive search, Christians in the Bakool region of southwestern Somalia discovered the decapitated body of kidnapped Christian Juma Naradin Kamil on Sept. 2, 2011. Kamil’s body reportedly bore the marks of an execution by the Muslim terrorist group al-Shabab. “It is usual for al-Shabab to decapitate those they suspect to have embraced the Christian faith, or sympathizers of Western ideals,” a local Christian told...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDI2 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 14:06:17 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDI2 In July and August 2011, Muslim extremists sent threatening text messages to at least 10 church leaders in Khartoum, Sudan, according to Compass Direct News. The messages warned that Christian leaders, buildings and institutions have been targeted for future attack. As a result of the threats, many Christians have reportedly stopped attending church. “We want this country to be purely an Islamic state, so we must kill the infidels and...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDIz Mon, 12 Sep 2011 12:22:17 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDIz Holy Land Missions (HLM), which recently opened a youth center in a Muslim-dominated neighborhood of the West Bank, reports that more than 25 local children from a variety of religious backgrounds have accepted Christ. West Bank Christians are praying that God will use the youth center to change Muslims’ lives forever, according to HLM Vice President Steven Khoury. The day the center opened, youth leaders welcomed more than 60 children to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDIy Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:50:35 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDIy Eleven orphans in northern Laos are currently facing pressure from the principal of their orphanage to stop attending church. If they do not obey, the children may have to leave the orphanage, according to VOM contacts. After attending a local church and becoming a Christian, one of the orphans shared the gospel with his peers. Soon, 10 other orphans turned to Christ and began regularly attending church. When the principal heard of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDIx Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:22:32 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDIx After serving two years in Chinese labor camps Labor Camp, five leaders of the Linfen house church have been released: Fao Fuqin, Zhao Guoai, Yang Caizhen, Yang Hongzhen and Li Shuangpin. Although each person experienced physical and psychological torment, they all feel strong, experiencing “glory in the midst of trials and tribulations,” reported ChinaAid Association. “We who have been released express our most...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDIw Wed, 07 Sep 2011 09:19:44 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDIw Pastor Vahik Abrahamian, a 45-year-old Armenian Christian in the Republic of Iran, was reunited with his family after being released from prison on Monday morning, Aug. 29, 2011. According to reports obtained by Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN), Abrahamian’s health was severely damaged by the prison’s hygiene conditions, and his friends and family are concerned. “The Christian community worldwide, particularly the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDE3 Mon, 29 Aug 2011 14:55:57 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDE3 Iranian pastor Abdolreza “Matthias” Haghnejad was released from prison on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011, after a family member pledged their property for his bail. Haghnejad is charged with blasphemy against Islam, according to VOM contacts. Haghnejad, a pastor from the city of Bandar Anzal, was arrested on Aug. 17, while making a pastoral visit in the city of Rasht. VEVAK, the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and National Security, held...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDE2 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 12:28:43 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDE2 The Iranian government is showing increasing concern about the large quantities of Bibles entering the country, according to VOM contacts. Government advisor Dr. Majid Abhari recently announced the seizure of 6,500 copies of the Bible between the cities of Zanjan and Abhar in northwest Iran, according to Mohabat News. He accused the missionaries in charge of the operation of using money and propaganda to influence people in Iran, specifically...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDE0 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 14:32:38 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDE0 The Voice of the Martyrs has enjoyed three successful regional conferences so far this year at its new headquarters in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Only one more regional conference will be held in Bartlesville in 2011, so now is the time to sign up if you are interested in attending. “These regional conferences will inform, inspire, and call believers into deeper involvement in their support of persecuted believers around the world,”...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDEz Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:13:41 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDEz Authorities in Uzbekistan continue to pressure churches and religious groups, often fabricating evidence to punish or limit Christians’ ability to practice their faith. Christians recently have been subjected to excessive fines, false accusations and literature confiscations. In the most recent case, on July 15, 2011, Konstantin Malchikovsky, pastor of the Hamza District Baptist Church in Tashkent, was indicted for tax fraud. The...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDA5 Wed, 03 Aug 2011 12:27:09 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDA5 Muslims around the world will be observing Ramadan during August by fasting and focusing on their spiritual lives. This is also a good time for Christians to focus our prayers on the Muslim world. The Christian ministry 30-Days International reminds Christians to pray for the spread of the gospel and for more Christian workers among Muslims. While recognizing the errors of Islam, Christians can focus on God’s love for Muslims during this...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDA4 Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:35:55 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDA4 Ninety Christians have been arrested in Eritrea in the last two months, as authorities continue a campaign against Christians that began in December. Six of the 90 arrested have been released, but the location of the other 84 is unknown. On June 2, 2011, police arrested 26 college students from Mai-Mefhi College of Technology. Students were not given a reason for their arrest, but Release Eritrea reports that the students may have been arrested...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDA3 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:36:42 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDA3 In another example of the ongoing crackdown against house churches in China, house church pastor Shi Enhao was sentenced to two years in a labor camp last month. Pastor Shi, who serves as deputy chairman of the Chinese House Church Alliance, was charged with “illegal meetings and illegal organizing of venues for religious meetings.” The charges stem from the fact that Pastor Shi’s house church of several thousand meets in...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDA2 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 13:29:54 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDA2 More than 35,000 people have signed VOM’s “A Call for Mercy” petition since the campaign was launched in July 2011. With a goal to gather 1 million signatures, VOM hopes to help secure the release of Asia Bibi, a Christian wife and mother who was sentenced to death for blasphemy in Pakistan. After her arrest, more than 150,000 Pakistani Christians signed a separate petition demanding justice for persecution victims,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDA1 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:38:13 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDA1 Many Christians have fled the city of Maiduguri in northern Nigeria, fearing large-scale attacks by Islamic extremists after months of escalating violence. In the past few weeks, church attendance has dropped drastically and police have boarded up many churches and placed them under police or military guard, according to Compass Direct News. Leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) have advised churches that remain open to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDAy Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:03:58 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDAy A church in Bogor that has been attacked six times since 2008 was recently ordered to stop all religious activities or risk inviting “the community and others to react in a way that could spark a potential disturbance.” But church members have refused to obey the local government’s demands. The Taman Yasmin Indonesian Christian Church (GKI) in Bogor, West Java, near Jakarta, has had an ongoing dispute with Islamist groups...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDAx Tue, 12 Jul 2011 11:20:32 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDAx Two pastors in Kazakhstan have been punished for praying for others. Pastor Vissa Kim appealed then paid his fine in 2010, while Pastor Yerzhan Ushanov was charged just weeks ago. Pastor Ushanov of the New Life Protestant church in the city of Taraz, was charged on June 8, 2011 with “causing severe damage to health” under Criminal Code Article 111 by the National Security Committee (KNB). The alleged health damage came after Pastor...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDAw Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:49:24 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NDAw In March 2009, Christian roommates Maryam Rustampoor, 29, and Marzieh Amirizadeh, 32, were charged by the Iranian state with being “anti-government activists.” They spent 259 days in Tehran’s notorious Evin prison before being released in November 2009. In the first interview since their release, the two discussed their life in prison with Sam Yeghnazar of Elam Ministries. Sam: What was the worst thing that happened to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzk5 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 12:01:27 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzk5 Holy Land Missions (HLM) continues to face threats as it spreads the gospel in the West Bank. “Apparently Satan has caught wind that we are carrying out the Lord’s calling to dedicate this year to winning the lost at all costs,” said HLM Vice President Steven Khoury in a letter to VOM. The ministry recently purchased a building in a Muslim neighborhood to use as a youth center. A week before the youth center opened, Pastor...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzk3 Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:02:16 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzk3 UPDATE: Death Sentence Conditionally Annulled On Sunday, July 3, 2011, Iran's Supreme Court overturned the death sentence that a lower court had imposed on Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani. “The Supreme Court has annulled the death sentence and sent the case back to the court in Rasht, asking the accused to repent,” said Youcef’s attorney, Mohammad Ali Dadkhah. The court’s decision lifts Nadarkhani’s death sentence under...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzk2 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:21:36 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzk2 Eritrean Christians fleeing persecution often face appalling conditions in Egypt, according to a report on the Christian Today website. The report cites The Barnabas Fund as saying that Egypt is the most common destination for Christians escaping from Eritrea, one of the most hostile countries in the world for believers. The Eritrean government sees Christians and evangelicals as a threat to national security because of their allegiance to God...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzk1 Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:06:47 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzk1 Three American women who entered India on tourist visas were asked to leave last week following complaints by Hindu organizations that they were part of a religious conversion drive in the city of Kochi, Kerala state. “We have not received any evidence to indicate the three women were engaged in conversion-related activities. However, they were about to attend religious prayer sessions. Their tourist visa does not allow them to attend any...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzkz Wed, 15 Jun 2011 06:41:35 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzkz Iran’s religious leaders continue to denounce Christianity in their speeches and meetings. In an April 2011 speech, Islamist hardliner Ayatollah Mohammad Taghi Mesbah Yazdi, who is known as a mastermind of the government’s strategy against Christians, called for greater government action against Christians in Iran. Yazdi admitted that government actions aimed at destroying Christianity have thus far failed. “In connection with...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzkw Tue, 14 Jun 2011 09:18:36 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzkw Shaken and still feeling the effects from an attack on their service, Numseoul Presbyterian Church publicly forgave the men who attacked them on Wednesday, June 1, 2011. Armed with guns, the nephew of a former legislator, Muhammad Shoaib, and four other men disrupted the church service three days earlier. “They were just out of control,” Pastor Ashraf Masih told Compass Direct News. “Shoaib and his men broke the glass altar of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzg5 Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:07:59 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzg5 A provincial governor ordered seven churches in the province of Béjaïa to close recently, but Christian leaders do not intend to comply. On May 22, 2011, the Béjaïa police commissioner sent an official letter to the head of the Algerian Protestant Church Association (EPA), stating that all churches in his province and around the country should be closed immediately. The notice cited a May 8 decision from the governor of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzg3 Tue, 31 May 2011 06:08:39 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzg3 Hindu extremists continue to target Christians in India with harassment, false accusations, beatings and even murder. The Global Council of Indian Christians believes Hindu extremists are behind two recent murders of Christians in the state of Andhra Pradesh. In the most recent case, 17-year-old Nirupama Pradhan was raped and murdered after school on May 12, 2011. Her father, Sitrian Pradhan, named the possible murderer, but according to Asia...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzg2 Fri, 27 May 2011 06:29:28 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzg2 Eleven Church of Iran members have been acquitted of charges that they committed “activities against the order of the country” and that they illegally drank alcohol. Both charges relate to their involvement in a house church meeting at which they drank Communion wine. The Christians, who were arrested and charged in April, were brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal on May 1 to present their case. In a mid-May verdict, a judge...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzg1 Thu, 26 May 2011 08:50:45 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzg1 Yang Caizhen, a Chinese Christian detained for organizing a prayer rally, was released from prison last February. With more than six months left in her sentence, Caizhen was given an early release due to poor health. She had been held at the Shanxi Women’s Prison in Taiyuan City for more than a year. Relatives who had visited Caizhen said she did not look well. She was missing a front tooth, her hair had become very gray and her hands were...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzg0 Fri, 20 May 2011 14:55:11 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzg0 The Chinese government enacted new regulations this week in a further attempt to control its growing Christian population. The pastors of some of China’s house churches face new reporting regulations, according to VOM workers. The pastors must provide police with weekly reports detailing their whereabouts and how many people attend their church meetings. If pastors leave their city, they must report their travel plans, and they are...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzgy Tue, 17 May 2011 14:24:41 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzgy Christians in Uzbekistan have faced increased persecution recently in the form of raids, literature confiscations, court-ordered literature destruction and heavy fines. On April 5, Police and National Security Service (NSS) officers raided the home of Anvar Rajapov, a believer in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, according to Forum 18 News Service. Police confiscated about 250 religious books and recordings, a computer and Rajapov’s passport....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzgx Wed, 04 May 2011 08:38:59 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzgx Three Iranian believers were set free on Saturday, April 30, 2011 after 238 days in prison. A fourth believer who was arrested at the same time remains in custody. Arash Kermanjani and his wife, Arezou Teimouri, were at the home of Pastor Vahik Abrahamian and his wife, Sonia, when they were arrested together on Sept. 4, 2010. The four were taken before a judge on April 28, and they and their lawyers were asked to present their cases. Two days...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzgw Fri, 29 Apr 2011 07:12:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzgw “The truth is that the church in northern Nigeria has never seen this kind of violence against the church,” wrote Isaac, a VOM partner in Nigeria. “We have a report of over 31,000 people displaced. The Red Cross confirmed 276 people were injured. Hundreds of Christians are feared killed.” Violent protests broke out across Nigeria’s Muslim northern region on April 18 after an overwhelming election victory by...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzc5 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:40:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzc5 The standoff between the Chinese government and the country’s largest unsanctioned house church has compelled Chinese authorities to take a public stance on the house church movement. Beijing’s Shouwang Church, whose 1,000-member congregation includes educated and affluent business people, intellectuals and students, has run into conflict with authorities in recent weeks for attempting to meet in public spaces outdoors. The...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzc3 Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:48:14 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzc3 The Voice of the Martyrs launched a new iPhone application on Friday, April 22, 2011. The app features daily prayers, country information for 53 hostile and restricted nations, and persecution news. It also includes access to the VOM website, www.persecution.com. The app can be set to give a daily reminder to users to pray for the featured prayer request. The Voice of the Martyrs’ Prayer Calendar app was developed by 43rd Element, an...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzc1 Wed, 20 Apr 2011 06:23:35 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzc1 Muslims Warn that Christians May “Pay the Price” for Election Outcome Violence erupted in many of Nigeria’s northern cities on Saturday, April 16, after a presidential election that appears to have given a sweeping victory to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. Goodluck, a Christian from the south and representative of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), took 57 percent of the vote. He received about 22.5 million...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzc0 Tue, 19 Apr 2011 13:05:15 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzc0 Mexico’s rampant drug violence spilled over into the evangelical community in April when a pastor was kidnapped during Sunday morning worship. Four masked men burst into the El Shaddai Christian Center in Lázaro Cárdenas on the morning of April 10 and opened fire with automatic weapons. They then kidnapped the pastor, Josué Ramírez Santiago, in front of 500 helpless worshipers. The kidnappers are thought to be drug...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzcx Fri, 15 Apr 2011 09:28:56 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzcx Evangelist Luis Palau made history on April 9 when he preached at the Protestant centennial celebration in Vietnam, becoming the first U.S.-based evangelist to preach at a major event there since the 1975 communist takeover. The 76-year-old evangelist preached on two consecutive nights at the Thanh Long Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, which was not the venue the event organizers had originally sought. Event organizers had planned to hold the event...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzcw Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:02:57 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mzcw Chinese authorities arrested more than 100 members of an unapproved Beijing church on Sunday, April 10, after they gathered for an outdoor worship service. Police cordoned off the outdoor pedestrian walkway where the Shouwang Church had planned to hold the service and arrested those who came to worship. The church has a congregation of 1,000 members, but many had been warned not to attend the outdoor service. Church leaders had prepared members...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzY5 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 07:05:48 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzY5 A Beijing church has been forced to meet outdoors after repeatedly being denied access to meeting spaces. On March 27, 2011, the Shouwang church published an open letter stating its intent to begin worshiping outdoors. The letter stated that while the congregation is aware that the action might be seen as a political move, they don’t believe the church should be a political organization. “To worship God, we are willing to take the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzY4 Thu, 07 Apr 2011 11:59:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzY4 Zahra’s life was bleak. Her grandson had a terminal illness, and the secret police had killed her two daughters on the same night. Zahra’s daughters were university students, one 20 years old and the other 23. To cover up the crime, the secret police forced Zahra to claim it was an accident. All she wanted was to be with her children. She spent all her time thinking about her daughters, crying, smelling their clothing and kissing...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzY0 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 08:30:56 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzY0 Government Persecution of Church in China Worsens for Fifth Straight Year Chinese government persecution of the church in China continued to worsen in 2010, the fifth straight year of escalating persecution, according to an annual report released Thursday by the Christian monitoring group ChinaAid Association, a VOM partner. Although the report was based on just 90 known cases of persecution of Christians and churches in China last year,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzYz Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:39:42 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzYz As Nepal continues its transition from a monarchal Hindu Kingdom to a democratic secular state, Christians are becoming concerned that the country’s new constitution may limit or even ban evangelism. The draft proposal includes a seemingly liberal religious freedom clause that states, “Every person shall have the freedom to profess, practice or preserve his or her own religion in accordance with his or her faith, or to refrain from...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzYy Fri, 01 Apr 2011 14:14:11 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzYy Two church groups that have been meeting at a university in central Almaty, Kazakhstan, are now prohibited from using the school’s facilities. City officials told staff at the International University of Information Technology that renting space to religious communities is now banned. University officials had no choice but to comply with the ban. “We want to continue to rent to them,” a university official said. “It was...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzYw Thu, 31 Mar 2011 13:26:48 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzYw Two Indian nationals have been locked in a Saudi Arabian jail for more than two months, even though they were sentenced to just 45 days in prison. The religious police arrested Yohan Nese, 31, and Vasantha Sekhar Vara, 28, on Jan. 21 during a raid on a prayer meeting. Four other Indian nationals at the prayer meeting escaped arrest. Police accused Yohan and Vasantha of converting Muslims, and they asked them how many Christians are in Saudi...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzU2 Mon, 28 Mar 2011 06:52:23 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzU2 Four years after the brutal murders of three Christians at a publishing house in Malatya, Turkey, attitudes toward Christians in Turkey have become even less favorable. According to a new report from the Turkish Association of Protestant Christians, the Christian minority in Turkey suffer discrimination, slander, personal attacks and attacks against churches on a daily basis. Legal changes that followed Turkey’s bid to become a full member...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzU1 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:41:46 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzU1 Six Christians leading a service at a nursing home on March 13 were detained by police and charged with resisting police orders and violating procedures for conducting a meeting. The Baptist Christians were leading Sunday worship at the “Kindness” nursing home in Ohangaron City when police raided the service in an “anti-terror operation.” “Police unexpectedly broke into the foyer of the nursing home during the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzU0 Fri, 25 Mar 2011 06:30:56 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzU0 Two failed bomb attacks on churches in Jos, Nigeria, have magnified the fears of Christians in the region. On Sunday, March 20, a bomb exploded prematurely, killing three men who were carrying it toward two churches. The intended targets were worshipers at the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and the nearby Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) The same day, a bomb planted at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church on Jengre Road in Jos...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzUy Thu, 24 Mar 2011 12:05:10 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzUy A group of armed Muslims opened fire on Christians at an open-air prayer meeting in Pakistan this week, killing two men. The shootings occurred during The Salvation Army Church’s annual church celebration and prayer meeting on March 21, 2011, at Hurr Camp, a colony of working-class Christians in Hyderabad. During the open-air meeting, a group of Muslim youths interrupted the meeting by playing music. They also verbally insulted the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzUx Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:28:39 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzUx The battle over Bibles continues in Malaysia. In January 2011, port authorities confiscated 30,000 Bibles that a branch of Gideons International had ordered. Government officials claimed the Bibles caused a conflict with an ongoing court case involving use of the word “Allah” in a Catholic newspaper. But most Christians believe the government is worried that the Bibles will be distributed to Muslim Malays. In Malaysia, the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQ5 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 06:30:17 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQ5 Iran’s Religious Leaders Continue Public Attacks on Christianity Ayatollah Vahid Khorasani spoke out against Christianity and evangelism during a recent religious class at the Islamic seminary in Qom, Iran. On Wednesday, March 9, Khorasani stated, “People [in Iran] have become Christians, and Shiite youths are being misled by Christianity.” His statements were published on the government website “Ayandeh.” Khorasani...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQ3 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:20:03 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQ3 At least one Christian has been killed in western Ethiopia in widespread violence resulting from a rumor that a Christian tore a page from a Quran. More than 4,000 Christians have also been displaced after Islamic extremists burned 59 churches and 28 homes in Asendabo, Jimma Zone, beginning Wednesday, March 2. “The atrocity is still going on, and more people are suffering,” a source told Compass Direct News. VOM contacts said local...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQ2 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:38:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQ2 Despite international criticism, it appears unlikely that Pakistan will amend or repeal its controversial blasphemy laws. The laws impose severe penalties, including the possibility of a death sentence, on those found guilty of insulting Islam. In 2010, Christian Asia Bibi became the first person to receive a death sentence under these laws, for her alleged blasphemy of the prophet Muhammad. Asia Bibi remains in prison while her sentence is...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQ1 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 12:28:28 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQ1 Literature Bans on the Orthodox Lifted The head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Turkmenistan announced in a speech on Feb. 2 that the government ban on religious literature for the Orthodox Church has been lifted, according to Forum 18 News. No other church group in the country has the same freedom. Religious publishing is allowed only with government approval, and very little is allowed. Christian literature, audio recordings and DVDs are...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQ0 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 07:25:07 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQ0 Pakistan’s only Christian cabinet member, Shahbaz Bhatti, was assassinated by gunmen on March 2, 2011. Shahbaz, a member of the ruling Pakistan People’s Party, ardently advocated reforming Pakistan’s blasphemy law, which is often used against Christians. He is the second politician killed for criticizing the blasphemy law and calling for the release of convicted Christian Asia Bibi. The governor of Punjab province, Salman...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQz Tue, 01 Mar 2011 09:24:23 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQz Imprisoned Afghan Christian Said Musa has recently been released from prison. Compass Direct News reported that Said left the country Feb. 21, 2011, after being released days earlier. Said was arrested May 31, 2010, after a TV station broadcast video showing Afghan Christians being baptized and worshiping. Turning from Islam is a capital offense in Afghanistan. Early in his imprisonment, Said was forced to publicly deny Jesus on TV, an act of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQy Thu, 24 Feb 2011 06:25:30 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQy Flyers posted recently in villages around Laos described Christians as dishonest and immoral traitors. The flyer’s writer accused Christians of being political tools who convert others for financial gain. He wrote, “Christianity … has the purpose to brainwash society. It has the purpose to get rid of other religions and other cultures opposing Christianity. Every teaching of Jesus Christ is related to what the Americans teach...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQx Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:09:52 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzQx Eritrean authorities released two pregnant Christian women from jail days before their expected delivery dates. The women had been incarcerated for three months, along with about 100 other Christians who were arrested in a year-end crackdown on evangelicals by Eritrea’s communist government. All Christian groups except the Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran churches are banned in Eritrea. The year-end purge came in response to an order by the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzM4 Fri, 18 Feb 2011 14:01:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzM4 A Tashkent judge fined the accountant of the Uzbek Bible Society 316,505 Soms ($189) for “violating procedures” during the import of two shipments of Bibles in 2008 and 2010, according to Forum 18 News. The judge also ordered the Bible Society to return the nearly 15,000 Bibles to the sender at its own expense. The shipments contained Bibles in Russian and Uzbek, along with children’s Bibles in Uzbek and Karakalpak, a language...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzM3 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 08:19:21 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzM3 Pastors and Christian leaders in Cuba are reporting a shift in how the government treats Christians. The government appears to have moved away from higher profile forms of oppression, such as threatening to shut down or destroy churches, and is now focusing pressure on church leaders, according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). Church leaders both within and outside of the Cuban Council of Churches (CCC) report receiving frequent visits...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzM2 Mon, 14 Feb 2011 08:55:07 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzM2 A Muslim mob in Temanggung, Indonesia, attacked three churches last week after a Christian convicted of blasphemy was issued a sentence they thought was too lenient. Protesters burst into the courtroom on Tuesday, Feb. 8, immediately after Antonius Bawengan was given a five-year prison sentence for distributing evangelical tracts in the area last October. Bawengan was given the maximum sentence allowable, but it did not satisfy the Muslim...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzM1 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:31:13 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzM1 International pressure may have changed the outcome for an imprisoned Afghan Christian. The scheduled sentencing of Shoaib Assadullah on Jan. 4 was postponed after international pressure drove Afghanistan’s Attorney General to review his case. There is considerable pressure to release Shoaib, but at the same time, conservative elements within the government want to prosecute him. Shoaib was arrested Oct. 21, 2010, after he gave a New...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzM0 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 14:53:33 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzM0 Seven Iranian Christians were released from prison on bail on Saturday, Jan. 29. Four women were released from Tehran’s Evin prison, and two men and a woman were released in the city of Isfahan three days earlier. The seven spent one month in prison after being arrested along with 31 other Christians on Dec. 26, 2010. Some of the other 31 have since been released. All were arrested simply because they are Christians. The seven reported...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzMz Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:21:14 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzMz On Jan. 4, 2011, at 7 p.m., district police arrested Pastor Wanna at his home in Nakoon Village, Laos. They also arrested 10 other believers as they ate a meal together in Pastor Wanna’s home, which also serves as a house church. The Christians asked that they be allowed to finish their meal, but their request was denied. The believers were taken away at gunpoint. The next day, two of the men were released. The other believers, including...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzMx Tue, 18 Jan 2011 14:20:23 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzMx An Egyptian court has sentenced a man to death for killing six Coptic Christians and a Muslim policeman in January 2010. Mohamed Ahmed Hussein was found guilty of premeditated murder for his role in a drive-by shooting outside a church in Nag Hamadi, in southern Egypt. VOM assisted some of the Nag Hamadi victims with medical care and recovery. The sentence was issued just two weeks after a suicide bomber killed 23 people at a Coptic church in...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzMw Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:04:18 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzMw Since Christmas, more than 70 Christians have been arrested in Iran in a large, well-coordinated strike. Most of those arrested belong to the house church movement. Many were released from custody, but a dozen or more remain in detention. Those charged with trying to convert Muslims face the possibility of a death sentence. Officials say that more detentions are possible, and Tehran’s governor said in a recent speech that evangelicals are...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI5 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 07:35:57 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI5 On Jan. 3, a judge told Shoaib Assadullah that if he did not renounce Christ within one week he would face up to 20 years in prison or even be sentenced to death. Shoaib was arrested on Oct. 21, 2010, when he gave a man a Bible in Mazar-e-Sharif, the fourth largest city in Afghanistan. The man reported the incident to authorities, and Shoaib was arrested. He has been imprisoned in northern Afghanistan since his arrest. Although the judge has...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI4 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 09:48:15 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI4 Four regional conferences are scheduled for 2011 at The Voice of the Martyrs’ new headquarters building, The Wurmbrand Center, in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. “These regional conferences will inform, inspire, and call believers into deeper involvement in their support of persecuted believers around the world,” said Dave Brackemyre, Director of VOM Voice Ministries. “If you attend you will hear from believers who have suffered...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI3 Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:22:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI3 A 17-year-old girl who converted to Christianity from Islam was shot to death recently in an apparent “honor killing” in Somalia, according to Compass Direct News. Nurta Mohamed Farah, who had fled her village to live with relatives after her parents tortured her for leaving Islam, died on Nov. 25, according to the Compass Direct report. “Area sources said they strongly suspected that the two unidentified men in Galgadud Region...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI2 Tue, 28 Dec 2010 09:54:07 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI2 Four Christians were given suspended prison sentences recently for opening a place of worship without a license in the eastern region of Kabylia, Algeria, according to Asia News. The Christians, a Protestant clergyman and three of his parishioners, were convicted under a controversial 2006 law. The law requires that anyone who wants to set up a place of worship, whether Muslim or non-Muslim, must obtain a permit indicating the name of the place...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI1 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 06:25:42 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI1 On Dec. 12, seven house churches were forcibly closed in West Java, Indonesia, by Muslim extremists who claimed the buildings were being used for “illegal church meetings,” according to VOM contacts. Between 200 and 300 extremists from the Islam Protector Front, Moslem Forum and Islamic Reformation Movement gathered outside the houses and demanded to inspect the buildings. The extremists said the buildings, which were being used by...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI0 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:44:23 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzI0 Sandul Bibi recently met with VOM friends in Pakistan to celebrate one year since her release from prison. Sandul was arrested in October, 2008, and falsely charged with tearing pages from the Quran. During the time of celebration Sandul and the other believers took time out to pray specifically for Asia Bibi, another Christian in Pakistan who is currently facing a death sentence for alleged blasphemy against Mohammed. This video includes...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzIz Tue, 07 Dec 2010 11:42:39 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzIz On Dec. 3, 2010, a mullah in Pakistan offered more than $6,000 (U.S.) to anyone who kills Asia Bibi, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. VOM contacts are concerned for Asia’s safety. In the past, Christian have been killed in jail, on their way to court, and even after being released from jail. “There is threat that she can be killed even after her releasing from the jail,” VOM contacts said. “It’s not...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzIx Tue, 30 Nov 2010 09:42:19 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzIx On Nov. 22, three more believers were killed in Mosul, Iraq, according to the Assyrian International News Agency and Cable News Network. In this latest attack on the country’s Christian community, assailants entered a shop owned by two Christian brothers, Saad Hanna and Waad Hanna, and shot them. Waad died at the scene, and Saad died from his injuries a few hours later. In a separate incident later in the day, police found an elderly...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzIw Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:04:56 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzIw The Assize Court of the province of Gilan, in Iran, has officially charged Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani with denying that Mohammed was a prophet. The court stated that this resulted in apostasy because Nardarkhani believes in Jesus and has shared his faith with others, according to The Voice of the Martyrs. The indictment, which was issued by a public prosecutor in the presence of a jury, stated, “He has frequently denied the prophet hood of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzE5 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 06:55:15 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzE5 Fazeelat Bibi’s face lights up when she talks about sharing the gospel with women and teaching them to read it on their own. Fazeelat, now 46, has been teaching other women, in her village in Pakistan, since 2002. God has given her a heart to spiritually uplift her Christian community, many of whom are poor and uneducated. With help from VOM’s Pastor Support Program (PSP), Fazeelat has ministered to women and taught many of them to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzE3 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:22:57 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzE3 Attorneys for Pakistani Christian woman Asia Bibi on Monday filed an appeal against the death sentence handed down against her on November 8, 2010. VOM friends spoke with Asia’s husband, Ashiq, following the filing of the appeal in the court. You can write letters of encouragement to Asia Bibi, as well as letters to Pakistani officials protesting this unjust sentence, at www.PrisonerAlert.com.]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzE2 Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:05:07 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzE2 On Nov. 8, Asia Bibi was sentenced to death by a judge in Pakistan, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The judge also fined Asia $1,190 (U.S.) and told her she had seven days to appeal the decision. VOM contacts reported that her attorney will appeal the sentence. Asia was arrested by police on June 19, 2009, and charged with blasphemy after she engaged in a religious discussion with co-workers. Many of the local women, including...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzE1 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:17:44 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzE1 On Oct. 31, Islamic extremists attacked worshipers at the Syrian Catholic Church of Baghdad, killing 59 Christians and severely injuring more than 80 others, according to VOM sources. Several gunmen armed with automatic weapons and explosives entered the church during a worship service and opened fire on the worshipers. Two priests were among those killed in the attack. “[This church was attacked] because they are very active, especially...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzE0 Tue, 02 Nov 2010 10:10:17 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzE0 Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev, who was sentenced to four years in prison on Oct. 21, will likely be sent to the Seydi labor camp, according to Forum 18 News. Pastor Nurliev’s sentence includes forced treatment for an alleged drug addiction, and the prison has been accused of using psychotropic (mind-altering) drugs on prisoners. Those close to Pastor Nurliev are very concerned for his health, Forum 18 reported. Christians in Turkmenistan said...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzEx Wed, 27 Oct 2010 12:29:21 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzEx On Oct. 20, police detained Dr. Fan Yafeng, a prominent Christian lawyer and leader of the Chinese Christian Legal Defense Association, according to China Aid Association. A group of police reportedly entered Dr. Fan’s home last Wednesday and prevented him from leaving. When they blocked his exit, Dr. Fan struggled through the doorway. Police then shoved him and assaulted him, causing him to sprain his ankle. Police immediately took Dr....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzEw Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:40:06 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzEw On Oct. 21, Pastor Ilmurad Nurliev was sentenced to four years in prison after being convicted of large-scale swindling, according to Forum 18 News Service. Pastor Nurliev, who leads the Light to the World Pentecostal church in Mary, Turkmenistan, was arrested two months ago after being accused of swindling money from several people in his congregation. Pastor Nurliev’s wife and many church members have insisted that the charges were...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzA2 Fri, 15 Oct 2010 06:20:03 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzA2 Christians in Iran are reporting that Pastor Youcef Nardarkhani has been sentenced to death for what is called a “thought crime.” VOM contacts confirm that the pastor’s trial was held in recent weeks in the 11th Chamber of The Assize Court of the province of Gilan, but a formal verdict has not yet been delivered by the court. Pastor Youcef, a leader in the Full Gospel “Church of Iran” network, is one of several...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzA0 Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:43:17 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzA0 On Sept. 21, nearly 200 police officers demolished a prayer room at Taishan Christian Church in Taizhou, Zhejiang province, citing a “building code violation,” according to China Aid Association. After the demolition, dozens of church members held a church service and police officers tried to disperse them. A member of the church said a line of police prevented them from removing their belongings from the prayer room. This is the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzAz Wed, 29 Sep 2010 07:57:07 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzAz Pastor “Bike” Zhang Mingxuan and his wife, along with several other believers, were detained on Sept. 20 while attending court proceedings for imprisoned Christians Liu Yunhua and Gao Jianli in Xuchang, Henan province, according to China Aid Association. Pastor Zhang, who has been imprisoned previously, was released a few hours later with his wife. Other Christians, including the son of defendant Liu Yunhua, were detained by...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzAy Tue, 28 Sep 2010 06:27:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzAy Nine Christians were arrested recently in Hamedan, Iran, on charges of engaging in journalistic activities, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). Iranian state television reported that two of those arrested were supported by organizations from the United States and Great Britain, but their nationalities are unknown. The other seven were reportedly accused of cooperating with “Christian-Zionist organizations.” The Iranian...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzAx Fri, 24 Sep 2010 14:05:55 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzAx On Sept. 19, Islamic extremists broke into the Philadelphia Pentecostal Church in Sharif Town, Karachi City, Pakistan, and set fire to Bibles, hymnals, a musical instrument and a table, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The church, which is led by Pastors George Rakha and Peter Shahzad, was established six years ago. “At 4 a.m., some fanatics broke the lock of the church door and entered the church,” VOM contacts...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzAw Thu, 23 Sep 2010 14:56:23 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MzAw November 14: Churches Reminded to Pray for the Persecuted Churches across the United States and around the world are preparing to “remember those in bonds” (Hebrews 13:3) on Nov. 14, the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). Begun in 1996, IDOP is a day for intercessory prayer and citizen action on behalf of persecuted Christian communities worldwide. “As our staff meets with persecuted Christians around...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjk2 Tue, 21 Sep 2010 10:14:15 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjk2 On Sept. 5, Hindu extremists in Andhra Pradesh, India, destroyed a church building in Patagunta village, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The following day, the extremists filed charges against two pastors and three members of the church, alleging that the Christians had destroyed local temples and Hindu idols. Police arrested all five believers the same day. Pray that these five Christians will have the opportunity to share their...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjk1 Fri, 17 Sep 2010 08:17:19 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjk1 Churches Closed, Leaders Threatened On Aug. 5 and 6, the Chinese government shut down three house churches in Wuhan, Hubei; Sanmenxia, Henan; and Changsha, Hunan, according to China Aid Association. The churches all belonged to the China Gospel Fellowship, one of the largest networks in China, with an estimated 5–7 million members. The churches were closed after church leaders received invitations to attend the Third Lausanne Congress on...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjky Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:31:46 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjky Neshan Saeedi, a 27-year-old Christian, has not been seen since his arrest by government authorities in July, according to the Farsi Christian News Network. On July 24, Saeedi was at home with his wife and young daughter in the city of Ahvaz, Iran, when plainclothes security officers entered his house and arrested the family. Security officers searched the home and seized personal belongings, including a computer, CDs containing films of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjkx Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:57:58 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjkx Pentecostal pastor Ilmurad Nurliev faces criminal charges of “large–scale swindling,” according to Forum 18 News. The charges carry a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and possible confiscation of property. Pastor Nurliev was arrested at his home in southeastern Turkmenistan on Aug. 27. Three women who previously attended Nurliev’s church wrote statements stating the pastor took money from them. Nurliev’s...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjkw Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:37:47 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjkw On Aug. 21, Mohamed Ali Garas, a prominent Somali church leader and convert from Islam, was beaten by Muslims in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, according to International Christian Concern. Mohamed was walking to his new home when two Somali Muslim men struck him on the head with a wooden club and knocked him to the ground. The men continued hitting and kicking him in the chest and stomach. Mohamed had fled to Ethiopia from Somalia in 2005 after...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjg5 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:43:41 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjg5 On Aug. 12, a court acquitted two Tanzanian evangelists of “illegal preaching,” according to Compass Direct News. The evangelists, Eleutery Kobelo and Cecil Simbaulanga, were arrested in October 2009 after Muslims invited them to participate in a religious debate. The evangelists said that on the day of the debate, the Muslims arrived with government security agents. The government agents then charged the evangelists with...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjg4 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 06:39:06 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjg4 Update: Family Visits Imprisoned Church Leader On July 13, the family of Uyghur house–church leader, Alimujiang Yimiti, was permitted to visit him for 20 minutes, according to China Aid Association. Alimujiang’s family was relieved to see him alive, as guards had repeatedly refused to allow them visits in recent weeks. During their meeting, Alimujiang confirmed that he had received his wife’s letters. However, only one of his...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjg2 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 14:52:49 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjg2 On Aug. 15, police in Mandya district, Karnataka, India, arrested a pastor and an evangelist with India Campus Crusade for Christ, along with 10 other believers, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Pastor Satish and evangelist Ravi were conducting a service in a believer’s home when about 30 people entered the home and started attacking them and accusing them of forcibly converting locals. Police arrested the 12 Christians...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjg0 Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:35:05 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjg0 Ten members of a Christian aid team were murdered in northern Afghanistan on Aug. 5 after spending three weeks providing medical care to villagers, according to The New York Times (NYT). Six Americans, a Briton, a German and two Afghans were ambushed when they stopped to eat lunch in Sharrun Valley, in the Hindu Kush mountains of northern Afghanistan. The Taliban, who have claimed responsibility for the killings, have accused the team of spying...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjgz Tue, 10 Aug 2010 08:44:14 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjgz On July 18, government security forces arrested 15 Christian converts traveling to the city of Bojnoord to meet with other believers, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). In what appeared to be a coordinated effort, security forces stopped the Christians’ bus in Mashhad, the capital of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. Authorities boarded the bus, arrested 15 believers and took them to the Ministry of Information’s central...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjgy Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:22:03 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjgy On July 15, Pastor Artur Suleimanov was shot to death by a gunman as he was leaving the Hosanna House of Prayer in Makhachkala, Dagestan, according to VOM Canada and Barnabas Fund. Dagestan is a federal republic of Russia in the North Caucasus region. Pastor Suleimanov was known as a dynamic leader of one of the largest Protestant churches in Russia. “Pastor Suleimanov was a wonderful Christian brother, and his shocking death is a...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjgx Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:15:19 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjgx On July 25, Ali Golchin was released from Evin Prison after paying bail of 200 million Rials (about $21,700 U.S.), according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). Golchin, 29, was arrested at his home in the city of Varamin on April 29. At the time of his arrest and while he was in prison, government agents searched his home and confiscated a Bible and other books, a computer, his identification documents and other personal belongings,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjc5 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 07:03:05 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjc5 Authorities in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous region of Uzbekistan, have renewed a crackdown on Protestant Christians in recent weeks, according to Forum 18 News. On July 8, two Christians were sentenced to 10 days in prison for religious activities. One of the imprisoned believers, Lepes Omarov, had previously faced opposition for his Christian activities.  According to Forum 18, only state-registered Muslim communities and one Russian...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjc4 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:02:19 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjc4 Warning: Graphic images below. Two Christian men were shot to death as they left a courthouse on Monday, July 19, in Faisalabad, Pakistan, according to VOM sources. Rashid Emmanuel, 32, and his brother, Sajid, 30, were facing blasphemy charges after allegedly distributing papers that denigrated Mohammed. According to eyewitnesses and VOM sources, police were leading the two brothers from the courthouse when masked men opened fire on them....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjc3 Fri, 23 Jul 2010 08:44:49 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjc3 Image courtesy of Farsi Christian News Network. www.fcnn.com Ali Golchin, an Iranian Christian, has been held in solitary confinement in Tehran’s Evin prison since he was arrested in his hometown of Varamin, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). After appealing to authorities for weeks, Ali’s father was finally allowed to visit him on June 17. “Ali’s father shared that he was distressed to find his son...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjc1 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 07:07:31 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjc1 On July 13, violence erupted between Muslims and Christians in Eastern Nigeria. “Eight people have been killed and 40 others seriously injured in the violence, while six mosques and one church were burnt,” Taraba state police commissioner Aliyu Musa told Agence France-Presse (AFP). A local observer told AFP the violence was caused by the “construction of a mosque at a police headquarters.” A Christian mob opposed to the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjc0 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 08:47:57 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjc0 On July 5, Behnam Sabti, a Christian, died instantly when a bomb exploded under his car in Mosul, Iraq, according to VOM Canada and Asia News. According to local reports, Behnam was killed because of his "religious identity." In recent months, Christians and other religious minorities in Iraq have faced violence because of their beliefs. This incident is the latest in a series of attacks on Christians that have occurred in Iraq in recent...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjcz Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:11:35 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjcz On July 4, unknown assailants attacked a college professor, severing his right hand and part of his arm in Kerala, India. According to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts T.J. Joseph, a professor at Newman's College in Thodupuzha, was returning from a Sunday service at his church when a van pulled up beside him. The assailants forced him from his car and attacked him with knives and swords, amputating his lower arm and inflicting deep wounds to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjcy Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:02:50 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjcy On June 13, Maoist rebels in Nepal attacked Christians at an evening prayer meeting, according to VOM contacts. The rebels ordered them to stop the meeting and then assaulted the pastor and believers when they refused. Before the attack, the pastor had asked the Maoists to leave and return the next day to talk with him, but the rebels instead began to beat him with sticks. When church members, including the pastor’s father and women in...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjcx Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:43:16 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Mjcx On June 23, two Assemblies of God pastors, Shiju Kuriakose and Jayan, were attacked by unknown assailants, according to VOM contacts. The pastors were beaten with iron rods while leaving a prayer meeting at a Christian’s home in Bangalore, India. Both pastors were badly injured and were admitted to the hospital. The Voice of the Martyrs supports and assists persecuted believers in India. VOM ministers to persecuted believers by...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY5 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 11:20:17 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY5 A 17-year-old girl in the Gedo Region of Somalia was severely beaten by her family recently after they discovered she had converted to Christianity, according to Compass Direct News. Nurta Mohamed Farah, 17, was later taken to a doctor, who prescribed medication for a “mental illness.” When she refused to abandon her Christian faith, her family forced her to take the medication. Nurta’s family has read Islamic scripture to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY4 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 07:06:18 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY4 On June 13, Pastor Wang Dao was released on bail after being held for more than a month on charges of “gathering a mob to disrupt the public order,” according to China Aid Association. Pastor Wang was arrested in China’s Guangdong Province in early May. Pastor Wang, a leader of the Liangren Church, has reportedly been threatened with exile and denied the right to meet with his lawyers. He now faces new charges of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY3 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 08:43:24 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY3 On June 7, a Christian businessman was shot to death in front of his home in Kirkuk, Iraq, according to VOM Canada. Those who witnessed the murder of 34-year-old Hani Salim Wadi described it as a “targeted killing.” Several Christians in Kirkuk and Mosul have been attacked in recent months, and Christians in Iraq have expressed fear of renewed violence. Chaldean Archbishop Emil Nona said, “We are seeing another, the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY2 Fri, 11 Jun 2010 05:57:47 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY2 On May 31, the Afghanistan government suspended the operations of two Christian relief organizations over suspicions that they converted Afghans to Christianity, according to media reports. Converting from Islam to Christianity and proselytizing are crimes in Afghanistan. According to a New York Times report, an Afghan television station broadcast photographs that supposedly showed Westerners baptizing Afghans and Afghans praying at private...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY1 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:33:52 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY1 On May 21, members of the Indonesia Christian Church (GKI) visited the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to report that local officials had stopped construction of the GKI’s building in Bogor City, Indonesia, and sealed the building, according to the Indonesian news site kompas.com and The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Church members told the NHRC that local government officials had banned their Christian activities, sealed their...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY0 Fri, 28 May 2010 08:23:10 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjY0 On May 19, Muslim youths destroyed two church buildings and a pastor’s house in Northern Nigeria, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. “Dr Saleh received a phone call from one of the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) missionaries, Gambo Mato, serving in a village called Kwasam, … Kano state, saying, ‘Muslim youths are now destroying my house and our church buildings; they have set my house and the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjYz Mon, 24 May 2010 20:10:39 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjYz Praise God! On May 22, Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh were acquitted of all charges by the Iranian judicial authorities, according to Elam Ministries. Iranian authorities warned Maryam and Marzieh that any future Christian activity would be dealt with seriously. “We are most grateful to everyone who prayed for us,” Marzieh told Elam Ministries. “I have no doubt that God heard the prayers of his people.”...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjYy Thu, 20 May 2010 08:31:13 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjYy On May 4, members of the Islamic extremist group al-Shabaab killed an underground church leader in Xarardheere, Mudug region, Somalia, according to Compass Direct News. The extremists, who were battling a rival rebel group for control of the area, were searching house to house for enemy fighters when they arrived at the home of 57-year-old Yusuf Ali Nur, a school teacher and underground church leader. They suspected that Yusuf was a Christian,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjYw Wed, 19 May 2010 07:12:37 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjYw   The Moroccan government has deported twenty-eight Christian workers so far in May, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. “The Moroccan government continues political pressures against us Moroccan believers and against the foreign workers, and if it stopped for a while before, it was only to restart again and strongly,” VOM contacts said. “Please continue to pray and also to act, because if this …...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjU5 Wed, 12 May 2010 07:52:41 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjU5 On April 24, Vahik Abrahamian, an Armenian Christian, was temporarily released from Evin prison after 53 days in solitary confinement, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). Abrahamian and his wife were arrested by undercover officers while returning home from visiting a friend. His wife was released immediately, but Abrahamian was searched and detained. While in prison, he was denied access to a lawyer and was not allowed to speak...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjU2 Fri, 07 May 2010 06:38:47 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjU2 On April 24, 19-year-old Iranian Christian Daniel Shahri was released on bail from the Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). Daniel was arrested on April 11 and held on charges of publishing falsities and insults to the Muslim faith. “Sources inside the prison report that … the charges of publishing falsities and insults to Islam were dropped, but other charges, such as propagation of the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjU1 Wed, 05 May 2010 07:54:20 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjU1 On April 24, seven people were killed by Muslim youths in Jos, Nigeria, according to Compass Direct News. Two journalists for the Church of Christ in Nigeria newspaper, The Light Bearer, were among those killed. Nathan S. Dabak, a 36-year-old assistant editor, and Sunday Gyang Bwede, a 39-year-old reporter, were on their way to interview a local politician in Gado-Bako when they were attacked and stabbed to death. An unidentified motorcyclist...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjU0 Mon, 03 May 2010 06:47:54 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjU0 Christians in Iraq have been warned by Muslim extremists to leave the country immediately or risk violent death, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. An Iraqi bishop received a letter from the General Secretariat of the Islam Supporters warning Christians in Baghdad and other areas to “leave the country of Muslims (Iraq) for good and immediately in the form of mass transmigration.” “You can follow Pope Benedict XVI...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjUz Fri, 30 Apr 2010 08:46:57 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjUz On April 17, Hindu extremists attacked a group of Christians at a prayer meeting in Madhya Pradesh, India, causing the death of a 25-year-old man and severely injuring three other believers, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Hindu radicals disrupted the meeting of more than 400 Christians and began destroying Bibles and other property. They attacked the Christians with sticks and iron rods, accusing them of forcible conversions....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjUy Wed, 28 Apr 2010 06:44:45 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjUy On April 13, a pastor and his wife in Boto village, Bauchi state, Nigeria, were abducted and killed by suspected Islamic extremists, according to Compass Direct News. Pastor Ishaku Kadah and his wife, Selina, were reportedly abducted from the headquarters of their church, which was also their home. Their burned bodies were discovered hours after their abduction. Extremists previously set fire to their church building in January, days after...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjUx Tue, 27 Apr 2010 09:12:24 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjUx On April 11, officers from the Ministry of Information arrested 19-year-old Daniel Shahri, a Christian in Isfahan, Iran, according to Farsi Christian News.  Undercover officers went to Daniel’s home under the pretense of delivering a letter. When the door was opened, officers stormed inside the house. Daniel was not at home, so the officers confiscated personal belongings including his computer, DVD player, DVDs, CDs, cell phone...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQ5 Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:38:09 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQ5 UPDATE On March 16, The People’s High Court of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region rejected an appeal from Uyghur house-church leader Alimujiang Yimiti, according to ChinaAid Association. In October 2009, Alimujiang was sentenced to 15 years in prison for “providing state secrets to overseas organizations.” One of Alimujiang’s lawyers believes Alimujiang’s Muslim background plays a large part in the case....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQ3 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 07:45:23 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQ3 On March 9, Sung Cua Po, a Hmong Christian, fled into the forest with his family after authorities ordered their expulsion, according to Compass Direct News. The family has suffered severe abuse from villagers and local Vietnamese officials in recent months. In mid-February, Sung Cua’s father pressured him to make offerings to family ancestors, but he refused. Later that month, community members took the family’s entire one-year...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQ2 Fri, 16 Apr 2010 07:44:20 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQ2 Christians who have left Hinduism and accepted Christ have been harassed, verbally abused and beaten by Muslims in Pakistan, according to VOM contacts. On Sept. 11, 2009, “Mahir,” a VOM contact in Pakistan, distributed 200 VOM Action Packs, 200 Triumphant Church books and 55 New Testaments to Hindu tribal people in Pakistan. That day, five Hindus were baptized in a water tube that supplies water to nearby fields. “On the same...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQ0 Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:46:14 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQ0 On March 28, Rev. Wilson Issavi was temporarily released from Dastgard prison after posting bail, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). His charges are pending review by the court. Rev. Wilson, leader of the Pentecostal church in Kermanshah, was arrested in February and detained for 54 days by Iranian government officials. A month prior to his arrest, the Pentecostal church in Kermanshah was closed, and the pastor was told not to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQz Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:00:13 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQz On March 28, human rights lawyer Gao Zhisheng, who has been missing for more than a year, contacted his wife and children, according to ChinaAid Association. Gao’s wife, Geng He, and children were relieved to hear from him after such a long time. Geng He hopes her husband can rejoin the family in the United States soon. In recent months, rumors had circulated that Gao had died of torture at the hands of Chinese government officials....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQy Tue, 30 Mar 2010 09:08:42 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQy In recent weeks, the Moroccan government has continued its crackdown on Christians, expelling as many as 60 Christian aid workers from the country, according to Smyrna Ministries International. Moroccan police accused Christian aid workers from the United States, Korea, Netherlands and England of “violating Morocco’s anti-proselytism laws.” “On March 8, police visited the orphanage Village of Hope, which has been...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQx Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:42:15 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQx UPDATED: See video below. The Voice of the Martyrs’ medical program is on the frontlines in Northern Nigeria, providing medical care, support and counseling to Christians following recent attacks by Muslims. VOMedical staff report that many villages have been attacked, the latest occurring on March 17. “Muslims surrounded the small village of Byei, some 30 miles south of Jos. They attacked the homes with AK-47s (judging by the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQw Tue, 23 Mar 2010 08:22:25 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjQw A group of Christians who were expelled from Katin village in January were again urged to recant their faith in Jesus Christ on March 15, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The believers have been living in makeshift shelters about 4 miles outside the village, where they were abandoned in January without food or shelter. “At noon [on March 15] … seven Katin believers were summoned to the district office of Ta-Oyl...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjM3 Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:47:14 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjM3 On Jan. 22, two church buildings under construction in North Sumatra, Indonesia, were burned by suspected Islamic extremists, according to Compass Direct News. “The attackers came from outside the area to burn the partially constructed buildings of the Huria Kristen Batak Protestan Church (HKBP) and the Pentecostal Church in Sibuhuan village, Padang Lawas Residency, during daylight hours,” Rev. Lubis of the HKBP church told Compass....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjM1 Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:13:36 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjM1 On March 8, Pastor Ravi Chandran was brutally attacked by Hindu extremists in Mysore, Karnataka State, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Pastor Ravi was attacked by more than 10 extremists, who forcibly entered a believer’s home where the pastor was holding a prayer meeting. “The extremists entered the house and began abusing the pastor and the believers gathered there,” VOM contacts said. “They hit the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjM0 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 09:29:35 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjM0 On Feb. 28, Hamid and Reyhaneh, a former-Muslim couple who led a house church, were arrested by secret police in Isfahan, Iran, according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). Twenty secret police officers arrested and assaulted Reyhaneh when she resisted. “Hamid was arrested when he returned home an hour later,” FCNN reported. “Other believers present at the time were threatened but not detained, though one was also...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjMz Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:47:26 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjMz Uzbekistan’s government continues to fine members of the Baptist Union and harass Protestant Christians, according to Forum 18 News. “Valery Konovalov has been forced to pay a fine, after he was forced to appear as a witness in the trial of three leaders of the Baptist Union,” Forum 18 reported. “The three have themselves been forced to pay what the same court claimed was unpaid taxes and two were removed from their...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjMy Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:21:03 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjMy On Oct. 19, Neixiang police officials arrested 60 Christians attending a worship service, according to ChinaAid Association. After charging them with “disturbing social orders under the name of religious activities,” police fined five brothers and sentenced them to 10 days administrative detention. On Oct. 30, police decided to increase the sentence of the church’s leader, Guo Quanyou, to one year re-education through labor...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjMx Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:23:18 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjMx On Feb. 4, Moroccan military authorities raided a Christian meeting and arrested 18 people. The authorities also confiscated Bibles and personal belongings, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. “We were surprised by more than 60 Moroccan Gendarmes attacking the house [where we had just started our Bible study],” a VOM contact said. “Eleven believers (including an American), two non-believers and five...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjMw Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:08:04 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjMw VOM Partners with OWU for the Persecuted Church In 2003 The Voice of the Martyrs (VOM) announced a partnership with Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OWU) to offer an undergraduate degree and certificate program in Christian Missions and Persecuted Church Ministry. Seven years later, the program continues to produce graduates who are uniquely equipped to minister inside restricted nations. The program, the only of its kind in the world,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI5 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 06:50:19 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI5 Three Christians have been killed in Mosul recently, and community leaders warn that violence will increase leading to the March 7 parliamentary election, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP). On Feb. 16, unidentified gunmen shot two Christian students with an automatic weapon. Police told AFP that Zia Toma, a 21-year-old engineering student, was killed in the shooting and Ramsin Shmael, a 22-year-old pharmacy student, was wounded. Both...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI4 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:45:00 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI4 In January, 48 Christians were forced from their homes by more than 100 officials and villagers in Katin village, Saravan province, Laos, according to Compass Direct News. After gathering for Sunday worship, the believers were expelled from their church at gunpoint and taken to an open field. Officials then confiscated personal belongings from 11 Christians’ homes, and six of the homes were later destroyed. Officials also took a pig,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI2 Fri, 12 Feb 2010 07:04:49 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI2 Two Hmong believers were arrested on Dec. 3 after a relative told authorities they were sharing the gospel, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The men, who became Christians a few years ago, have led most of their relatives to Christ, with the exception of a father-in-law. When the men began to face persecution, they moved their families to another village. “On Dec. 3, [they returned] to their old village and very suddenly...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI1 Tue, 02 Feb 2010 09:18:30 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI1 On Dec. 24, 15 Iranian Christians were arrested by security forces in Pakdasht, Iran according to Farsi Christian News Network.  The believers were arrested and detained while gathered at a house church to celebrate Christmas. After a week without information, family members contacted authorities and demanded to know where they were being held. Officials told the families that the Christians would be released the same day, but instead...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI0 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:55:14 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjI0 More than 100 Christians have been killed in Jos, Nigeria, since Jan. 17, when violent riots broke out between the Christian and Muslim communities, according to VOM contacts. The Voice of the Martyrs contacts reported that the violence was triggered by a Muslim attack on St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Nasarawa Gwong, in the Jos North Local Government Area. “It appears to the Christians here that elements inside the Nigerian...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjIy Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:37:50 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjIy “The world needs to know about the genocide that is happening today in Burma.” — Patrick Klein, Vision Beyond Borders The Burmese army is carrying out a massive killing campaign against its people, and the world is unaware, Patrick Klein of Vision Beyond Borders told VOM staff. According to Patrick, who recently returned from Burma and Thailand, more than 500,000 people have been killed in Burma (also known as Myanmar) in the last...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjIx Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:34:28 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjIx On Jan. 10, Muslim extremists set fire to Tafath church in Tizi Ouzou, Algeria, damaging church property, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The Tafath church has been threatened since December, when extremists disrupted a Christmas celebration. “As Christians continued to come for worship to this church despite the increasing intimidation, the Muslim extremists decided to burn the church,” VOM contacts said....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjIw Mon, 18 Jan 2010 07:25:44 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjIw On Jan. 11, Hikmat Sleiman, a 75-year-old Christian man, was shot to death by unknown assailants in Mosul, Iraq, according to VOM Canada and Asia News. Sleiman had just returned home from closing his grocery shop when a group of assailants opened fire, killing him instantly. Local Christians see his murder and a string of other recent attacks against believers as evidence of  “ethnic cleansing” designed to force Christians...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE5 Wed, 13 Jan 2010 10:17:12 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE5 Eight churches have been attacked in Malaysia following a court decision that allows Christians to use “Allah” in their prayers and publications when referring to God, according to The Associated Press (AP). On Sunday, Jan. 10, three churches were firebombed. “On Sunday, a Molotov cocktail was hurled at the All Saints Church in Taiping town in central Perak state early in the morning before it opened,” state police...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE4 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:27:57 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE4 On Dec. 16, several Iranian security officials forcibly entered the home of Hamideh Najafi in the city of Mashhad. They arrested her and seized personal belongings, including CDs and hand-painted portraits of Jesus Christ, according to Farsi Christian News Network. Officials interrogated Hamideh and requested the names of Christian evangelists in Iran. Officials also demanded that she deny her faith and return to Islam. When Hamideh refused,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE3 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:22:37 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE3 On Dec. 26, about 50 Muslim extremists tried to prevent a congregation of Christian converts from holding a Christmas service in the city of Tizi-Ouzou, northern Algeria, according to Compass Direct News. Members of the Tafat Church were gathering for the meeting when they were confronted by protestors who barred the church building’s doors. “This land is the land of Islam! Go pray somewhere else,” some of the protestors...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE2 Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:45:46 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE2 Many religious communities in Azerbaijan and Tajikistan have not yet re-registered with government authorities as required by laws passed in both countries in 2009, according to Forum 18 News. Religious communities that fail to register by January 1, 2010, will be considered illegal. As of Dec. 16, only about 100 of the 534 religious communities previously registered in Azerbaijan had re-registered. “Amendments to the Religion Law will...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE1 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:54:23 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE1 On Dec. 17, security police and undercover officers attacked a Christmas gathering of more than 70 newly converted Christians in the city of Karaj, Iran, according to Farsi Christian News. Officers photographed and videotaped the believers and also confiscated Bibles, Christian books and a computer. Christians were told they must be available during the period leading up to formal and legal interrogations and that they must appear before...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE0 Tue, 29 Dec 2009 08:50:57 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjE0 On Dec. 17, a mob of nearly 1,000 Muslims attacked a church building under construction in Bekasi Regency, near Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, according to VOM Canada. At midnight, Muslims arrived on bikes and on foot at the Church of Saint Albert. They stormed into the building, carrying banners and tanks of kerosene. One witness reported hearing them shout, “Destroy! Destroy it! Replace the church with mosque!” Muslims...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjEy Wed, 16 Dec 2009 05:52:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjEy On Nov. 30, Shao Wangui, the leader of a house church in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, was arrested without a warrant and later released, according to China Aid Association. Officials and local villagers targeted Shao Wangui after he and his brother, who are co-owners of the Xinba Shoes Factory, refused to pay a fee to support the building of a Buddhist temple in their village. Wangui also asked the members of his house church to refuse to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjEx Mon, 14 Dec 2009 11:57:33 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjEx Pakistani Christians Sandul Bibi and her father, Gulsher Masih, were released from jail today after a court found them innocent from charges of blasphemy against the Quran. The pair had been in custody since October 2008, when a radical Muslim mob gathered outside their home after mosque loudspeakers announced rumors that Sandul had torn pages from a copy of the Quran. Police arrested Sandul and her father, and filed a case under Pakistani...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjEw Tue, 08 Dec 2009 11:52:37 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjEw On Nov. 7, house church leader Alimujiang Yimiti, 36, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for “providing state secrets to overseas organizations,” according to China Aid Association. Yimiti’s sentence was unexpected to both his lawyers and family. He was read his sentence at Kashgar Detention Center where he had been held for the past two years, without a verdict or sentence. Officials have changed the charges against...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjA5 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 06:49:13 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjA5 On Nov. 14, the body of a 23-year-old Christian convert, Mumin Abdikarim Yusuf, was discovered in Mogadishu's Yaqshid district, according to Compass Direct News. On Oct. 28, members of al-Shabaab, an Islamic extremist group, detained Yusuf and searched his home for Christian materials. A 15-year-old Muslim boy had accused Yusuf of trying to convert him to Christianity. In an attempt to gain evidence against Yusuf and to gain information...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjA4 Mon, 30 Nov 2009 09:30:28 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjA4 On Nov. 18, Wusiman Yiming, a Christian convert from Islam, was released from prison in China after being imprisoned for two years, according to China Aid Association. Yiming, a prominent house church leader among the Uyghur people, was grateful to be reunited with his wife and two young children. China Aid reported that Yiming looked “fragile, but has a very strong spirit.” “[He] asked [us] to extend his heartfelt...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjA1 Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:31:10 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjA1 China’s central government has intensified its campaign against Christians and has recently targeted both registered and unregistered churches, according to China Aid Association. On November 2, Judge Sun of the Linfen Intermediate Court instructed the families of five imprisoned leaders from the Linfen-Fushan Church in Shanxi province to hire lawyers to defend them in an immediate trial. Even though the believers had been detained...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjA0 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:49:36 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjA0 On November 18, Maryam Rustampoor and Marzieh Amirizadeh were released from Evin Prison in Tehran after being held for 259 days, according to Elam Ministries. Family members picked them up at the prison, and the women expressed heartfelt thanks to Christians around the world who prayed for them during their days in prison. “Words are not enough to express our gratitude to the Lord and to his people who have prayed and worked for our...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjAz Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:11:20 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjAz Central Assemblies of God Church has been forced to close down its regular Friday afternoon services and can only hold two services on Sundays, Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN) reported. The Assemblies of God authorities announced at the conclusion of their Oct. 30 service that Friday worship services would no longer take place and only Sunday services, in two separate shifts, would be conducted. The church, which is the largest public and...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjAy Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:08:13 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjAy Two Christian brothers, Viktor and Didrikh Leven, have been convicted of participating in religious worship without state registration in Akmola Region, Kazakhstan, according to Forum18 News. On Oct. 14, Viktor, who was born in Kazakhstan but holds German citizenship, was found guilty of "carrying out missionary activity without local registration" under Article 375-3 of Kazakhstan’s Administrative Code. The charge is punishable by a...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjAx Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:55:22 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MjAx UPDATE: Chen Le, a 17-year-old high school student who was expelled from school because of his Christian faith, was invited on Oct. 29 to return to school, according to a report from the China Aid Association. On Oc. 28, the Party Secretary of the High School Division and several other party members and instructors from the Huashan Middle School visited Chen Le at his home and politely invited him to return to his studies. The Party Secretary...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTk4 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:22:38 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTk4 On Oct.27, The Voice of the Martyrs contacts reported nearly 1,000 Arastamar Bible school students face eviction from a West Jarkata Mayors office building where they were living temporarily, in Indonesia. The day before the High Court of West Jakarta’s eviction notice, local government authorities cut off electricity and water to the site and this led to the student demonstrations. “That day … a thousand students were...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTk3 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:00:45 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTk3 On Oct. 20, Chen Le, a high school student, was expelled from Xinjiang High school for refusing to denounce his faith, according to China Aid Association. The High School Division of the Huashan Middle School expelled Chen after he signed a document confirming he was a Christian. The expulsion notice read as follows: Chen Le, a 2nd grader from Class 8 of Senior High School, was found by Bazhou Public Security Agency and other related...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTk0 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 08:06:48 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTk0 On Oct. 14, Asia Bibi appeared in court, in Sheikhupura, Pakistan and spent some time with her family before the court appearance. Asia’s husband, Ashiq Masih, her daughters and VOM contacts met  her for 15 minutes before the court appearance. “Asia is in strong faith. Her eyes were hopeful. Praise God,” VOM contacts said. Asia told VOM contacts she prays everyday at 3 a.m. “I thank God that the jail administration...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTkz Thu, 15 Oct 2009 07:33:34 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTkz Recently, two Baptist pastors in Russia's Baltic Sea exclave of Kaliningrad were fined 2,200 rubles (US $75) after their community "sang psalms and spoke about Christ" on the street, according to Forum 18 News Service. Kaliningrad police told Forum 18 News that the pastors did get permission in advance to sing, as required by law. "But they didn't have permission and they had no intention of getting it!" a police official remarked, clearly...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTky Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:30:19 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTky On Sept. 21, Pastor Manuel was shot and killed by The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas in San Jose del Guaviare, Colombia, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. FARC guerrillas made an appointment with Pastor Manuel and his family. “He thought they were going to authorize him to have a church officially, which he had discuss[ed] and asked [for] before,” said VOM contacts. “One of them came in...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTkx Mon, 12 Oct 2009 07:28:07 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTkx On Oct. 4, Pastor Prakash was attacked by 25 Bajrang Dal extremists while he was ministering in Kaiwara village, Bangalore Rural District, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The extremists assaulted the pastor and accused him of cheating people. After the attack, the pastor was questioned and held on complaints of “illegal activity.” Fortunately, other believers provided evidence that the pastor had not broken any...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTkw Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:33:23 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTkw On Sept. 17, Pastor Hua Huiqi was arrested by Chinese authorities in Fengtai District, Beijing, according to China Aid Association. Pastor Hua reportedly called his wife, Ju Mei, and told her he had been forced into a Public Security Bureau (PSB) vehicle while on his way to a dinner meeting. Less than 30 minutes later, Hua phoned his wife again and told her that the police had taken him to an unknown location. The phone line then went dead....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTg5 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:30:34 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTg5 On Sept. 28 an Islamic extremist shot and killed Mariam Muhina Hussein, an underground church leader, after discovering six Bibles in her possession, according to Compass Direct News. The day before the shooting, a leader of the Islamic extremist group al Shabaab reportedly sent his wife to visit Hussein's home in Marerey villange. She pretended she was interested in learning about Christianity. During the visit, Hussein read passages of the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTg3 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 07:49:10 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTg3 On Sept. 27, four believers were injured when a Christian relief camp in Nandarigi village, Orissa state, providing temporary housing for Christians who fled anti-Christian, was bombed by suspected Hindu extremists, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The Hindu man who reportedly set off the bomb was killed in the attack. Five days before the attack the suspected bomber reportedly threatened Christians at the camp with violence,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTg0 Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:23:19 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTg0 On Sept. 16, The Voice of the Martyrs contacts in Pakistan reported that 20 year old Sandul Bibi’s faith is strong and she is encouraged by reading the Bible and a copy of Tortured for Christ. Despite being held in prison for 11 months without a trial, Sandul has been encouraged by reading the Bible and a copy of Tortured for Christ, a book written by VOM’s founder Richard Wurmbrand. “In the month of March,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTgz Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:10:12 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTgz The Voice of the Martyrs invites federal, state, and local employees to support persecuted believers through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). The CFC is one of the largest workplace giving campaigns in the world allowing any who works for the Federal government — including civilian, federal, postal and military employees — to contribute to charities via payroll deductions.  VOM is one of many charities eligible for this charitable...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTgw Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:59:55 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTgw On Sept. 9, St. Francis De Sales Church in Bangalore, India was attacked by more than 15 Hindu extremists, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Extremists armed with weapons broke into the church, damaged window panes and statues inside the church. A house behind the church was damaged. The church has about 3,000 members who attend services performed in different languages such as Tamil, Malayalam and English. Following the attack,...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTc5 Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:40:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTc5 UPDATE: On Sept. 10, The Voice of the Martyrs received reports that Maryam and Marzieh’s health has deteriorated and urgent prayers are needed for God to encourage, and miraculously heal them. According to Elam Ministries, the women who have been in prison for more than six months are suffering from sore throats, irregular painful stomach aches and intense headaches. “Both have lost much weight during their ordeal, because of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTc4 Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:28:59 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTc4 Hindus in Madhya Pradesh, India, have accused Pastor Kamlesh Tahed and three other Christians of murdering a young man who was killed in a fight between two locals, according to Compass Direct News. On Aug. 8, Roop Singh Baria was killed during violence between the Baria and Tahed clans regarding 1,000 rupees (US $20), which had been borrowed by one of the Tahed family members. When members of the Baria clan filed a report with the police...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTc3 Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:08:50 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTc3 On Aug. 23, seven church members belonging to the registered Donam Protestant church were arrested and Christian literature confiscated when more than 20 police officers raided a church service in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, according to Forum 18 News. Members of the Anti-Terror Police claimed the service was “unauthorized” and although three men were released on the same day, four, including the pastor, Vladimir Tyo, were sentenced to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTc2 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:19:42 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTc2 On Sept. 1, The Voice of the Martyrs received a letter from the wife of one of many Christians being held in prison in an Islamic country. In her letter, she shared how her 3-year-old daughter struggles with her husband’s imprisonment and asked for continued prayers. Her letter reads: “Thanks for your e-mail and love and prayers. I am doing OK. Worry tries to take over me and my mind keeps thinking worries I shouldn't. But the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTc1 Fri, 28 Aug 2009 06:17:04 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTc1 Forum 18 News reports that on Aug. 20, New Life Full Gospel Church in Minsk, Moscow, was issued an eviction notice by government officials, forcing them to abandon their church building purchased in 2002. The church is adamant they do not fear the government’s threats. “We’re here praying and believe God will protect us,” Sergei Lukanin, the church’s lawyer told Forum 18 News. “As a lawyer I believe the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTcz Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:57:52 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTcz   Have you heard that smuggling Bibles into China is now unnecessary because Amity Printing can legally print Bibles? The Voice of the Martyrs is grateful that since 1987 Amity Printing has distributed 40 million Bibles in China and exported 9 million. Unfortunately, with 1.3 billion people living in China today more Bibles are desperately needed. To better understand China’s need for Bibles VOM encourages you use China’s...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTcx Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:58:34 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTcx On July 26, 12 Christians were killed, including three pastors, in northern Nigeria after members of the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram launched attacks on police and government bases, according to contacts at VOM Canada. The violence, which began in Bauchi state, spread to Borno, Kano and Yobe states. Churches were set ablaze and several people were abducted, including Christians. Many believers were threatened with death if they refused...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY5 Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:13:02 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY5 On June 7, police raided an evangelism meeting, arrested and tortured a pastor and two others in Boalia, Bangladesh, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Pastor Habibur Rahman, of Boalia Spiritual Church was leading the meeting when suddenly the police came in and took them to the police station. That night the police blindfolded them with cloths for few hours and beat them up. During the beatings police asked who was supporting...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY4 Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:14:48 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY4 On Aug. 1, a mob of angry Muslim extremists attacked Christians in Gojra district, Punjab province, killing at least eight believers, including a seven-year-old child, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Dozens of homes and a church building were looted and burned. Reports indicate the violence resulted from rumors Christians had desecrated pages from the Quran several days earlier at a wedding in a nearby village. This was the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY3 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 11:41:58 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY3 UPDATE: On Aug. 8, Marzieh and Maryam were summoned to an Iranian court and ordered to deny their faith verbally and in a written statement, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Marzieh and Maryam were pressured to recant their faith after the chief interrogator recommended they be charged with apostasy. Praise God, they stood firm and replied, “We love Jesus. We will not deny our faith.”  VOM contacts reported...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY2 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 14:29:28 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY2 On Aug. 5, 2009, The Voice of the Martyrs’ Bibles Unbound (BU) ministry reached an exciting milestone with its shipment of the 1 millionth New Testament. VOM is grateful to believers all across the United States who regularly mail New Testaments to people in countries such as Colombia, China, North Korea and Egypt.  BU and its covert operations are unique tools to spread the gospel throughout restricted nations. VOM praises God...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY1 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 14:31:50 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY1 On June 10, 2009 Shi Weihan was sentanced to three years in prison in China. His crime? He "violated the regulations of the state in printing illegal publications," according to Shi's official indictment in Chinese courts. In reality, Shi was a Christian bookstore owner whose Holy Spirit Trading Company voluntarily printed Bibles and Christian literature to give away to Chinese Christians. After his arrest, Chinese police confiscated more...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY0 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:33:36 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTY0 On July 23, a Christian youth camp was raided by Public Security Bureau (PSB) and Religious Affairs Bureau (RAF) officials in Nanyang city, Henan province. PSB and RAF officers took away more than 20 students attending the summer camp. The students, each under age 18, were released to their families that afternoon. Two instructors, 40 year-old Cheng Ping, and  30 year-old Miao Miao, were arrested and sent to the Yongan Lu Detention...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTYz Mon, 03 Aug 2009 13:31:40 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTYz On July 30, Muslim extremists attacked Christians, burning more than 50 homes and animals in Faisalabad, Pakistan, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Muslims falsely accused Christians of burning the Quran during a wedding ceremony the previous day. Muslim extremists said they attacked believers because police did not arrest anyone for burning a  Quran. This is the fifth incident of persecution against Christians in two...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTYy Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:40:56 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTYy On July 23, Yemane Kahasay Andom, a Christian imprisoned for his faith in Eritrea died after authorities denied him medical treatment, according to Compass Direct News. Yemane is the third Christian to die in prison this year. He died at Mitire Confinement Center from complications with malaria and was reportedly tortured while in prison. It is believed his body was secretly buried at the camp.  According to Compass Direct, two weeks...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTYw Thu, 23 Jul 2009 12:01:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTYw On June 29, Pastor Dou Shaowen who is currently serving a one-year sentence for “engaging in illegal activities” was secretly transferred to Shifo Re-education Through Labor Center in Zhengzhou city, Henan province, according to China Aid Association. His family was not informed of his transfer. Pastor Dou, his wife Feng Lu and five other believers were arrested on June 14 when government officials raided and closed the Rock Church....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU5 Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:03:22 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU5 Christians in Pakistan are inviting believers around the world to join them in prayer for their nation and for the blasphemy laws to be repealed, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. More than 575 pastors from different churches in Pakistan have agreed to observe July 26, 2009 as a day of prayer for persecuted believers. Christians are also running a petition aimed at repealing the blasphemy laws that have led to the arrest of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU4 Mon, 20 Jul 2009 06:47:54 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU4 In recent weeks, Chinese officials have raided house church meetings and arrested believers throughout the country, according to reports from China Aid Association. On July 3, a house church was raided and eight Christians arrested in the A'Ler Tai area of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Two of the arrested believers have been released. At last report, four remained detained in an undisclosed location and the whereabouts of two arrested...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU3 Thu, 16 Jul 2009 13:52:01 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU3 On July 11 two bombs targeted churches in the cities of Baghdad and Mosul and killed at least four people and injured 30 others, according to VOM contacts. Two bombs ripped through the St. Joseph church in western Baghdad at approximately 10:00 p.m. The next afternoon, three bombs exploded within 15 minutes of each other outside three different church buildings in Baghdad. That evening, a car bomb detonated outside a church building in the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU2 Mon, 13 Jul 2009 10:42:40 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU2 On June 26, more than 150 Muslim extremists launched a devastating attack on more than 150 Christian families after a fight about a personal matter between Muslims and Christians occurred three days earlier. During the attack Muslims damaged 60 houses, including burning 16 to the ground, poured kerosene on a believer in an attempt to burn her, destroyed two donkey carts and broke 25 electricity meters, in Kasur, Pakistan, according to The...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU1 Thu, 09 Jul 2009 15:19:55 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU1 Islamic extremists have beheaded two boys in Somalia because their Christian father, 55 year-old Musa Mohammed Yusuf, refused to give them information about an underground church leader, according to Compass Direct News. The extremists from the group al shabaab killed 11 year-old Abdi Rahaman Musa Yusuf and 12 year-old Hussein Musa Yusuf, after abducting them in front of their mother. The terrorists are currently looking for Yusuf in Kenyan...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU0 Wed, 01 Jul 2009 07:03:26 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTU0 On June 12, nine Christian relief workers were abducted and three killed, reportedly because they were suspected of being involved in evangelistic work, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The Christians left the city of Sa'ada without an armed escort to visit a doctor who lived nearby, according to reports. The believers left the doctor's home after two hours and eyewitnesses saw a group of armed men stop them. Investigators...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTUz Mon, 29 Jun 2009 08:00:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTUz On June 14, a pastor and his family were brutally attacked when Hindu extremists barged into their church during a prayer meeting, accusing them of forcible conversions, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. At 11 a.m. more than 40 Hindu extremists belonging to the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak and Bajrang Dal fundamentalist groups, barged into Beersheba Church and asked for Pastor Kulpeep Daniel. When the Pastor told them who he was, the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTUx Tue, 23 Jun 2009 09:29:18 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTUx UPDATE: Praise God! On June 13, Christians arrested by plain clothes police, after visiting Christian villages in Laos, were released without incident, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The believers were released without any problems, and they were not required to pay any fines. The police questioned them for hours and wanted to find out if they were resistance movement. When the police found out they were Christians, they were...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTUw Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:57:41 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTUw Is secret Christian work "illegal"? Ever wondered what to do when you are faced with a choice between breaking the law and following God? Didn’t Jesus tell us to “render unto Cesar” what is his? So whose law do we follow?  At The Voice of the Martyrs, we have to think about these issues all the time. In many of the countries we work in, it is against the law to print, sell, import or distribute Bibles or Christian...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQ5 Mon, 22 Jun 2009 08:02:59 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQ5 Asia Bibi, a 37-year-old Pakistani woman from the village of Ittanwali, was arrested by police on Friday, June 19, and faces possible blasphemy charges. Asia is the wife of 50-year-old Ashiq Masih, and their family is one of only three Christian families in a village of more than 1,500 families. Many of the local women work on the farm of Muslim landowner Muhammad Idrees, including Asia. During their work many of the Muslim women have...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQ4 Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:13:33 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQ4 On June 12, 13 Christians were arrested by plain clothes police, after visiting Christian villages in Laos, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The visiting believers met the police when they were in the village for their routine daily work. The police questioned them about what they were doing in the village. The police have not disclosed why they arrested the believers and at last report the Christians are still being held at a...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQ3 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 14:08:20 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQ3    An anonymous fax believed to have been sent from the North Korean embassy for Finland promises workers affiliated with The Voice of the Martyrs (USA) that “something very bad will happen to you” if VOM continues a special project to share the Gospel via weekly fax transmissions to government and business representatives of the restricted Asian nation.    During the past year VOM has made an effort to...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQ1 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:24:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQ1 On June 10, a Chinese court sentenced Christian bookstore owner, 38 year-old, Shi Weihan, to three years in prison for “illegal business operations,” and fined him US$21,975 , according to China Aid Association. Shi Weihan operated a legal bookstore and only sold books with the government’s approval. His Holy Spirit Trading Company printed Bibles and Christian literature and distributed then freely to local house...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQ0 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 08:16:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQ0 UPDATE: On June 10, The Voice of the Martyrs received a copy of a letter from the Nepal Defense Fund (NDF), threatening to bomb 10 Christian homes in Nepal, if believers did not leave in 30 days, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. The letter written by R.P. Mainali, the supreme commander of the NDF, published in a local newspaper, said the Nepalese government should not have released 62 Christians, in 1989 and 1990, who had been...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQz Wed, 10 Jun 2009 13:40:50 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQz Imprisoned Christian, Sandul Bibi, remains strong in her faith and is concerned about her family’s faith despite being in prison for the past eight months, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Sandul has been encouraged by the prayers of other believers and her spirits are high even though the prison is hot and she has been suffering from allergies. Her family has provided her with medication for the allergies. In spite of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQy Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:29:05 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQy The Uzbekistan government has recently imposed exorbitant fines and destroyed religious literature in hope of stopping believers from having Christian materials in their homes, according to Forum 18 News. In April and May, 33 Christians have been fined up to 100 times of their monthly salaries and in some cases the fines have been appealed and reduced. Six Baptists had their fines reduced from 50 times to five times their monthly...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQx Wed, 03 Jun 2009 14:28:54 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQx On May 21 five newly converted Christians were arrested in Karaj, Iran after plain clothes security officers raided a house church where they had gathered for a Bible study, according to Farsi Christian Network News (FCNN). FCNN reported that the leader of the house church, Javad Abtahi, was among those arrested and his house was searched during the raid. … [He] was given no arrest warrant by the security officers and his house was...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQw Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:20:43 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTQw The leader of the Hindu extremist group, Nepal Defense Fund (NDF), has threatened to bomb the homes of all Christians if they do not stop spreading the gospel within one month, according to The Voice of the Martyrs.   In a letter received by local newspapers in Nepal, R.P. Mainali, the supreme commander of the NDF, demanded that Nepal be declared a Hindu state and Christians should not be allowed to worship freely. He said Hindu groups...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTM5 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:44:13 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTM5 The Voice of the Martyrs invites Christians to follow the ministry on Twitter which will enable readers to get involved and pray for persecuted believers around the world. “Twitter is one more tool The Voice of the Martyrs can use to share the powerful stories of the persecuted church,” says Todd Nettleton, spokesman for The Voice of the Martyrs. “One of the best ways we use it is to post prayer requests and instantly...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTM4 Fri, 29 May 2009 12:03:25 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTM4 On May 23, a bomb killed two Christians and wounded 15 others at the Assumption Catholic Church, in Kathmandu, Nepal, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts.  During a mass attended by more than 250 people, a young man and woman entered the church and placed a bag on the floor. “A few minutes later a bomb exploded sending shrapnel and nails flying into the congregation,” VOM contacts said. A 15 year-old girl was...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTM3 Fri, 29 May 2009 11:50:17 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTM3 On May 2009, Pastor Ramesh Mandevey was brutally attacked by 10 Hindu extremists, while he was returning from visiting a believer’s home in Tundavata, Madhya Pradesh, India, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Pastor Ramesh was beaten with fists, rods and clubs and left for dead. The attack occurred when the pastor and another believer were ambushed by Hindu extremists from neighboring villages. The extremists questioned the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTM2 Tue, 26 May 2009 13:08:33 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTM2 On May 9, 16 Christians from the China Gospel Fellowship were released early from administrative detention in Xinye, Henan province, according to China Aid Association. The Christians were released before serving their 10 to14 day sentences and without paying the 1000 Yuan (US$150) fine. “The early release of the prisoners was due to pressure from international community and meant that the government admits they did was wrong,”...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTM0 Fri, 22 May 2009 08:06:24 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTM0 More than 80 Christian families are homeless and living on church grounds following the recent and continuing political unrest in Pakistan, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Unlike Muslims, who have been housed and provided for by the government, more than 300 Christians have been displaced and left to fend for themselves. “When we left… [we were not] provided any transportation, whereas Muslims were provided...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTMz Thu, 21 May 2009 07:01:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTMz Authorities have threatened to seize the property of a formerly imprisoned Christian unless he pays a large sum of money they claim he acquired illegally in 1995, according to Forum 18 News. Shageldy Atakov was imprisoned in 1999 on charges of swindling another individual out of US$12,000 during a car deal. Atakov and other local Christians maintain that the charges were fabricated in order to stop his Christian activity. While in detention at...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTMw Thu, 14 May 2009 13:22:48 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTMw Two families were driven from their villages in West Java, Indonesia, in March after they converted to Christianity from Islam, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts.    When one family returned home from a mass baptism, their landlord asked them to vacate his property they were renting. He was angry because they were now Christians. “The Muslim leaders [in the village] supported the land owners to drive out the...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTI2 Tue, 12 May 2009 11:29:46 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTI2 On May 11, The Voice of the Martyrs launched its updated and user-friendly Web site www.persecution.com. The updated Web site features information and resources that enable believers to get involved and support persecuted believers around the world. The Newsroom provides the latest persecution stories from around the world and audio and video clips showing courageous Christians living for Christ. Visitors to the site can also access...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTE5 Tue, 05 May 2009 12:02:30 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTE5 On April 30, 2009, 18 house church Christians and leaders were arrested by Public Security Bureau (PSB) officers, while they were gathered for communion at a house church in Xinye city, Henan province, according to China Aid Association.   The Christians were taken to the PSB office in Xinye city and each forced to pay a 1000 Yuan (about US$150) fine.  Currently 16 Christians are still being held by the PSB, including 10...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTEz Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:59:12 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTEz On April 26, three Christians were killed and two others wounded in Kirkuk, Iraq, according to CNN.com. Local police in southern Kirkuk told CNN attackers slit the throats of a Christian woman and her daughter-in-law, killing them both. Meanwhile in a nearby neighborhood gunmen attacked another Christian family shooting the father and his three sons. One of the sons died instantly and the others were wounded. This incident is the latest in a...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTEy Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:58:34 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTEy On Feb. 22, the Taliban attacked six churches, burned several Christian homes and four Bibles and injured children in Karachi, Pakistan, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. Eyewitnesses reported the Taliban shouting, "Accept Islam, Accept Islam, LA ILAHA ILL ALLAH MUHAMMADUR RASOOL ALLAH," meaning there is no god, only Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah. The churches that were attacked are, Christ United Church, Philadelphia...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTEx Thu, 16 Apr 2009 20:57:53 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTEx On March 28, Hamoud Bin Saleh, a Saudi Christian arrested in January for writing about his conversion from Islam and criticizing the Saudi kingdom's crackdown on individual rights, was released from prison, according to Compass Direct News. Hamoud is reportedly forbidden to travel outside the country or appear in the media. In a recent post on his blog, Hamoud attributed his release to several human rights groups that campaigned on his behalf....]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTEw Thu, 09 Apr 2009 20:56:46 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTEw Fourteen Khmu Christian families in Laos are standing strong in their faith, despite the Communist government forcing them to relocate to another village and their homes and church building being destroyed, according to The Voice of the Martyrs contacts. In 2003, the families were evicted by the government and relocated to another village where they were moved again. "After these 14 families stayed at this village for a year, the Communist...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA5 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 20:54:39 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA5 The Voice of the Martyrs has launched Facebook applications that enable readers to get involved and pray for persecuted believers around the world. "Facebook has become popular by helping friends connect with each other," says Todd Nettleton, spokesman for The Voice of the Martyrs. "We are excited about providing tools to help VOM readers share their passion for the persecuted church with their friends through Facebook." "One of the exciting...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA4 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:53:02 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA4 On March 5, Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad and Maryam Rustampoor were arrested by Iranian security forces and labeled "anti-government activists," according to Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN). Thirty year-old Marzieh and 27-year-old Maryam are being held at Evin Prison, which is notorious for treating women badly. "Both women are allowed just a one minute telephone call everyday to their immediate families. Both are unwell and in need of...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA3 Mon, 30 Mar 2009 20:45:49 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA3 http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA2 Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:43:13 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA2 http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA1 Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:40:27 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA1 Twenty-year old Sandul Bibi and her father Gulsher remain in prison in Pakistan despite four court hearings, according to VOM contacts. "On Feb. 24 Sandul and Gulsher had another court appearance and nothing significant was determined," VOM contacts said. "This has been the outcome for the last four court hearings." Sandul and Gulsher are charged with violating section 295-B of the Pakistani legal code, the 'blasphemy' law. Sandul is falsely...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA0 Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:38:57 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTA0 http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTAz Mon, 09 Feb 2009 20:37:34 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTAz On Feb. 8 Shuang Shuying was released from prison in China and immediately went to a local hospital to visit her deathly ill husband, 91-year-old, Hua Zaichen. China Aid Association (CAA) reported Shuying, 79, sent a letter thanking everyone for praying and supporting her. She also revealed that while in prison she was tortured by the Public Security Bureau (PSB). "…The PSB went to my prison interrogating, threatening and harassing me...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTAy Thu, 05 Feb 2009 20:32:34 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTAy http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTAx Thu, 05 Feb 2009 19:30:56 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTAx "Nothing will happen to me. They know and respect me. Nobody will harm me." Those were the last words Pastor Kantheswar Digal spoke to his son Rajendra and his wife, Karpul. A Christian for more than 50 years, Pastor Digal was one of the few believers living in the small village of Sankarakhole, in Orissa state, India. He was well-known by the Hindus who shared his neighborhood. Yet, his son says, the family lived there in relative peace. "We...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTAw Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:29:34 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=MTAw http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTk%3d Mon, 02 Feb 2009 19:27:04 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTk%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTg%3d Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:24:31 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTg%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTc%3d Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:23:28 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTc%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTY%3d Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:22:02 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTY%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTU%3d Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:21:00 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTU%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTM%3d Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:49:42 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTM%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTI%3d Tue, 23 Dec 2008 14:48:55 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTI%3d Bartlesville, Oklahoma – In November 2008, two organizations that evaluate nonprofit organizations and Christian ministries — MinistryWatch.com and Charity Navigator — gave The Voice of the Martyrs high ratings for sound fiscal management. VOM was one of 30 ministries out of 500 to make MinistryWatch.com's list after demonstrating outstanding effectiveness and efficiency in ministry and financial operations. MinistryWatch.com's...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTQ%3d Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:52:45 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTQ%3d Twenty- year-old Sandul Bibi and her father Gulsher are in prison in Pakistan, charged with violating section 295-B of the Pakistani legal code, the "blasphemy" law. Sandul is falsely accused of ripping pages from the Quran. On Oct. 9 a large crowd of Muslims attacked Christian families at a church, throwing stones and firing guns. They were shouting, "Kill Gulsher and his daughter Sandul." Sandul and her father, Gulsher Masih, were arrested...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTA%3d Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:47:08 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTA%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTE%3d Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:47:50 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=OTE%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODk%3d Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:46:21 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODk%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODg%3d Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:45:32 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODg%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODc%3d Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:43:17 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODc%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODY%3d Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:42:14 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODY%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODU%3d Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:41:03 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODU%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODQ%3d Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:39:47 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODQ%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODM%3d Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:37:32 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODM%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODI%3d Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:36:49 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODI%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODE%3d Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:35:36 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODE%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODA%3d Thu, 11 Sep 2008 14:34:28 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=ODA%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Nzg%3d Fri, 29 Aug 2008 14:31:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Nzg%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Nzk%3d Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:32:48 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Nzk%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Nzc%3d Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:30:32 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Nzc%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzY%3d Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:29:25 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzY%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzI%3d Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:06:21 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzI%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzM%3d Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:06:21 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzM%3d Pastor Zhang “Bike” Mingxuan, known for traveling across China on a bicycle to evangelize, was arrested by Chinese police just two days before the Olympics began. Pastor Bike was the inspiration for the recent partnership between The Voice of the Martyrs and China Aid Association to create the Olympic Prayer Band. Pastor Asks for Prayer Band Earlier this year, Pastor Bike pleaded with VOM staff to ask Christians to pray for...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzQ%3d Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:06:21 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzQ%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzU%3d Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:06:21 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzU%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzE%3d Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:04:29 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzE%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzA%3d Fri, 01 Aug 2008 12:59:23 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NzA%3d Add one more China Olympic Prayer Band to the 500,000 given by VOM supporters to raise awareness of persecuted Christians. Just 24 hours ago, President George Bush received a prayer bracelet from Bob Fu, president of China Aid Association. Read the official White House story. President Expresses Concerns about China Bob and four other Chinese human rights advocates met with President Bush in a room usually reserved for diplomats. White...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Njk%3d Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:54:56 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Njk%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Njg%3d Wed, 23 Jul 2008 12:53:53 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Njg%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjY%3d Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:44:05 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjY%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Njc%3d Sun, 13 Jul 2008 12:50:15 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=Njc%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjQ%3d Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:35:16 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjQ%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjM%3d Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:27:52 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjM%3d In case you have not visited VOM’s Bibles Unbound Web site recently, I wanted to highlight the new Covert Operations. A covert operation provides a unique opportunity to provide New Testaments into closed or hostile areas where mailing Bibles is not possible. This is a great addition to Bibles Unbound. In these dangerous, hostile or closed areas, Bibles are delivered by believers who are aware of the challenges of getting the Word of God...]]> http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjU%3d Sat, 21 Jun 2008 12:42:24 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjU%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjI%3d Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:17:47 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjI%3d http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjE%3d Sun, 01 Jun 2008 11:41:03 PST http://www.persecution.com/public/newsroom.aspx?story_ID=NjE%3d Nearly 500,000 Olympic Prayer Bands have been requested to date. The Voice of the Martyrs is processing the orders as fast as possible. We are so thankful for the tremendous support from Christians in the USA who are willing to pray for their persecuted brothers and sisters in China during the Olympics. If you have already requested prayer bands, please be assured VOM will get them to you as fast as possible. If you would like to place an order,...]]>