BANGALORE, India (Compass) -- Nineteen villagers who recently embraced Christianity have been forced to re-convert to Hinduism in the Korua village of Kendrapada district in India's Orissa state after undergoing sustained social ostracism from their fellow villagers. They are also facing prosecution by the district administration for violating provisions of the Orissa Freedom of Religion Act (OFRA).
...continue reading this storyby Alex Buchan LONDON, January 31 (Compass) -- In an attempt to ensure fair treatment of house church leader Gong Shengliang, six jailed female co-workers from the embattled South China Church authorized the release on January 29 of three letters detailing how they were tortured by police into providing false testimony against him. In a ... Read more
...continue reading this storyby Geoff Stamp ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (Compass) -- A leading member of Ethiopia's Protestant church says that freedom to practice religion is only "constitutional." Yet despite ongoing persecution, Protestant churches are experiencing significant growth. "During the former regime of communist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, the persecution came from the Marxist government authorities. Now we may ... Read more
...continue reading this storyThe appointment of former Senator John Danforth as special envoy to Sudan could result in positive action, according to The Voice of the Martyrs, a ministry organization focussed on serving the persecuted church.
...continue reading this storyISTANBUL, February 11 (Compass) -- Coptic Orthodox Christians who gathered yesterday to celebrate their first Sunday Mass in a small village church were attacked with rocks and firebombs by a Muslim mob near El-Minya, 140 miles south of Cairo.
...continue reading this storyKABUL, AFGHANISTAN (ANS) -- The German based Charity Shelter Now has warned the trial of its eight detained foreign Christian staff members in Afghanistan seems to have been put on hold. "No progress is being made," the evangelical news agency Idea quoted Shelter Now's Chairman, Joachim Jaeger, as saying.
...continue reading this storyLONDON, January 7 (Compass) -- The forty-six-year-old founder of the "South China" house church movement, Gong Shengliang, was granted a reprieve from his death sentence, which was due to be carried out on Saturday, January 5. Gong was given a stay of execution, relatives said.
...continue reading this storyA crucial paradox lies at the heart of China's persecution dynamics. Over the past 30 years, conditions have improved for Christians in China. But during the past five years, they have deteriorated markedly.
...continue reading this storySudanese Christian refugees living in the Maagi Refugee Camp in the Adjumani Resettlement area of Northern Uganda were attacked by 1200 members of the "Lord's Resistance Army" on Wednesday, July 17th. Five refugees were killed and 200 were rendered homeless as LRA Rebels burned and looted over 180 homes. About 190,000 Sudanese refugees live in the Adjumani Resettlement District. The survivors of the attack sought refuge in an AIC church compound located in the camp.
...continue reading this storyA mob of Orthodox Church members led by priests attacked and killed an evangelical Christian pastor in his home two weeks ago in Merawi, a town in northwestern Ethiopia.
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