IRAN: Appeal judges ask Christians to renounce faith
At an appeal hearing on 15 January, judges asked Iranian Christians Saheb Fadaie and Fatemeh Bakhteri to renounce their faith, which they refused to do.
EGYPT: Slow progress and violent protests hamper church permit process
Copts are frustrated by the slow pace of granting church permits and outraged by mob attacks on applicant churches.
EGYPT: New Coptic cathedral opened
On 6 January, Coptic Orthodox Christmas Eve, Egyptian Christians celebrated the opening of their new cathedral in Nasr City, 40km east of Cairo.
CHINA: Early Rain church leaders remain in prison
Over five weeks after the coordinated raids on Early Rain Convenant Church members in Chengdu, several leaders including Pastor Wang Yi and his wife Jiang Rong are still in prison.
IRELAND: TDs and Senators petition Indian Ambassador to protect Indian Christians
Seventeen members of the Oireachtas have signed a petition to the Indian Ambassador requesting the Indian government to act to protect Christians who continue to face ongoing attacks from Hindu extremists.
IRAN: Christmas crackdown
The Iranian authorities have announced that nine Christians were arrested during Christmas week in Alborz province, northwest Iran, bringing the number of Iranian Christians arrested in November and December to over 150.
INDIA: Increased attacks on Christians over Christmas
At least 18 incidents against Christians in India were reported over Christmas: seven members of New Life Church in Maharashtra state had to spend Christmas in intensive care following a Hindu attack.
TAJIKISTAN: Bakhrom Kholmatov’s post withheld and visits limited
Tajik pastor Bakhrom Kholmatov’s post has been withheld from him in prison and visits by his wife Gulnora have been limited.
PAKISTAN: Two Christian brothers sentenced to death for blasphemy
On 13 December a Pakistani court sentenced Christian brothers Qaisar and Amoon Ayub to death for blasphemy after they were convicted of insulting the Prophet Mohammed in material posted on their website.
CHINA: Over 60 arrested as crackdown on Early Rain Church continues
Over 60 arrested as crackdown on Early Rain Church continues and
Rongguili Church also shut down
CHINA: Over 100 members of Early Rain Covenant Church arrested
The church members were arrested in their homes, workplaces or on the streets in a series of coordinated raids.
IRAN: Over 100 Christians arrested in one week across country
Over one hundred Christians were arrested in the week leading up to to 5 December in a growing crackdown by the Iranian authorities.
PAKISTAN: Asia Bibi still in protective custody
More than a month after her acquittal was announced, Asia Bibi is still in protective custody and has not yet been reunited with her daughters.
NORTH KOREA: Have things changed for Christians this year?
Eric Foley of Voice of the Martyrs Korea, which supports persecuted Christians in North Korea, explains why 2018 has been the hardest year for him in his work.
UZBEKISTAN: Tashkent Baptist church raided
On Sunday 25 November, military and police officials raided a Tashkent Baptist church and detained fourteen members for interrogation.
UZBEKISTAN: More raids on Christian gatherings
Police raided a home in Pap, eastern Uzbekistan, on 19 November and detained eight Christians who had gathered for a meal and Bible reading.
IRAN: Two Christians detained in Mashhad and Karaj
On 16 November, security agents detained Behnam Ersali in Mashhad and his friend Davood Rasooli in Karaj.
INDIA: Church building burned to ashes in Uttar Pradesh
In the early hours of 16 November, extremists set fire to a church building in Ahladpur village and burned it down.
PAKISTAN: Irish Christians stand up for Asia Bibi
Protesters were joined By Brendan Howlin TD as they gathered outside the Embassy of Pakistan in Dublin to protest and pray for Asia Bibi.