PAKISTAN: Christians denied aid during Covid-19 crisis
Christian leaders have reported several incidents in which Christians have been denied food aid amid the Covid-19 crisis.
EGYPT: 74 more church buildings granted legal status
On 2 April, 74 more church buildings and affiliated service buildings were granted legal status.
Covid-19 and the persecuted church
As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads around the globe, some of the countries from which Church in Chains reports regularly have been very badly hit.
INDIA: Multiple attacks on Christians across country
Violence against Christians in India hit a new level in March with a large number of hate crimes across the country including cases of police brutality.
CHINA: Cross removal campaign continues despite coronavirus crisis
Chinese authorities have continued to remove crosses from the tops of church buildings despite the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
IRAN: Ebrahim Firouzi’s exile extended by eleven months
Ebrahim Firouzi has had his sentence of two years’ internal exile extended by eleven months because he took brief leave of absence to sort out family affairs.
PAKISTAN: Court validates forced conversion and marriage of 14-year-old Christian
On 4 March, an appeal against Sindh High Court’s validation of the forced conversion and marriage of 14-year-old Huma Younas was adjourned and rescheduled for 29 March.
PAKISTAN: Christian tortured to death for “polluting” well
Christian farm labourer Saleem Masih died of severe internal injuries after Muslims tortured him for “polluting” a well.
IRAN: Mahrokh Kanbari given temporary release due to coronavirus outbreak
Mahrokh Kanbari has been given temporary release as part of the authorities’ efforts to combat the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Iran’s overcrowded prisons.
IRAN: Mary Mohammadi released on bail but hearing postponed
Christian activist Mary Mohammadi was released on bail on 26 February but her court hearing, scheduled for 2 March, has been postponed.
BURKINA FASO: 24 killed in church attack
Gunmen killed 24 people including a pastor and wounded 18 others in an attack on a church in the town of Pansi, northeast Burkina Faso.
IRAN: Christian rights activist severely beaten in detention
Mary Mohammadi has been badly beaten and strip searched in detention and is now in the notorious Qarchak women’s prison.
INDIA: Hindu extremists beat Christian children
Hindu extremists in Karnataka state beat children attending a house church meeting and accused the adults of carrying out conversions.
INDIA: Report shows increase in attacks on Christians in 2019
A report published by Persecution Relief shows that the number of hate crimes against Christians in India rose again in 2019, to a new annual high of 527 reported incidents.
NIGERIA: Millions of Christians join nationwide prayer walks against violence
The Christian Association of Nigeria reports that five million Christians took part in nationwide prayer walks protesting about the recent upsurge in attacks and abductions.
CHINA: New religious regulations come into force
New regulations came into effect on 1 February that will further restrict religious practice in China.
NIGERIA: Call to fast and pray for end to violence
The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev Dr Samson Ayokunle, has called for three days of fasting and prayer to end violent attacks on Christians.
NIGERIA: Boko Haram executes abducted pastor
Pastor Lawan Andimi was beheaded by Boko Haram terrorists on the afternoon of 20 January
IRAN: Christian activist arrested after being expelled from university
Christian rights activist Fatemeh Mohammadi was arrested on 12 January in Tehran and taken to an unknown location.
KENYA: Three Christian teachers killed in latest Al-Shabaab attack
Anne Gideon, who survived the attack, said she heard the leader of the militants order that everyone should be killed.