Plight of Christians in Myanmar under-reported

The Huffington Post reports that, while persecution of the Rohingya Muslim minority in the majority Buddhist country has attracted much international attention, in Chin State – along Myanmar’s northwest border – a predominantly Christian population faces its own challenges and restrictions. “There is no improvement with regard to religious freedom . . . Read More

Kachin rebels snub Myanmar ceasefire deal after women’s murders

Kachin rebels snub Myanmar ceasefire deal after women’s murders
What most people know about Myanmar is that Aung San Suu Kyi has been prevented from becoming its leader, despite her overwhelming popularity. That may finally change in elections later this year. Myanmar is made up of eight major ethnic groups, who all hoped for autonomy after gaining independence after . . . Read More

Christmas arrests in Iran: 11 still detained

Christmas arrests in Iran: 11 still detained
As the US Secretary of State meets his Iranian counterpart in a bid to revive stalled talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, human rights experts are keen that issues of freedom of religion are not overlooked. This week, the UK Foreign Office has said that it’s raised its concern with the . . . Read More

IS invades monastery, steals ‘everything’ from Iraqi Christians

IS invades monastery, steals ‘everything’ from Iraqi Christians
After every known Christian is reported to have left Mosul, Islamic State fighters, IS, have now taken over a monastery near the largely Christian town of Qaraqosh, 32 miles southeast of Mosul. According to Agence France Presse IS expelled its three resident monks, a cleric and a few families living there, ordering . . . Read More

Vigilante group formed in Bangladesh to stop Christian activities

Vigilante group formed in Bangladesh to stop Christian activities
A vigilante committee has been formed in central Bangladesh to stop Christian activities in the local community, two months after the construction of a local church was halted. The committee is made up of political leaders, Muslim elders and an elected local government official. In September, the government official ordered . . . Read More

Archbishop of Canterbury and UK Foreign Office Minister alerted to need of Syrian Christians

Archbishop of Canterbury and UK Foreign Office Minister alerted to need of Syrian Christians
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the UK Foreign Office Minister responsible for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), have both acknowledged the findings of a report which says that Christians in Syria are increasingly targeted and vulnerable to persecution, amidst the on-going conflict there. Syria: Church on . . . Read More

Libyan human-rights official flees country after death threats

Libyan human-rights official flees country after death threats
The head of the Libyan Parliament’s Human Rights Committee has resigned and fled to London, saying he’s received death threats. Hassan Al-Amin, prominent for his long opposition to the Gaddafi regime, recently spoke out against armed gangs and militias in his Misrata area. His self-imposed exile comes as hostilities against . . . Read More

Warning against euphoria over reforms, as military targets minorities

Warning against euphoria over reforms, as military targets minorities
Christians around the world who’ve been praying for Myanmar have been warned against ‘euphoria’ over reform, while Christian and Muslim minorities remain under attack by the military. Sunday March 10 marked the 16th anniversary of the Global Day of Prayer for Burma, which celebrated some progress towards reform, but warned . . . Read More

Two steps back?

Two steps back?
On Jan. 1, Vietnam updated its rules for enforcing its highest law regarding religion. Known as the Decree on Religion 92/2012 ND-CP, or simply ND-92, the new decree is meant to clarify rules written in 2005. On close inspection, ND-92 does appear to clarify one thing: Vietnam’s intent to control . . . Read More