Pakistan: Christian boy, 16, arrested for Kaaba ‘blasphemy’

The boy is alleged to have "defamed" the Kaaba in Mecca
Nabeel Masih, 16, is alleged to have “defamed” the Kaaba in Mecca, the building at the centre of Islam’s most sacred mosque.Amalia Sari / Flickr / CC   A 16-year-old Christian boy has been accused of committing blasphemy by “liking” and sharing a post on Facebook which “defamed and disrespected” . . . Read More

Anti-Christian violence in India at an ‘alarming level’

Anti-Christian violence in India at an ‘alarming level’
A message is held aloft at a protest march against anti-Christian violence – in Bangalore in February 2015.World Watch Monitor   The leader of a Christian advocacy group in India says that incidents of anti-Christian violence in the country have reached an “alarming level”, with more than 30 incidents a . . . Read More

Russia: Church reacts as ‘anti-missionary bill’ becomes law

Russia: Church reacts as ‘anti-missionary bill’ becomes law
On 7 July, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill referred to by one Christian organisation as an “anti-missionary bill”. The new law, known more commonly as the “Yarovaya” law (the name of one of its authors), which will come into effect on 20 July, was formally introduced . . . Read More

UPDATE: Nigerian Christians told to ‘buckle up’ after preacher hacked to death

UPDATE: Nigerian Christians told to ‘buckle up’ after preacher hacked to death
Mother of seven, Eunice Elisha, was murdered close to Nigeria’s capital, AbujaWorld Watch Monitor   A female preacher was hacked to death in the early hours of 9 July near Nigeria’s capital. Eunice Elisha, a mother of seven, had gone out to preach as was usual, her husband, Olawale Elisha, . . . Read More

Pakistani policeman beats up church leader over ‘loudspeaker music’

Pakistani policeman beats up church leader over ‘loudspeaker music’
The Pentecostal United Church in Lahore, Pakistan, where Riaz Rehmat is pastor.World Watch Monitor   A church leader in Lahore was beaten up during his Sunday service by a policeman, during a dispute over whether or not music was being played over his church loudspeaker. Lahore has the largest concentration . . . Read More

India: village church attacked, Christians hospitalised

India: village church attacked, Christians hospitalised
Several Christians were hospitalised after the incident in Chhattisgarh state.Courtesy Open Doors International   Several Christians were hospitalised and others forced to reconvert to Hinduism, after a village church in India’s central Chhattisgarh state was attacked by Hindu hardliners. The Christians from the Independent Pentecostal Church in Kohkameta were attacked . . . Read More