The Persecution Times » Archive
Church Attacked for the Second Time in Somalia
By Michael Ireland Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service MOGADISHU, SOMALIA – A Muslim mob has once again attacked a house church in Tayeglow, a town 198 miles from Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital. According to the Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.persecution.org , dozens of Muslims, including children and women, demolished the church and attacked the Christians worshipping at the church with spears, machetes, sticks and stones. Two elders of the church, Mr. Faysal Amin, 50, and Mr. Mubarak Hussein, 45 [not real names for security reasons], suffered serious injuries as a result of the attack. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Christian, Muslim, Persecution, Somalia
Islamists Attack Church in Northern Kenya
Compass Direct News reports that: A longstanding effort to replace a church with a mosque in Kenya’s northern town of Garissa culminated in an attack by 50 Muslim youths this month that left the worship building in ruins. The gang stormed the building of Redeemed Gospel Church on Sept. 14 and pelted the congregation with stones, sending many Christians fleeing while others became embroiled in fistfights. Ten Christians received hospital treatment for minor injuries and were released. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christian, Compass Direct, Islam, Kenya, Persecution
Attacks Continue on Churches in India
By James Varghese Special to ASSIST News Service INDIA (ANS)- Despite a promise of security from the Chief Minister of the Government of Karnataka, Christians are being attacked by Hindu radicals, and their churches vandalized. According to a story on www.persecution.in, the violence has also spread to the neighboring states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. According to the web site, a church was attacked and burned in Yelahanka New Town, Bangalore, at about 10.30 p.m. on Sept. 26. The incident occurred after a prayer meeting. A small number of Hindu radicals attacked Gospel Bethel Assembly of God Church, doused the facility with kerosene and burned Bibles, hymn books and the pulpit. Neighbors responded quickly and managed to douse the blaze. The story reported that a complaint was filed the following morning at Yelahanka New Town police … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Christian, HIndu, India, Persecution
Laos Village to Expell 55 Christians
Compass Direct News reports that The chief of Boukham village in Savannakhet province, Laos, on Friday (Sept. 19) called a special community meeting to resolve the “problem” of eight resident Christian families who have refused to give up their faith. The meeting concluded with plans to expel all 55 Christians from the village. Although all adult members of a village are usually invited to such meetings, on this occasion the Christians were deliberately excluded, according to rights group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF). Pastor Sompong Supatto, 32, and two other believers from the village, Boot Chanthaleuxay, 18, and Khamvan Chanthaleuxay, also 18, remain in detention in the nearby Ad-Sapangthong district police detention cell. HRWLRF earlier reported that police have held the men in handcuffs and wooden foot stocks since their … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christian, Compass Direct, Laos, Persecution
Pastor Forced to Stop Worship Services in Home
reports that: Residents in North Jakarta have ordered the pastor of a small congregation to cease holding services in his home, despite a letter of permission issued by the Religious Affairs department. On Sept. 12 village officials in South Rawa Badak, Koja district called a meeting with pastor Syaiful Hamzah and his wife Tiolida Sihotang, police officers, and representatives from the village mosque. Officials urged Hamzah and his wife to sign a document agreeing to cease all worship services in their home, effectively rejecting permission granted by Religious Affairs officials. During the meeting, a sympathetic Muslim cleric, Wasi Sholeh, informed Hamzah that “certain people” had made violent threats against him, and that he could not guarantee Hamzah’s safety if he refused to sign the agreement. Mosque official Mohammad Ayub told Hamzah, a convert … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christian, Jakarta, Muslim, Persecution
