The Persecution Times » Archive
Christians from Muslim Background Charged With Apostasy in Iran
By Michael Ireland Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service IRAN (ANS) — Two Christians from Muslim backgrounds were officially charged with apostasy last week at the Public and Revolutionary Court in Shiraz, Iran, raising fears for their continued well-being. Capital punishment for apostasy is not codified in Iranian law, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) explained in a media advisory. According to the Bill of Indictment obtained by Farsi Christian News Network (FCNN), the prosecutor requested the death penalty for 53 year old Mahmoud Mohammad Matin-Azad and 40 year old Arash Ahmad-Ali Basirat by evoking the judge’s constitutional obligations to refer to Shari’a law, and by citing Imam Khomeini’s book, Tahrir-ul-Vasile, which stipulates the death penalty for apostasy. CSW said that as Mr Matin-Azad and Mr Basirat, who have been detained since May 15, await a verdict, another … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Christian, Iran, Islam, Muslim, Persecution
Church Attacked – Pastor and Believers Beaten in Karnataka, India
By James Varghese Special to ASSIST News Service KARANATAKA, INDIA (ANS) — A church was attacked, and the pastor and service attendees were beaten up by a group of Hindu radicals. The incident occurred in Davangere in Karnataka State in India on Sept. 7. According to a story reported on www.persecution.in, the incident occurred at about 10.30 a.m. Sunday morning. The name of the church that was attacked is Mission Action Prayer Fellowship, pastored by E. Lukos. The website reported that while worship was in progress, a group of about 50 Hindus radicals belonging to Rashtriya swayam sevaks (RSS) came into the church, and beat up the worshipers. According to the website, the Hindus also took Bibles, musical instruments, furniture and a variety of other items which they destroyed. Using kerosene, they burned all the Bibles … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Christian, HIndu, India, Persecution
Local Authorities Invade Vietnamese Church Service, Threaten More Harm if Congregation Continues to Meet
By Michael Ireland Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service HO CHI MINH CITY, VIETNAM (ANS) — Ten Vietnamese officers of the local police authority some of them in uniform, others in plain clothes and others in disguise, last Sunday, (August 31), rushed into the Church With A Mission house church interrupting the service and creating great anxiety among new converts. “One of them chased after our guest preacher, Pastor Hieu, to as far as he went into the restroom of our house church and snatched his camera right from his hand in front of our very eyes,” said Pastor Chinh Van Nguyen in an e-mail report of the incident sent to ANS. “On seeing this, one of our members shouted at them, saying ‘Give it back to him; otherwise we bring this to the public.’ … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Christian, Persecution, Vietnam
Vietnamese Christian Who Escaped to Cambodia, Repatriated and Under House Arrest
By Jeremy Reynalds Correspondent for ASSIST News Service SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA (ANS) — An ethnic Degar or Montagnard, who sought safety in a UN refugee camp in Cambodia, was shipped back to Vietnam. He is now under house arrest and cannot even work in his fields. Ethnic Degars are a minority who live in the Vietnam central highlands. A story reported by Asia News reported that persecuted on ethnic and religious grounds, Y Hning, 36, fled Vietnam for Cambodia, but was eventually shipped home. Back in Vietnam police ordered his family to pay for his release and forced Y Hning to give up his Christian faith. Now he fears for his life. Asia News reported that the Montagnard Foundation is appealing on Y Hning’s behalf to embassies and international agencies in the hope that he … Read entire article »
Filed under: Assist News Service, Christian, Persecution, Vietnam
Message from Orissa: “God is in Control”
ORISSA, INDIA (ANS) — Juria Bardhan, Gospel for Asia’s state leader in Orissa, India, knows what it’s like to be hunted by anti-Christian extremists bent on killing him. During the past two weeks, he has seen dozens of churches burned to the ground. He has seen missionaries and Christians beaten and killed. But during all these horrific attacks, Juria has had one thought. “We know the Lord is in control,” Juria said in an interview Thursday. Juria’s comments may sound naïve to Western ears, but to Christians in volatile parts of Asia, they ring true. They expect persecution rather than peace. They know that to follow Christ means choosing to bring more trouble into their lives. They also know that Christians standing strong in the face of such trials encourages others to … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christian, Gospel for Asia, HIndu, India, Persecution
