Rights groups call for Chinese pastor’s release after he is sentenced to nine years in prison
Chinese pastor Wang Yi has been sentenced to nine years in prison after he was convicted on charges including inciting to subvert state power and illegal business operations. The pastor – a former human rights lawyer who founded the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, Sichuan province, in 2008, and who had criticised the government’s […]
A group of former house church Christians ordered to stop meeting together in China, reports CSW
A group of former members of an unregistered house church in China have been ordered to stop meeting together after authorities in the south-west province of Guizhou accused them of carrying out illegal activities, according to religious freedom advocacy CSW. The Christians are all former members of the Living Stone Church – an unregistered house […]
Crackdown on Christians in Iran continues with reports of beatings
World Watch Monitor At least seven Iranian Christian converts have been arrested in Iran in the last two weeks, including two sisters who allegedly have been beaten. Shima Zanganeh, 27, and her sister, Shokoufeh, 30, were arrested by Intelligence Service officials in their homes in Ahvaz, capital of Iran’s western Khuzestan province, on 2nd December, reports Mohabat […]
Iranian Christians sentenced to prison, verdict says “claiming Jesus is Lord is attack against Islam”
World Watch Monitor Saheb Fadaie, Youcef Nadarkhani, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Mohammad Reza Omidi. Two Iranian Christians have been given prison sentences for “spreading propaganda against the regime”, reports Middle East Concern. Saheb Fadaei and Fatimeh Bakhteri, who belong to the non-Trinitarian “Church of Iran”, were sentenced to 18 and 12 months, respectively. Middle East Concern noted […]
China uses “legal tactics to suppress religious freedom”, says rights agency
World Watch Monitor China’s churches are experiencing the worst persecution in forty years with a government which uses ‘non-religious reasons’ and civil law to close houses of worship, according to the US-based St Charles Institute. Pressure is applied “through opaque queries of fire protection measures, by questioning the legality of printed materials used by the church, […]
More church closures in China as Party tightens rules for its religious members
World Watch Monitor One of China’s largest house churches in Beijing has been threatened with closure by the government following its refusal of a request to install cameras in the church building, reports Reuters. Zion church received a letter from the city authorities in April, asking the church to install 24 closed-circuit video cameras in the […]
INDIA: HINDU EXTREMIST VIOLENCE ON THE RISE IN SOUTHERN STATES
TEJASWI RAVINDER reports for World Watch Monitor…
US commission calls for Iranian Christians’ release after “new miscarriage of justice”
World Watch Monitor From left: Saheb Fadaie, Youcef Nadarkhani, Yasser Mossayebzadeh and Mohammad Reza Omidi. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has called for the “immediate and unconditional” release of an Iranian pastor and three of his church members, after they were taken to prison last week to serve 10 year sentences for “acting against national […]
Beijing house churches sign declaration calling on government to respect religious freedoms
Thirty-four independent Beijing churches have signed a declaration calling on the Chinese Government to respect the basic religious freedoms and rights of citizens and affirming their commitment to stand together following the enactment of new religious affairs regulations earlier this year. Religious freedom advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that the declaration, which was was dated […]
Churches in China’s Henan province told to sing national anthem at services
World Watch Monitor Local authorities in China’s central Henan province have stipulated that all churches must have a Chinese flag on display and sing the national anthem at each gathering. In the “Special Emergency Notice” circulated earlier this month, they also asked clergy to collect data on their members, especially on those from poor families, reports Catholic […]