Migrants thrown overboard in ‘religious hate’

Twelve African Christians attempting to reach Europe by boat were allegedly thrown overboard because of “religious hate”. The 12, from Ghana and Nigeria, are all feared dead. Police arrested 15 Muslim migrants, from the Ivory Coast, Senegal, Mali and Guinea, on suspicion of murder after the boat reached the Italian . . . Read More

‘Freedom of Religion’: comprehensive report launch

A report showing that religious freedom is compromised in nearly 60 percent of countries worldwide is expected to send a signal to governments and religious leaders that this is an issue that can no longer be ignored. The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need’s Religious Freedom in . . . Read More

Christians jailed alongside Eritrean constitution

A surge in arrests of Christians worshipping outside of Eritrea’s government-sanctioned Catholic, Orthodox and Evangelical Lutheran churches indicates Christians should not expect greater freedom from a new Constitution recently announced by Eritrean President Isayas Afewerki. These arrests are also affecting children. On 6 June, authorities arrested a Christian woman from . . . Read More

Freedom of religion an issue ‘whose time has come’

Freedom of religion an issue ‘whose time has come’
Freedom of religion and belief is an issue “whose time has come”, the vice chairwoman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said yesterday. During the presentation of two reports on religious freedom at the European Parliament in Brussels on Feb. 12, commission Vice Chairwoman Katrina Lantos Swett said . . . Read More

Pressure on Christians grew in 2013

Pressure on Christians grew in 2013
More than ever, some of the hardest places for Christians to live are fragile or failed states where militant Islamist movements flourish, according to an annual report on Christian religious freedom. Pressure on Christians intensified worldwide in 2013, according to Open Doors International, a charity that provides support to Christians . . . Read More

UK Parliament is told Christianity is ‘most persecuted religion’

UK Parliament is told Christianity is ‘most persecuted religion’
The Bishop Moussa Coptic Church in Minya was destroyted by pro-Morsi supporters in Egypt, many of whom blamed Christians for his overthrow.David Degner, Getty Images   The plight of Christians around the world was discussed in a three-hour debate at the Houses of Parliament in London yesterday. Members of the . . . Read More

Book review: ‘The Global War on Christians’

Book review: ‘The Global War on Christians’
It has been an astonishing last 12 months for books on the persecution of Christians when there has been such silence on the issue for so long. First came ‘Christianophobia: A Faith Under Attack’ in late 2012; then the more simply titled, ‘Persecuted: the Global Assault on Christians’ in March . . . Read More