Tag: Proselytism

Foreign Christian students targeted by Russia’s security services

July 3, 2018 Russia Missionaries, Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, Pentecostals, Proselytism, Protestants, Religion Law, Russia, Yarovaya Law

Foreign students of Pentecostal churches in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region have become a particular target for the authorities under the so-called “anti-missionary” law introduced two years ago, Forum 18 reports. The vague definition of “missionary activity” in the law, officially titled the Yarovaya Law after one of its authors, has meant that law . . . Read More

Indian state’s ‘anti-conversion law’ to be repealed

June 29, 2018 India Anti-conversion law, Arunachal Pradesh, Baptism, BJP, Catholics, Converts, Hindu nationalism, India, Minorities, Missionaries, Narendra Modi, Proselytism, Pune

Christian groups have welcomed a surprise announcement by a nationalist chief minister of a state in north-east India that he will ensure that a law preventing conversions from one faith to another is repealed. Pema Khandu, a Buddhist who heads the nationalist BJP-led state government in Arunachal Pradesh, told an . . . Read More

Malaysian sergeant denies implicating ‘very senior police officers’ in pastor’s kidnapping

June 4, 2018 Malaysia Joshua Hilmy, Malaysia, Proselytism, Raymond Koh

Pastor Raymond Koh who was last seen in February 2017. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

The sergeant thought to have been ready to publicly implicate Malaysian police in the abductions of Pastor Raymond Koh and a social activist has denied ever making the claim. In a police report filed on Wednesday 30 May, Sgt. Shamzaini Mohd Daud denied claiming that the missing church leader and social . . . Read More

Report: Latin American states failing Christians by overlooking ‘criminal freedom’

May 11, 2018 Catholics, Colombia, Corruption, Human rights, Latin America, Mexico, Organised crime, Proselytism, Protestants, Religious freedom

During the 50 years conflict between Colombia's government and main rebel group, FARC-EP, churches were threatened and hundreds of church leaders assassinated by armed groups. (Photo: World Watch Monitor, 2012)

A new report looking into the “endemic phenomena” of organised crime and corruption in Latin America highlights the failure of governments to protect active Christians from violence. The inability or unwillingness of Latin American governments to stop organised crime encourages a “criminal freedom” that “makes specific sectors within society become . . . Read More

Four-year sentence for Indonesian pastor who evangelised a taxi driver

May 10, 2018 Indonesia Banten, Blasphemy, Indonesia, Muhammadiyah, Proselytism, Protestants, Quran, Religious freedom, Tangerang

A Protestant pastor has been sentenced to four years in prison for religious defamation after discussing Christianity with a Muslim taxi driver in Indonesia, the Jakarta Post reports. The Tangerang District Court in Banten also ordered that Rev. Abraham Ben Moses, 52, pay a fine of 50 million Rupiah (US$3,565) . . . Read More

Nepal ‘should practise what it preaches’ as UN member

May 1, 2018 Nepal Anti-conversion law, Burial, Churches, Elections, Human rights, Minorities, Nepal, Proselytism, Religious freedom, UN

As a newly elected member state of the UN Human Rights Council, Nepal must address its own commitment to the protection of human rights, including freedom of religion and belief, says Christian Solidarity Worldwide. The advocacy organisation highlighted Nepal’s decision in October to criminalise religious conversion and the “hurting of . . . Read More

Malaysian bishops: ‘We need leaders who truly care for the people’

April 30, 2018 Malaysia 'Allah', Catholics, Elections, Hudud, Islamic extremism, Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Malaysia, Najib Razak, PAS, Proselytism, Religious freedom, Sharia, UMNO

For the first time in six decades, several high-profile Malaysian church leaders have publicly called for a change of government. On 24 April the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia issued a pastoral letter, saying: “We need to choose leaders who truly care for the rakyat [people], promote justice and equality, stand . . . Read More

Russia’s religious communities face ‘unclear’ requirements

April 27, 2018 Russia Baptists, Churches, Jehovah's Witnesses, Missionaries, Nizhny Novgorod, Pentecostals, Proselytism, Russia

Legal requirements applied to the expression of freedom of religion in Russia impose a significant burden on religious communities not recognised by the state – in the shape of fines, legal costs and bureaucracy – reports regional news agency Forum 18. The requirements are “unclear” and applied “inconsistently”, Forum 18 . . . Read More

Iran: appeal heard by judge with ‘poor track record in dealing with Christians’

April 26, 2018 Iran Ahmed Shaheed, Amin Afshar Naderi, Assyrians, Blasphemy, Converts, Hadi Asgari, Iran, Kaviyan Fallah-Mohammadi, Proselytism, Tehran, Victor Bet-Tamraz

Four Iranian Christians each sentenced to at least ten years in prison had their first appeal hearing yesterday (25 April). In the hearing, initially scheduled for February but postponed, a judge heard the case of Christian converts Hadi Asgari, Amin Afshar-Naderi, Kaviyan Fallah-Mohammadi and Assyrian pastor Victor Bet-Tamraz. At least . . . Read More

Indian Christians charged with ‘hurting religious sentiments’ by handing out Easter tracts

April 5, 2018 India BJP, Churches, Easter, Hindu nationalism, Hindutva, Hyderabad, India, Police, Proselytism, RSS, Telangana, Women

Four Christians, including the wife of a church leader, have been charged with “hurting religious sentiments” after they handed out Christian tracts during an Easter procession in India’s southern Telangana state. Rayapuri Jyothi, 38, Meena Kumari, 52, Mahima Kumari, 35 and Bagadam Sudhakar, 45, were taken into custody by police . . . Read More

Catching Our Eye