Vietnam’s Religion Law

Vietnam’s Religion Law
The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is drafting a “Law on Belief and Religion,” for passage in the National Assembly in 2016, and possibly this year. It is almost inevitable the new law will disappoint proponents of universal human rights.1 Diverse religions and religious practices flourish in communist Vietnam. Religious believers far . . . Read More

Christmas arrests in Iran: 11 still detained

Christmas arrests in Iran: 11 still detained
As the US Secretary of State meets his Iranian counterpart in a bid to revive stalled talks over Iran’s nuclear programme, human rights experts are keen that issues of freedom of religion are not overlooked. This week, the UK Foreign Office has said that it’s raised its concern with the . . . Read More

China’s Nobel nominee lawyer released after three years

China’s Nobel nominee lawyer released after three years
Geng He, wife of imprisoned Chinese dissident Gao Zhisheng, speaks at a press conference. ‎January‎ ‎18‎, ‎2011Nina Lincoff/Medill News Service / Flickr / Creative Commons   Prominent defender of persecuted Christians, and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Gao Zhisheng was released from prison last week after his most recent three-year sentence. . . . Read More

UN chief calls for immediate international action to halt ‘deplorable atrocities’

UN chief calls for immediate international action to halt ‘deplorable atrocities’
The UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon says that immediate action is needed to stop the killing in the Central African Republic (CAR), citing “grave and deplorable atrocities”, and “to prevent the further separation of communities that have lived together for centuries”. Its Human Rights chief said that, on a recent . . . Read More

3000 Syrian Christians flee Armenian village as Islamist rebels take control

3000 Syrian Christians flee Armenian village as Islamist rebels take control
An Armenian* Syrian pastor, whose family is from Kessab, close to Syria’s northern border with Turkey, has reported that they have fled the village after Syrian rebel jihadists took control of the area. The fighting in the predominantly Armenian Christian town started Friday March 21st. World Watch Monitor has seen . . . Read More