Christian detained in North Korea

North Korea has detained a 75-year-old Australian visitor for passing out Christian pamphlets, according to his wife as reported by Agence France-Presse. John Short was arrested at his Pyongyang hotel on Feb. 17, the second day of his visit with a tour group, and was informed by police he would . . . 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

Christian deaths double in 2014 World Watch List

Christian deaths double in 2014 World Watch List
Nearly twice as many Christians died for their faith in the past year than in 2012, according to Open Doors International’s 2014 World Watch List. Open Doors International, a charity that supports Christians under pressure for their faith, said 2,123 Christians were reported to have been killed during the 12 . . . 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

Bae ‘in better health’

The mother of imprisoned Korean-American Christian Kenneth Bae has told the BBC his health has improved after two months of medical treatment. However, she said she fears his health will suffer if he is returned to a labour camp. Last November, Bae was sentenced to 15 years’ hard labour, convicted . . . Read More

North Korea shocks UN Commission

The UN Commission of Inquiry set up to investigate human rights violations in North Korea has presented its interim report. “What we have seen and heard so far – the specificity, detail and shocking character of the personal testimony – appears without doubt to demand follow-up action by the world . . . Read More