09
December
Detention of human rights defender Ramy Kamel
On 27 February 2020, the Criminal Court of Cairo rejected the appeal of human rights defender Ramy Kamel and renewed his detention for an additional 15 days. The human rights defender has been detained since 23 November 2019.
08
December
Extremist Group Arrests Villagers in Syria
Although the Yazidi community had suffered immense persecution at the hands of ISIS, their safety is not assured even as people return to the area in which the once lived as other groups move and continue persecution.
Arzoo Raja, 13-year-old Christian girl in Karachi, and Ali Azhar on far right. (Photo released by Sindh government)
23
November
Parents Denied Custody of Allegedly Kidnapped Daughter
A high court in Pakistan has ruled that a 13-year-old Catholic girl allegedly abducted and forcibly converted and married to a Muslim man must remain in a government shelter home until she reaches age 18.
28
October
UN HRC 45 Side Event: China Bans Faith for All Children
Here is an introduction to a very important event highlighting the incredible pressure China is putting on parents and children as they continue to decimate personal rights, in this case the right to belief.
23
October
Answering the Call to Protect Religious Freedom: A Year in Review
A report from the U.S. Department of State on work to protect religious freedom over the past year.
Professor Naeem Ud Din Khattak was shot dead on his way home from college in a religiously motivated attack. (Photo supplied)
06
October
Ahmadi professor shot dead in Pakistan for his faith
Persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistian continues, with more deaths.
03
October
Religious freedom under assault in 'Europe's last dictatorship'
Belarus President Lukashenko makes no secret of his atheism. He has mostly refrained from overt actions against religious groups, but now there are worrying signs that his government is actively undermining the independence of religious groups.
The Snezhkov family at a protest in Gomel on September 27
03
October
Old Believers denounce illegal detention of peaceful family in Belarus
Children taken by Belarus officials after parent express personal beliefs by protesting
Members of the mob damage a home in one of the villages. Credit: CSW
29
September
Christian families from tribal communities in five villages attacked by mob
Christian families belonging to the Scheduled Tribe community located in five villages in Kondagaon District, Chhattisgarh had their homes ransacked and farmland and property destroyed by a large mob in attacks which took place over two days.
28
September
Genocide Should Be Bad For Business
How far Do regimes like China and Mynamar have to go before right minded people and governments make them pay a price for their cruelty?
24
September
China continues to erase the cultures of its own citizens’
The Chinese Government has embarked on a systematic and intentional campaign to rewrite the cultural heritage of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).
23
September
China continues to interfere with families and with the fundamental right of children to believe
NGO's demand the U.N. pressure China to take immediate steps to ensure the right to Freedom of Religion and Belief for children in China and cease violence against children from religious faiths.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
22
September
Seeking a Viable Alternative to Indonesia’s Blasphemy Laws
Instead of criminalizing blasphemy, Indonesia should focus on penalizing incitement to discrimination, hostility, and violence.
22
September
Pastor returns to family after years-long imprisonment in Vietnam
asdfasdfasA pastor who says that he was falsely imprisoned, tortured and beaten is coming home.
20
September
Nigeria's Government ignoring growing violence
The increasing conflict in Nigeria is directly related to the present National government’s lack of interest in extending equal protection to all of its citizens.
Bishop Oliver Dashe Doeme of Maiduguri, Nigeria, inspects a burned church in his diocese in 2015, which has been a target of Boko Haram. COURTESY | AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED
16
September
Christian persecution at all-time high, say experts at Alexandria conference
The Saints Peter and Paul Conference in Alexandria heard from speakers from all around the world,including India, China and Nigeria. They all had one thing in common, they spoke for the persecuted Christians suffering within their homelands.
12
September
Tech Company Accused of 'Religious Discrimination, Censorship'.
A major tech company called MobileCause is now in the spotlight, accused of censoring conservatives by abruptly terminating a contract with the Christian organization the Family Research Council (FRC).
Representative Image (social media)
12
September
If Dalits can be Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists, why can’t they be Christians and Muslims?
Christian and Muslim Dalits have been denied benefits available to SC groups among Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists. A petition challenging the discrimination has been pending in Supreme Court for years
Walt Disney Pictures
08
September
Disney Under Fire for Filming ‘Mulan’ in Chinese City with Uyghur Concentration Camps
Disney has drawn a backlash for its indifference to religious freedom and human rights, cozying up to the Chinese Communist Party and filming parts of its new live action blockbuster in a city that incarcerates Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities.
Asif Pervaiz (right) with attorney Saiful Malook (center) at prison. (Morning Star News)
08
September
Another Christian Sentenced to Death in Pakistan on Weak Blasphemy Charges
A court in Lahore, Pakistan has sentenced a Christian to death over charges that he allegedly sent “blasphemous” text messages to a Muslim colleague seven years ago, his lawyer said.
Representational image | Photo Credit: S. RAMBABU
06
September
India's Government suspends FCRA clearance of 4 Christian groups
Of the six NGOs whose license under the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) was suspended by the Union Home Ministry this year, four are Christian associations.
03
September
USCIRF Encourages Religious Freedom Progress on Vietnam National Day
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) congratulated the government of Vietnam on its National Day, and encouraged the government to take steps to improve religious freedom conditions in the country.
Asad Noor, outspoken Bangladeshi blogger
24
August
Bangladeshi blogger faces death threats for criticizing Islamic fundamentalism
Rights groups are urging Bangladeshi authorities to withdraw all charges against blogger Asad Noor, restore his passport and end harassment of his family members. Noor fled to India after multiple threats to his life.
A child from the Uyghur community living in Turkey participates in a protest in Istanbul on November 6, 2018, against oppression by the Chinese government of Muslim Uyghurs in the far-western Xinjiang province. >Credit: AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis
21
August
China Buys Turkey’s Silence on Uyghur Oppression
A quick explanation of how China uses economic leverage to silence Turkey on the Uyghur issue, coauthored by my colleague and friend, Aykan Erdemir.
17
August
The Ongoing and Intensifying Persecution of Christians in India
According to a new report by the group Persecution Relief, “Hate crimes against Christians in India [rose] by an alarming 40.87 percent” in the first half of 2020, “even despite the nationwide [coronavirus] lockdown in place since March 25."
