Severe sentence for Chinese pastor

A Chinese megachurch pastor, Wang Yi, has been jailed for nine years for “subversion of state power” and “illegally operating a business”.

According to Faithwire, Yi, the lead pastor of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu (the capital of Sichuan … Read More

Church BULLDOZED during service

Last updated on December 6th, 2019 at 03:30 pm

Bulldozers started demolishing the 3,000-seat Fuyang Christian Church in Fenan, Anhui province, during a worship service, while congregants were inside.

Not only were no legal papers presented, but it was a … Read More

Christians at heart of Hong Kong protests

Last updated on August 9th, 2019 at 01:06 pm

Hong Kong anti-extradition law protest on 16 June 

WHILE the British media have rightly highlighted the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong this summer, they have been peculiarly quiet about the faith … Read More

Hymns replaced with communist anthems

Churches in China are being forced to sing songs praising the state instead of God.

The communist government is banning traditional hymns and ordering registered churches to use a new ‘hymnbook’.

Religious liberty magazine Bitter Winter reports that the Religious … Read More

China in chains

Last updated on September 3rd, 2019 at 12:22 pm

But its believers have found true freedom

By Charles Gardner

LONDON, June 21, 2019

Bearing in mind the brutality meted out against protestors as Hong Kong slips inexorably towards China’s … Read More

China hires agents to spy on churches

Last updated on June 12th, 2019 at 11:59 am

China turns pastors into political pawns

The Chinese government is reportedly employing ordinary citizens as paid informants to report on church activities, in addition to police and secret services.

According to China Aid, a church elder from Kaifeng, Henan, said that officials in his area recruit one person from each village to spy on churches. He also said the spies are supposed to report Christians who take children to church. Read More

Suspicious death of Christian Chinese lawyer

“Bold and compassionate”: the late Dr Li Baiguang (left) defended Chinese pastors

An internationally-recognised Chinese human rights lawyer has died suddenly under suspicious circumstances.

Dr Li Baiguang, 49, an outspoken legal advocate for Christian pastors under arrest, is said … Read More

It’s ‘Year of the underdog’ for millions of Chinese Christians

As crosses are torn down, churches demolished and pastors arrested, persecution is set to reach highest level “since Cultural Revolution”

Read More

Persecution Watch Oct – Nov 2017

Rebuilding hope in Iraq

Christians are slowly returning to the town of Karamles in Iraq after Islamic State (ISIS) was ousted.

Over half of the houses in the town are either piles of rubble or completely burnt out, but 250 families have signed up to return. With the help of Christian charity Open Doors, 30 houses have so far been restored, with 20 more in the pipeline. However, the returnees get no help from the government. Read More

PERSECUTION WATCH: APRIL – MAY 2017

Somalian family attacked in their sleep

Terrorists wound father, kill wife and son

Al Shabaab militants in Somalia – affiliated with Al Qaeda

Islamic extremists in Somalia shot a Christian family as they slept, seriously wounding the husband and killing his wife and 11-year-old son.

The militants broke into the family’s home in Afgoi, about 30k from Mogadishu, at dawn. According to Morning Star News, at least four armed men carried out the attack in February, shouting the jihadist slogan, “Allahhu Akbar (Allah is greater)” and saying, “We cannot allow the defiling of our religion with a foreign, Western religion.” Read More