Stories tagged with: persecuted church

• Trump to form group for workplace religious freedom

  by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, September 23, 2019 (4 years ago)

  

  iStock photo

  NEW YORK (BP) -- A new coalition of U.S. businesses to protect religious freedom in the workplace is among U.S. President Donald Trump's latest initiatives, Trump said Monday (Sept. 23) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

  "This initiative will encourage the private sector to protect people of all faiths in the workplace," Trump said in hosting the 11:30 a.m. Global Call to Protect Religious Freedom. "Too often, people in positions of power preach diversity while silencing, shunning or censoring the faithful. Read More

• Hong Kong Christians: Bill's removal not enough

  by Diana Chandler, posted Wednesday, September 04, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from Twitter

  HONG KONG (BP) -- The withdrawal of an extradition bill that threatened religious freedom in Hong Kong is not enough to satisfy Christians and others amid protests there, a Christian advocate told Baptist Press Wednesday (Sept. 4).

  "Their anger lies with the excessive use of police/force, police brutality, and prosecution of protestors or activists in the past few months," International Christian Concern's (ICC) Gina Goh told BP. Read More

• Hong Kong Christians fear China persecution

  by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, August 13, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from CBS News

  HONG KONG (BP) -- A proposed extradition law sparking violent protests at Hong Kong's airport would make it easier for China to persecute Hong Kong Christians, a religious freedom advocate told Baptist Press.

  Christians, who comprise about 10 percent of Hong Kong residents, are participating in the protests while promoting peaceful resistance, said Gina Goh, International Christian Concern's regional manager for Southeast Asia. Read More

• Christian prisoner in spotlight at China rights event

  by Diana Chandler, posted Wednesday, August 07, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  ChinaAid photo

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The release of an underground church leader reportedly jailed in China for his Christianity was among pleas at an interfaith roundtable U.S. Vice President Mike Pence attended on China's religious rights abuses.

  China should release Hu Shigen, held since 2015 on charges of subverting state power, religious freedom advocate Gary Bauer urged at the meeting, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said. Reportedly, Hu's baptism photo was used to convict him. Read More

• Sudan Christians may benefit from new accord

  by Diana Chandler, posted Friday, July 19, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from BBC

  KHARTOUM, Sudan (BP) -- A new power-sharing agreement to establish civilian rule in Sudan is potentially good news for persecuted Christians there, religious liberty watchdog International Christian Concern (ICC) said.

  "This could very well be a historic change for the country of Sudan and for its suffering Christian population," Nathan Johnson, ICC regional manager for Africa, said in a press release. "If the new constitution does not guarantee freedom of religion for all, removing sharia as the guiding force, I fear that Christians will continue to live under tyranny and persecution." Read More

• Pew: Christian, Muslim persecution most widespread

  by Diana Chandler, posted Tuesday, July 16, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  Pew Research Center graphic

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- Christians and Muslims are persecuted in more countries than any other religious group, Pew Research Center said in a decade-long study showing high levels of persecution in 42 percent of countries studied.

  Christians and Muslims, the largest and most widespread globally of any group, experienced government and/or social religious persecution in 143 and 140 countries respectively, Pew said in the latest installment of its study on religious restrictions around the world. But persecution levels varied among countries. Read More

• USCIRF applauds new U.S. unalienable rights group

  by Diana Chandler, posted Friday, July 12, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. State Department's new Commission on Unalienable Rights underscores the nation's commitment to religious rights internationally, Tony Perkins said in his new role as chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

  "We applaud the creation of this commission as another way of ensuring that the protection of these fundamental rights -- the most foundational of which is freedom of religion or belief -- is a core element of strategic policy discussions," Perkins said in a press release. Read More

• Persecuted church draws 2 passionate advocates

  by Tim Tune, posted Friday, July 12, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  Photo submitted

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- One is a former FBI intelligence analyst supervisor, the other a longtime missionary.

  In their respective ways, they're intent on raising awareness of Christians facing persecution across the world.

  Patrick Carberry, who was with the FBI for 17 years, worked on intelligence matters in the Middle East war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan. Read More

• Sudan Christians: 'Only Jesus can bring true peace'

  by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, July 01, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  BBC News screen capture

  KHARTOUM, Sudan (BP) -- Nationwide civilian protests for democracy resumed Sunday (June 30) in Sudan, where democratic rule could decrease Christian persecution under Sharia law.

  Eight people were killed and about 200 were injured as tens of thousands protested to establish civilian rule, according to reports from the Associated Press and the New York Times, citing estimates from Sudan's Ministry of Health and the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors. Seven were reportedly killed in Khartoum and one in Atbara, about 200 miles northeast of Khartoum. Read More

• Sudan Christians fearful amid deadly revolution

  by Diana Chandler, posted Friday, June 21, 2019 (5 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from France TV May 31

  KHARTOUM, Sudan (BP) -- Persecuted Christians in Sudan are discouraged and fearful after the military massacre of protesters seeking civilian rule that, amid Sharia law, could protect religious freedom.

  A Southern Baptist eyewitness to protests in Khartoum ahead of the June 3 massacre, who requested anonymity, updated Baptist Press on the Christian minority in the mostly Sunni Muslim country. The military took control of the country following the April ouster of dictatorial President Omar al-Bashir, and protests for civilian rule continue. Read More