religious persecution
Russia jails more Jehovah’s Witnesses, prompting calls for ‘strong measures’
By Adelle M. Banks — January 20, 2022
(RNS) — More than 80 Jehovah’s Witnesses are imprisoned in Russia, including some awaiting trial and some detained after being convicted.
Afghanistan tops Open Doors watch list of worst countries for Christians
By Adelle M. Banks — January 19, 2022
(RNS) — Across the globe, Open Doors found that there has been a 24% increase in Christians killed because of their faith.
Nigerian churches, ‘listed for attack,’ need more than security measures
By David Curry — December 14, 2021
(Open Doors) — In Nigeria alone, an average of 10 to 17 Christians are killed for their faith every day.
Kyrgyzstan is expected to ban Jehovah’s Witnesses publications for ‘extremism’
By Kathryn Post — November 30, 2021
(RNS) — The ban would mark the first time that the country has taken an official stance against the religious group.
Russian Jehovah’s Witness sentenced to over four years in prison for his faith
By Jessica Mundie — October 11, 2021
(RNS) — Since April 2020, five men, including Vladimir Skachidub, have been convicted and imprisoned for practicing their faith in Russia’s Krasnodar Territory, where their religion is considered an extremist group.
Three Jehovah’s Witnesses sentenced to six or more years in Russian prison for their faith
By Kathryn Post — July 29, 2021
(RNS) — Since 2017, 14 Jehovah’s Witnesses have been sentenced to six or more years of prison in Russia, where they are considered an extremist group.
Nigerian herders kill 33, burn 4 churches days after kidnapping schoolchildren
By Fredrick Nzwili — July 16, 2021
(RNS) — 'This is religious persecution. We must call it that. I have 1,000 reasons to believe so,' said a local leader.
Qatar’s Baha’i community and the plight of foreign workers
By Baher Seioshansian — July 8, 2021
(RNS) — This subtle erasure of Baha’is from the country contrasts sharply with Qatar’s efforts to promote the image and practice of tolerance.
Survey: White evangelicals most likely to say they’ve been harassed online for their faith
By Roxanne Stone — February 2, 2021
(RNS) — ‘The study shows there are some groups who are more likely to attribute their harassment to their religious beliefs than others,’ according to the Pew report.
Advancing religious freedom abroad starts at home
By Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons and Maggie Siddiqi — January 15, 2021
(RNS) — On this Religious Freedom Day, we are concerned about the rising threats around the world, but we are hopeful for progress in the years ahead.
Open Doors’ 2021 watch list highlights impact of COVID-19 on religious persecution worldwide
By Emily McFarlan Miller — January 13, 2021
(RNS) — North Korea leads the organization’s annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most persecution for their faith for the 20th straight year.
Christmas holiday bus attacks in Kenya bring condemnation from Christian and Muslim leaders
By Fredrick Nzwili — December 16, 2020
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Christian and Muslim leaders have stepped up interfaith dialogue in hopes of reining in the bus attacks and other threats to the border region’s small Christian community.
Scholars call out Putin and the ‘escalation’ of persecution against Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia
By Emily McFarlan Miller — October 2, 2020
(RNS) — A group of 50 religion scholars from around the world are calling on President Vladimir Putin and his administration to end the persecution of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Russia.
Hong Kong issues warrant for Samuel Chu, an American citizen, activist and pastor’s son
By Kevin Douglas Grant — August 26, 2020
(RNS) — The arrest warrant caught the attention of American officials concerned about Chinese imposition of authoritarian rule in Hong Kong.
Keeping Baha’i prisoners, Iran threatens the entire country’s health
By Winston Nagan — April 16, 2020
(RNS) — Imprisoning people for their religious convictions is bad enough, but persisting with this policy in the face of a public health crisis crosses into new territory of immorality.