Tags

Discrimination

  • Villagers Forced from Their Homes
    Furniture and other possessions are strewn across the ground. Several people are gathered around, observing the mess.
    Belongings removed from the homes of Christian families.
    Photo: CSW

    Six Christian families from Karingundam, a village located in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh state, were evicted from their homes on April 12th for refusing to renounce their faith in Christ. Opposing villagers loaded their belongings onto a truck – only to be hauled out of the village and dumped. The desolate families were forced to spend the night in the forest without any shelter. At least 25 individuals were affected by this dire situation.

  • KGB Declares Religious Freedom Group "Extremist"
    A church is seen between two trees.
    An Orthodox Church in Belarus.
    Photo: Pexels

    Amidst the ongoing oppression of Christians in Belarus, an organization was established in 2020, bringing together leaders from multiple churches in an effort to monitor and publicize persecution in the country. The organization was registered in neighbouring Lithuania as "Christian Vision for Belarus."

  • Safety Concerns After Demonstration Against Christians
    Several buildings are brightly illuminated in the desert sun. Some camels are milling about in the sand.
    Nouakchott, Mauritania
    Photo: Flickr / jbdodane (cc)

    On April 7th, Muslim imams organized a demonstration in the southern city of Sélibaby, Mauritania, to protest against Christians within their community. The protest, which had been approved by the authorities, was instigated after a Christian convert died in a motorcycle accident a few days earlier. Some Muslim leaders were angered over the burial of the Christian's body within their community, since they regarded him as an "apostate."

  • Public Easter Celebrations Banned
    A large church is surrounded by trees. A fountain with a pond is in the foreground.
    A church in Nicaragua.

    This year, Christians across Nicaragua are celebrating Holy Week under the watchful eye of police and paramilitary forces. The heightened tensions follow the decision of the Sandinista government led by Daniel Ortega and Rosaria Murillo to ban many public celebrations, including processions that are common among Latin American churches.

  • Christian Pilgrims Harassed by Hindu Nationalist Group
    The front of two buses in India.
    Two buses in India.

    Two busloads of Christians that had embarked on a Lenten pilgrimage tour were stopped by members of a Hindu nationalist group on March 31st and subsequently handed over to police. The incident led to the physical and verbal assault of some Christian leaders.

  • Christian Man Charged for Alleged Facebook Posts
    A man dressed in orange overalls and cap is holding a straw broom and pulling a garbage bin.
    A sweeper in Pakistan.

    On March 17th, Pakistani federal agents took 24-year-old Arsalan Gill into custody on accusations of blasphemy. The charges allege that the Christian believer was responsible for sharing blasphemous content in Facebook groups. His arrest takes place amid a rising number of cases involving entrapment, whereby organized militant groups specifically target members of the country's religious minorities.

  • Imprisoned Christian Beaten for Medical Request
    Amir-Ali Minaei is outside.
    Amir-Ali Minaei
    Photo: Article 18

    Amir-Ali Minaei has been held in Tehran's Evin Prison since April 2024. The Christian man is presently serving a 43-month term for "propaganda activities against the regime through establishing a house church."

  • Churches Encounter Community Opposition
    A white church with a red roof.
    A church in Indonesia.

    Churches in Indonesia frequently receive opposition from hostile community members and local leaders, particularly when they are seeking to build or utilize a worship facility. Christians in at least three separate communities are presently facing opposition for these reasons.

  • Resignation of Judge Implicated in Blasphemy Entrapment
    Lahore High Court building
    Lahore High Court
    Photo: Wikipedia / MariyamAftab (cc)
     

    On March 6th, Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz of the Lahore High Court unexpectedly resigned from his judicial post as a court official, effective immediately. The judge cited "personal issues" as the reason for his resignation.

  • New Religion Law Takes Effect
    Uzbekistan Parliament
    Uzbekistan Parliament
    Photo: Wikimedia / Davide Mauro (cc)

    For the past several months, members of the Uzbek parliament have been deliberating over revisions to their existing religion laws. On June 26th, 2024, a draft law was published. Recently, as of February 21st, this new law officially came into effect. For more information, see this page.