Tags

2021-12-09

• Churches Issued Threatening Letters

  

  Churches in the northern Nigerian state of Zamfara have received threatening letters that warn of violence if they do not stop meeting for worship and permanently close their facilities. Along with threats of imminent attacks, the letters issued an ultimatum demanding that churches in the state close within the next three years. It is believed that these threatening messages were sent from an Islamic militant group, though no specific details have been made available. The letters were copied to police and security forces.

• Nationalists Demand Cancellation of Church Services

  

  Churches in the Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh, India, are voicing concerns after the Hindu nationalist group Vishwa Hindu Parishad issued a document demanding the cancellation of all meetings held "for conversions and activities of this type." On November 22nd, hundreds of Hindu activists attended a rally to condemn what they allege are mass conversion activities by Christians among tribal people in the district.

• Parliament Debates New Religious Restrictions

  

  On October 6th, amendments to Kazakhstan's religious laws were approved by the Parliament and then passed on to the Senate. The legislation added new restrictions to religious events conducted outside a building of worship owned by a registered religious organization. Already, any religious community not in receipt of an official state registration is presently being banned, and the process of obtaining such registration has proven to be very difficult. Under the new amendments, any activity taking place at a different location from that of the registered place of worship will require approval at least ten business days in advance, along with a detailed explanation of what the event is to entail. The approval of these religious events rests with local officials who could withhold permission for many reasons.