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Discrimination

  • Foreign Christian Workers Expelled
    Joy Subasiguller - Photo: Facebook / Joy Subasiguller
    Joy Subaşıgüller and her family
    Photo: Facebook / Joy Subaşıgüller

    Last year, at least thirty-five foreign Christian workers were expelled from Turkey, as their permits had been either revoked or denied renewal. So far this year, the number of those forced to leave the country has already reached sixteen. The latest of those workers are Joy Subaşıgüller and Pastor Zach Balon, both from the United States.

  • Christians Attacked After Incitement from Mosque Leaders
    Khartoum, Sudan - Photo: Wikipedia / Ec09495
    Khartoum, Sudan
    Photo: Wikipedia / Ec09495 (cc)

    Several South Sudanese Christians were attacked in Khartoum after mosque leaders called on their followers to rid their "Muslim area" of Christians. After evening prayers on June 6th, when imams raised the call, the mob attacks ensued. In one incident at a local market the following day, a group of Christians were targeted with batons and rifles. Many were severely injured, including 18-year-old Ariere Sathor. In addition, 16 temporary plastic shelters, where the South Sudanese refugees had been staying, were burned down.

  • Shot for Buying a House in a Muslim Area
    Nadeem Joseph in hospital - Photo: Screenshot - YouTube / Daimjee TV
    Nadeem Joseph recovering in the hospital.
    Photo: Screenshot - YouTube / Daimjee TV

    Two members of a Christian family were shot and wounded after buying a house in a Muslim neighbourhood. Nadeem Joseph purchased a house in Peshawar's TV Colony and moved in with his family in late May. However, when a neighbour named Salman Khan found out they were Christians, he told them they must leave immediately, claiming Christians are enemies of Islam.

  • Harassment Against Unregistered Churches
    Emmanuel Baptist Church, Luhansk - Photo: Wikimapia / Butilkavodi
    Emmanuel Baptist Church, Luhansk
    Photo: Wikimapia / Butilkavodi

    Leaders of the unrecognized Luhansk People's Republic in eastern Ukraine have continued a campaign against unregistered church communities. The pro-Russian leaders of this breakaway region insist on registration for all religious organizations. However, of the 195 organizations registered in 2019, 188 were Russian Orthodox. The remaining seven are either Muslim, Old Believer, Jewish or Catholic. No Protestant churches have been allowed to register.

  • New Religious Regulations
    Believers kneel in the rubble of their former place of worship. - Photo: ChinaAid www.chinaaid.org
    Believers kneel in the rubble of
    their former place of worship.
    Photo: ChinaAid

    As of February 1st, a new series of regulations on religion were released by the Chinese government. Consisting of six chapters and 41 articles, the restrictions require all religious leaders and organizations to demonstrate complete devotion to the Chinese Communist Party. For years, the Chinese government has controlled and monitored religious organizations. Under President Xi Jinping, this has become much more overt. The Party has been set as the official head of all religious organizations. Religious symbols are being removed, replaced by flags and pictures of President Xi.

  • Government-Recognized Church Faces Demolition
    Cross being removed from a Three-Self church in 2014
    Chinese authorities have been targeting places of worship, including the Three-Self Churches.
    Photo: ChinaAid

    The Donghu Church in Xining received official approval from authorities in 2003, and has been operating as a government-approved Three-Self Church by meeting the legal requirements. With more than 300 members, it is the oldest and largest church in the district. Yet, despite its official status, the church has still faced opposition from authorities.

  • Christmastime Raid
    Christians studying the Bible - Photo: World Watch Monitor www.worldwatchmonitor.org
    Pray that Turkmen believers will have opportunities to share God’s truths.
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    A group of women who gathered on December 26th had their worship time disrupted by a police raid. The home was searched and cell-phones were confiscated. The women were forced to give legal statements and have their photos and fingerprints taken. At last report, no fines had been levied.

    Though other faith groups have faced harassment throughout the year, this is the only known raid of Protestant Christians in 2019. Even so, the country's leaders maintain tight controls on freedom of belief, allowing only approved activities and religious literature. Any sharing of one's faith is banned and punishable. More information on the persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan is available here.

  • Christians Blocked from Refugee Camps
    Refugee Camp
    Refugee camp
    Photo: Voice of America

    Christians who have fled war-ravaged areas of Syria are facing continued persecution while trying to seek refuge in camps set up in Jordan, Lebanon and elsewhere. A substantial number of them are being blocked by United Nations officials when attempting to enter the camps because the majority of UN officials working in these countries are Muslims. Subsequently, many of the rejected refugees are being forced to live in hiding elsewhere, risking the danger of deportation and/or possible death if found.

  • Churches Reopen in Rebel-Controlled Area
    A church in Shan state's Pansang township. - Photo: Radio Free Asia www.rfa.org
    A church in Shan state.
    Photo: Radio Free Asia

    In September 2018, Wa rebels in the state of Shan began closing churches and arresting Christians (read more). In the process, the pro-Chinese rebels had closed more than 100 churches. In September 2019, the rebels began allowing some of these churches to reopen and, by mid-December, all but one of the 52 Baptist churches in the region had been allowed to resume ministry.

  • Worship Ban in Luhansk
    Police Raid - Photo: Forum 18 www.forum18.org
    Police raid at the
    Krasnodon Baptist Church.
    Photo: Forum 18

    As of 2014, the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine has been under the control of rebels. Since then, the self-declared government imposed oppressive religious restrictions. Last year, an order was made that no religious groups may hold services of any kind without registration. Subsequent to the deadline of October 2018, no Protestant church of any kind was granted registration. (See this report for more details.)