Tags

Martyrdom

• Christian Woman Killed by Relatives

  

  A Christian woman was beaten to death with a hammer and other weapons on June 24th because of her conversion to Christianity. The murder took place in Toylanka, a village in the state of Chhattisgarh.

• Christians Slain After Being Forced from Bus

  

  On June 5th, a bus was travelling along the Damaturu-Biu Highway when a group of armed men forced it to stop near the village of Kamuya, which is located on the border between the states of Yobe and Borno. The terrorists, believed to be members of Boko Haram, pulled aside four passengers who were Christians and then allowed the rest of the travellers to leave.

• Christian Falsely Accused of Blasphemy Succumbs to Injuries

  

  On May 25th, an angry mob rampaged through a Christian community in Sargodha, Punjab, instigated by false allegations that a 74-year-old Christian man named Nazir Masih had burned pages of the Quran. For more details on the attack, see this report. With deep sorrow, we regret to announce that Nazir succumbed to his injuries just after midnight on June 3rd.

• Young Convert Killed and Widow Forced to Flee

  

  On May 4th, 22-year-old Kosa Kawasi was killed during a violent mob attack while at his home in the village of Kapanar, Chhattisgarh state. The mob, believed to have been led by the young man's uncle and cousin, was angered that Kosa and his wife Jime had converted to Christianity. As a result, the opposing villagers had unsuccessfully tried to force the Christian couple from their home. Following this incident, the angry community members physically confronted the believer – ultimately inflicting a lethal stab wound.

• Deadly Market Attack

  

  As Nigerians were celebrating their national Democracy Day on May 29th, gunmen opened fire on the Maro Junction Market which happens to be located within a predominantly Christian community of Kaduna State. Reports state that as many as 12 people were killed and 20 others injured.

• Violence Continues Unabated

  

  In areas throughout Nigeria, violence has continued relentlessly, disproportionately affecting the Christian population. Those responsible for the brutality are generally members of Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram or the nomadic Fulani herdsmen. While attacks perpetrated by the herdsmen often stem from conflicts over their free-ranging cattle, the accompanying violence also commonly involves a religious element, as militant members of the predominantly Muslim group specifically target Christians and churches. Within the past month, multiple attacks have occurred in at least four different Nigerian states. (For previously published reports on the suffering of Nigeria's Christians, go to our country report.)

• Christian Found Dead After Meeting with Police

  

  On March 8th, the body of Pastor Y Bum Bya was found hanging from a tree at a cemetery near his home in the Dak Lak Province of Vietnam. Though local authorities declared the Christian leader's death a suicide, reports indicate that his body showed signs of torture. The believer's death happened shortly after he had been summoned to meet with police.

• Murder Victim's Family Members Face Threats

  

  On November 9th, a 20-year-old Christian student named Farhan Ul Qamar was killed in his family's home by a man known for his hatred towards Christians and Jews. The attack is believed to have occurred as a result of religious tensions escalated by the violence in Gaza. For details on Farhan's murder, go to this page.

• Russian Forces Charge Another Church Leader

  

  In May 2023, Father Kostiantyn Maksimov, a priest from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, was taken by Russian occupation forces. Several other religious leaders have either been killed, tortured or reported missing after being detained by members of the Russian forces.

• Christian Merchants Killed by Suspected Militants

  

  Six Kenyan merchants, all of them professed followers of Jesus, were killed in a border town between Kenya and Somalia on March 29th. The perpetrators of the crime then fled the Somalian town of Dhobley and travelled further into the country. It is believed that those responsible for the attack are members of al-Shabaab, a militant Islamic group based in Somalia.

• Baptist Pastor Killed by Unknown Assailants

  

  On March 18th, three armed men entered a computer shop run by Pastor Nammye Hkun Jaw Li from his home in Magaung township. There, the men shot the pastor twice in the stomach and, when he did not immediately die, they also shot him in the head. At the time of publishing this report, the identities of the gunmen and the reason for the assassination are not completely evident. The pastor leaves behind a grieving wife and three children.

• Militants Kill At Least 15 Worshippers

  

  At least 15 worshippers were killed when gunmen attacked a Catholic church in the village of Essakane, Burkina Faso, on February 25th. The assailants are believed to be Islamic militants who have been causing havoc throughout the country and surrounding nations. 

• Alleged War Crimes Against Christians

  

  Five Christians, who have been victims of persecution as a result of Myanmar's military dictatorship, recently filed a war crimes complaint in a Philippines court. Although these believers were originally from Chin state, they have emigrated to Australia, Britain, Canada and India. The alleged victims argue that a 2009 Philippine law obligates the country to prosecute war crimes committed elsewhere under the principle of universal jurisdiction.

• Dozens of Christians Kidnapped, Others Killed

  

  Violence against Christians continues unabated in many areas of Nigeria, as recently published reports indicate that militants are increasingly invading villages to kill, injure and kidnap dozens of believers – destroying their homes and church buildings in the process. While the kidnappings are frequently financially motivated, Christians are often the primary targets of radical Islamists' attacks. For further details on how Christians are being affected by the ongoing violence in Nigeria, go to our country report.

• Pastor Killed in Kaduna State

  

  Violence perpetrated by various terrorist groups has been continuing unabated in Nigeria, particularly against Christians. Even with increased security measures in place, Islamic militants continue to conduct deadly raids on Christian communities. A report released in April indicated that over 50,000 followers of Jesus have died and over 18,000 churches were set ablaze since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009. Those numbers continue to rise, particularly with the increasing attacks by Islamic Fulani groups. For more details on the violence against Christians in Nigeria, go to our country report.

• Woman Killed for Refusing to Convert to Islam

  

  A Christian widow and mother of three was abducted, raped, murdered, and doused with acid after she refused to convert to Islam and marry one of her abductors. Shazia Imran worked at LUMS University in Lahore, Pakistan. On June 6th, at the end of her work shift, she failed to return home. Worried family members searched throughout the night for her and, the next day, they filed a police report. The police contacted the family that same day to notify them that a body was found in the morning. The family was able to identify the body as their missing loved one.

• Hundreds Killed Amid Ongoing Violence

  

  Nigeria is considered one of the most dangerous places on earth to be a Christian because of ongoing violence from terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and Fulani militants. Having been a problem primarily in the northern and central areas of the country, persecution has also recently begun infiltrating into the southern region. Two areas where violence has been particularly rampant are Benue State and Plateau State. Since mid-May, hundreds of innocent villagers were killed and tens of thousands displaced, mainly due to Fulani attacks.

• Christian Woman Slain by Husband

  

  After hearing the "Good News" of the Gospel about a month ago from missionaries visiting her local village, Nga, a 42-year-old Vietnamese woman, turned in faith to Christ. She was the first in her village to respond to God's message of salvation, which had been presented to her by the evangelizing Christians. However, unlike Nga, her husband Vu was not open to hearing the missionaries' message.

• Father of Kidnapped Child Murdered

  

  On March 30th, the Persecution & Prayer Alert reported on a 12-year-old girl who had been kidnapped and, after being recovered, was placed in a women's shelter rather than being returned to her father. Young Hoorab Masih had been abducted by two local shopkeepers in December and then forced to convert to Islam and marry one of her kidnappers. For more details on the incident, see this page.

• Total of 33 Killed in Kaduna State

  

  Late in the night of April 15th, more than 200 gunmen entered the village of Runji in Kaduna State, Nigeria. By the time they withdrew from the area an hour later, 33 villagers had been killed, at least six others were left injured, and more than 40 houses had been torched. Almost half of those killed during the attack were children.