Edward Ross

Religious Freedom Correspondent

Articles by Edward Ross

31 Jan, 2024 14:54 EST

Europe Religious Freedom

Russian religious persecution takes aim at Ukrainian identity, Summit told

By Edward Ross

Russian soldiers and occupation officials have committed at least 76 acts of religious persecution in Ukraine since the invasion of February 2022 as part of an attempt to destroy national identity, official and church sources said at the International Religious Freedom Summit.
29 Jan, 2024 11:10 EST

Middle East Religious Freedom

Man slain at Catholic church in Turkey was Muslim, official says

By Edward Ross

The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for a shooting at a Catholic church service in Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday (Jan. 28) that killed a Muslim citizen, news agencies reported.
19 Jan, 2024 14:21 EST

Latin America Religious Freedom

Nicaragua jails pastors for alleged ‘money laundering’

By Edward Ross

Authorities in Nicaragua have jailed nine pastors for more than a month on charges that they formed part of a criminal operation along with three U.S. missionaries, according to the mission organization.
29 Dec, 2023 10:32 EST

Africa Religious Freedom

Mauritania releases Christians arrested after baptism video

By Edward Ross

Officials in Mauritania have released all Christians arrested after a video of a baptism ceremony in November prompted Muslims to call for their punishment, Christian leaders in the region said.
19 Dec, 2023 12:47 EST

Middle East Religious Freedom

Church in Gaza remains under threat after shooting deaths, sources say

By Edward Ross

The killing of an elderly woman and her daughter in Gaza City’s Holy Family Church on Saturday (Dec. 16) was the sixth attack by Israeli Defense Forces on the compound since war in Gaza broke out, a relative told The Washington Post.
13 Dec, 2023 17:12 EST

Africa Religious Freedom

Mauritania arrests Christians in response to Muslims’ outrage

By Edward Ross

Authorities in Mauritania have arrested 15 Christian leaders since late November following calls for punishment by Muslims outraged over a video showing a baptism ceremony, sources said.
7 Dec, 2023 11:05 EST

Middle East Religious Freedom

U.N. calls on Iran to cease arbitrary arrests of religious minorities

By Edward Ross

Noting a widespread wave of arrests of religious minorities in Iran since June, the U.N. General Assembly last month adopted a resolution calling on the Islamic regime to “cease the widespread and systematic use of arbitrary arrests and detention.”
5 Dec, 2023 13:24 EST

Asia Religious Freedom

Blast kills four at worship service in Muslim region of the Philippines

By Edward Ross

The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for a blast that killed four worshippers at a Catholic Mass on Sunday (Dec. 4) in an area of the Philippines that had become an autonomous Muslim region in an attempt to end such violence.
4 Dec, 2023 05:12 EST

Asia Religious Freedom

New measures threaten to further erode religious freedom in China, rights experts say

By Edward Ross

New regulations for “religious activity venues” in China advance officials’ desire to replace spiritual instruction with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) political teaching, rights experts say.

Edward Ross

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