
Authorities in Indonesia refuse to back church construction
Local officials in East Borneo Province, Indonesia refused to approve construction of a church building even though it had met all requirements for a permit, sources said.

Local officials in East Borneo Province, Indonesia refused to approve construction of a church building even though it had met all requirements for a permit, sources said.
Nigeria's socio-religious conflicts have a long and complex history, with numerous factors influencing the current violence. Whatever the cause, it cannot be denied that Christians are being disproportionately affected by the brutal violence that continues to result.
Accused of orchestrating or tolerating attacks on Christians, top representatives of India's RSS went mute. A video of the scene went viral. For India to fulfill its promise in this century, its most influential non-governmental organization must lead by example in transparency, accountability and permitting space for freedom of religion.
Sudan's civil war continues to rage after three years of devastating conflict and Sudan's two million Christians face particular peril. Yet this conflict is largely overlooked compared to other conflict zones. It seems to be a crisis too complex, too distant, and too African to hold the Western gaze. God sees, however, so let us pray for peace in Sudan and protection especially for Jesus' followers among the Sudanese.
Hungarians celebrating a change in government last week reminds us that freedom can be recovered through democratic means and that illiberal systems are reversible and autocratic leaders are removable. Yet for followers of Jesus our hope is not in political change. Freedom is an inner reality that we must cultivate.

Federal agents in Pakistan last week arrested a Christian under a blasphemy law mandating the death penalty in relation to material that appeared on Facebook groups without his knowledge, sources said.

A Muslim in Pakistan on Friday (March 21) slashed the throat of a Christian co-worker on allegations that he had committed blasphemy by touching an Islamic textbook “with unclean hands,” sources said.

At least 19 Christians were arrested in Sudan’s city of Madani on various occasions in January and February, area sources said.

An 18-year-old Christian is still languishing in jail a month after winning bail in all three blasphemy cases against him as a trial court is delaying his release, his father said.

A rash of complaints to police in Indonesia accusing Christians of blasphemy on social media has driven several of them abroad to seek refuge, sources said.

A prison officer in Iran beat an imprisoned Christian convert for requesting medical treatment for a heart condition, according to advocacy group Article 18.