In Butaleja District, eastern Uganda, Hanifa Hamiyat poisoned food intended for Christian couple Doreen Nairuba and Jackson Wampula. Hamiyat acted out of anger because the couple had led her daughter, Marriam Kapisa, to a church service during Ramadan. The poison killed Nairuba, who was six months pregnant, and Wampula. Tragically, Kapisa also died after unknowingly eating the tainted meal. Hamiyat confessed to the police, stating she sought religious reward for killing non-believers. She remains in custody awaiting a court hearing. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between religious groups in the region.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria upheld the death sentence for a Christian farmer from a northern state who killed a herdsman during an attack on his property. Human rights advocates and Christian Association leaders condemned the decision as a miscarriage of justice, arguing the farmer acted in self-defense after being stabbed. They criticized the trial judge for misinterpreting constitutional rights and delaying the verdict. Religious freedom advocates fear the farmer will be executed in prison and have appealed to the state governor for clemency. The case highlights ongoing violence against Christians in Nigeria, which ranks high on global persecution lists.
A young Christian worker is receiving treatment in a hospital in Pakistan after being severely injured in an attack. His supervisor assaulted him following his refusal to convert to Islam and alleged desecration of Quran pages. Police have arrested the supervisor and registered the case as attempted murder. A priest visited the victim, highlighting the persistent intolerance and false blasphemy accusations faced by religious minorities in the region. The incident underscores ongoing social coercion against minority communities in Pakistan, reflecting the severe persecution Christians endure there.
A young Christian worker survived a severe attack in Pakistan after his Muslim colleague slashed his throat at a workplace. The attacker alleged blasphemy for touching an Islamic textbook, though the victim’s family claims this was a pretext to force conversion. The injured man underwent surgery in a major city hospital. A local legal aid group secured the attacker’s arrest for attempted murder. This incident underscores the grave dangers Christians face from false blasphemy accusations in the country, a concern recently highlighted by the UN Human Rights Committee regarding the nation's penal code.
According to Aid to the Church in Need, two Catholic priests were kidnapped in Nigeria over the weekend. One was taken in a northern region, and the other in a southern state. This brings the total number of religious figures abducted in the country since January 2025 to twelve, with two deaths. The organization reports that Nigeria accounts for most global incidents this year. While some attacks stem from anti-Christian bias, many kidnappings are driven by criminal gangs seeking ransom money. Nigerian bishops have urged authorities to improve security and advised believers against taking justice into their own hands.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Alejandro Luengo on UnsplashPersecuted church
Catholic bishops in the Philippines stated that the arrest of former President Rodrigo Duterte represents a significant move toward accountability for human rights violations. Following his detention at Manila airport upon an Interpol warrant from the International Criminal Court, Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo described the event as crucial for justice regarding the thousands killed during the drug war. Bishop Gerardo Alminaza emphasized that victims deserve truth and reparations for policy-driven killings. Bishop Broderick Pabillo added that the investigation will determine if the former leader acted wrongly, asserting that no one is above the law. The ICC retains jurisdiction over crimes committed while the country was a member.
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A Catholic priest in a northern Nigerian diocese was kidnapped from his home and found dead the next day. Church authorities confirmed the brutal killing, noting no motive was given. This incident highlights rising insecurity in Nigeria, where several priests and nuns have been abducted this year. Other clergy members remain missing or were recently released. In the previous year, multiple priests were kidnapped but all were freed. Christians report increasing persecution and criminal kidnappings for ransom, particularly in the north, prompting calls for improved government security measures to protect believers.
Iranian authorities have sentenced three Christian converts to a combined total of over 40 years in prison. The defendants received their sentences by a Revolutionary Court judge in a major city, according to a monitoring website. The charges include propaganda against the state and activities contrary to Islamic law. One defendant, who is pregnant, faces 16 years, while the others were given 15 and 10 years respectively. The group says the defendants also face fines, travel bans, and restrictions on civil rights. They were initially arrested during raids in the capital.
Bishops in northern Nigeria have expressed deep concern over the sudden closure of public and private schools in several states during Ramadan. According to Aid to the Church in Need, the decision affects hundreds of thousands of students, including those at Catholic schools in the region. The Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria issued a letter stating that the closures violate the right to education and exacerbate poverty in an area already struggling with high out-of-school rates. The bishops are urging state governors to reconsider this unprecedented measure and find alternatives that respect citizens' rights.
Over 200,000 Christians gathered in Arunachal Pradesh, India, to protest the state's Freedom of Religion Act. Organized by local Christian groups, the demonstration occurred in various locations to demand the law's repeal, which activists argue targets minority communities. The protest followed a high court order requiring the state government to frame rules for the 1978 legislation. Christian leaders stated the law threatens religious freedom and harmony. This rally occurred shortly after a smaller pro-law event led by Hindu nationalist groups, highlighting deep divisions over the issue in the northeastern state.
Seventy Christians were found beheaded in a Protestant church in a village in North Kivu Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Suspected Allied Democratic Forces militants allegedly kidnapped residents from a nearby village before executing them. Open Doors and the International Christian Concern reported the massacre, with ICC President Jeff King describing it as religious genocide. The ADF, linked to the Islamic State, has intensified attacks in the region. Consequently, many Christians have fled the area, and local schools and churches have suspended operations due to pervasive violence. The DRC now ranks 35th on the World Watch List for persecution.
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., against the Trump administration for halting refugee resettlement grants. The USCCB argues the State Department violated laws by suspending funding on January 24, leaving 6,758 refugees in limbo and forcing staff layoffs. The bishops seek reimbursement for $13 million in unpaid work and claim the freeze causes irreparable harm to their programs. This legal action follows political tensions, including criticism from Vice President JD Vance, as the USCCB maintains it spends more on resettlement than it receives in federal funds.
The Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need confirmed indiscriminate attacks on civilians in Syria’s coastal areas. Sources report over 600 deaths, mostly civilians, following an ambush by Alawite militants. Christian homes were looted, and religious symbols were desecrated. Bishop Hanna Jallouf and Patriarch John X condemned the violence and called for an end to sectarian revenge. They urged President Ahmed Al-Sharaa to restore security and hold perpetrators accountable. The incident has heightened uncertainty for Christians amid the rise of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham.
A religious liberty commission in India released a report documenting a sharp rise in attacks against Christians during 2024. The group verified hundreds of incidents, marking a significant increase from the previous year. Several northern and central regions reported the highest numbers of violations. The commission states that anti-conversion laws are frequently misused to arrest pastors and disrupt services. A senior church leader noted that daily attacks on churches have doubled. The report urges the government to protect communities and reform legal practices to ensure justice for victims facing persecution.
His Honour Judge James Tayler has ruled that the previous employment tribunal decision upholding the dismissal of Rev. Dr. Bernard Randall is unsafe due to anti-Christian bias. The case is being remitted to the Employment Tribunal for a retrial, with Trent College ordered to pay £20,000 in costs. The bias stemmed from lay member Mr. Jed Purkis, who made hostile social media posts against Christians. Dr. Randall, a chaplain at Trent College in Derbyshire, was sacked in 2019 for a sermon supporting debate on LGBT issues. The Christian Legal Centre supports the appeal, arguing the ruling ensures fair treatment for religious expression in schools. (GB)
According to International Christian Concern, state media and social platforms in China have publicly celebrated intensified government persecution of religious minorities in 2024. Authorities worked to dismantle organizations labeled as cults to maintain political stability. The Ministry of Public Security boasted about increased spending on technology and manpower to combat independent religious groups, including Christian house churches. These actions are part of a broader surveillance system designed to monitor citizen loyalty to the ruling party and suppress unregistered religious practices.
According to Aid to the Church in Need, the recent Gaza ceasefire has negatively impacted Christians in the West Bank. Father Louis Salman states that security measures have intensified, with hundreds of new checkpoints and closed roads isolating the community. Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Sami El-Yousef confirm that operations in Jenin and land annexations have displaced thousands. While travel to Rome for the Jubilee is complicated by these restrictions, the Church aims to support traumatized youth. The group emphasizes that despite the worsening situation, they remain committed to serving the local population and maintaining their spiritual presence in the region.
Local sources confirmed to Aid to the Church in Need that more than 70 bodies were discovered inside a Protestant church in a village in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo. The Islamic militant group Allied Democratic Forces allegedly took hostages and forced them to march, killing those who could not keep up. Victims included women, children, and elderly people. This massacre occurs amid intensifying conflict between the ADF and the M23 rebel group, which has displaced half a million people in the region since December 2024. The situation has created severe humanitarian concerns and fear of further territorial losses for government forces.
The Permanent Committee of the Episcopal Conference of Central Africa issued a message urging an end to violence across the continent. Bishops expressed deep concern over persistent conflicts, citing the exploitation of mineral resources in nations such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Sudan. They called for dialogue and peace. The committee announced a period of prayer and fasting to seek reconciliation for suffering communities. Public figures like Cardinal Ambongo and Pope Francis are associated with these efforts, though specific dates and locations for gatherings have been omitted to protect believers from potential danger.
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