EMISCO, a European Muslim organization, filed a disciplinary complaint with the Argentine Attorney General regarding the conduct of Chief Prosecutor Oscar Fernando Arrigo. The complaint concerns the prosecution of Konstantin Rudnev, a Russian spiritual teacher, in Argentina. EMISCO argues that prosecutors ignored statements from the alleged victim, Elena Makarova, who claimed she was not a victim. The group also cited Rudnev’s severe health issues and judicial rulings favoring house arrest over imprisonment. EMISCO asserts that defending rights across different communities is essential to prevent discrimination. The complaint seeks a review of the prosecutor's actions and potential sanctions. (Source: Bitter Winter)
Four months after a bishop was assassinated in a city in Mozambique, authorities have provided no official explanation for the killing. The attack, carried out with a military-grade weapon, has led to the arrest of two priests, though the bishops' conference doubts their sole involvement. Two main theories suggest the murder resulted from the bishop's public stance against political corruption or internal church irregularities. The Vatican has expressed solidarity, urging the Church to pursue truth and renewal. The investigation remains stalled, raising concerns about transparency and impunity in cases involving powerful figures.
American Atheists filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services in New Jersey. The group seeks records regarding R-1 visa holders, who are foreign religious workers employed by churches and temples. The complaint alleges that lax oversight has enabled human trafficking and forced labor within religious organizations. The lawsuit cites cases involving the BAPS Hindu organization and the Church of Scientology as evidence. Critics argue the group aims to recast religious volunteers as victims using theories of psychological coercion. The case highlights tensions between secular activists and religious institutions over immigration compliance and labor standards.
British authorities have dropped charges against Ivan M., a Mexican national accused of human trafficking and sexual assault in Crewe. The case highlights a significant error, as Ivan M. did not enter the United Kingdom until January 2025, yet was accused of crimes committed in August 2023. He was detained in Croydon in May 2026 and faced restrictions for nearly six months. His lawyer presented passport evidence proving his absence from the UK at the time of the alleged offenses. The police finally acknowledged the mistake and dropped the case in October 2026. This incident raises serious questions about the verification processes used in the broader AROPL investigation in Crewe.
Robert Barnett’s new book, The Quiet State, examines how the Chinese government exercises subtle control over Tibetans, particularly monks and nuns. According to the review by Massimo Introvigne, authorities use micro-surveillance rather than overt repression. This strategy normalizes restrictions through community participation and low-intensity monitoring. The analysis relies on open-source evidence due to restricted access in the region. Barnett argues this approach minimizes resistance while embedding state authority into daily life. The work highlights a shift toward quiet governance in China to maintain stability without provoking unrest.
A former abbot of a monastery in China’s Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture has been sentenced to five years in prison. Authorities detained him in May 2025 after he encouraged devotees to pray for the Dalai Lama’s long life. Police later seized portraits and digital media of the Dalai Lama from his residence, items treated as contraband in the region. He was transferred to a prison in Qinghai Province in October 2026. The specific charges remain undisclosed, and reports indicate he may not have had access to a chosen lawyer or official notification of his trial. His case highlights ongoing restrictions on religious expression for Tibetan monks in China.
CESNUR has published a new book titled “Dangerous Justice,” edited by Massimo Introvigne and María Vardé, which examines the criminal case of Konstantin Rudnev in Argentina. The volume argues that prejudice against new religious movements and structural flaws in the Argentine legal system led to the prolonged pre-trial detention of a seriously ill man. Contributors, including lawyers and scholars, highlight issues such as the expansive use of anti-trafficking laws, routine pre-trial detention, and media influence on judicial decisions. The book also features perspectives from the alleged victim, Elena Makarova, who denies being exploited, and analyzes how these factors collectively impact defendants in Argentina. (Source: Bitter Winter)
A human rights expert argues that the case of a prominent spiritual leader illustrates a recurring pattern of religious freedom violations. According to this analysis, slander against spiritual minorities is amplified by media and exploited by state institutions in Russia, Montenegro, and Argentina. Authorities in these countries allegedly acted on unverified narratives rather than evidence, endangering the leader's rights. The expert urges a fair trial and humane treatment, stating that such procedural irregularities threaten the fundamental freedoms of all spiritual minorities. This analysis highlights how imported accusations can undermine justice across multiple jurisdictions, raising concerns about the safety of religious communities in these regions.
A report indicates a rise in coercive deprogramming of religious members in South Korea. Data suggests a reversal in the declining trend of abductions, with numerous cases recorded recently. This increase is linked to a political climate supportive of anti-cult campaigns following government actions against specific groups. The practice involves an alliance of local pastors, foreign lawyers, and officials. Victims describe confinement, physical abuse, and isolation, often orchestrated by family members and guided by deprogrammers. Adults are kidnapped to force renunciation of their faith, raising serious human rights concerns in the region.
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Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Anne Nygård on UnsplashPersecuted church
A sociologist reports that nations in East Asia have formed an alliance against specific religious groups. Officials from one country, lawyers from another, and pastors from a third cooperate to target organizations like the Family Federation and Shincheonji. This collaboration aims to suppress religious freedom and influence political outcomes in the region. The author argues that despite ideological differences, these groups share common enemies. The alliance has led to legal actions and arrests in South Korea. The sociologist warns that this cooperation threatens religious liberty and regional stability in East Asia.
A coalition involving officials from China, leftist lawyers in Japan, and anti-cult pastors in South Korea has targeted conservative religious groups across East Asia. This strategic partnership sees Beijing supporting Korean activists to suppress missionary activities and manage refugees. Key figures include a prominent pastor and an attorney. This alliance contributed to the dissolution of a major religious organization in Japan and the prosecution of its leaders in South Korea. The group claims to combat heresy through deprogramming and legal pressure, effectively coordinating across borders to restrict religious liberty.
Authorities in mainland China have detained numerous Taiwanese nationals, including followers of Yiguandao, a faith viewed with suspicion by the state. Reports indicate that hundreds of individuals are currently missing or restricted, with recent arrests confirmed in several coastal provinces. Prosecutions under specific criminal laws label the group as a heterodox cult. This pattern highlights an escalation in religious repression, where belief alone triggers state action against believers residing in the region. The trend underscores increasing cross-strait tensions and the vulnerability of religious minorities facing severe persecution for their identity.
At the CESNUR 2026 conference in Taiwan, speakers analyzed the dissolution of the Unification Church in Japan. Shunsuke Uotani described how pastors, parents, and left-wing lawyers formed a coalition against the group. Masaki Nakamasa explained how media narratives portrayed the church as a conspiracy. Masaichi Hori reported that the court order has severely restricted worship and caused widespread psychological distress among believers. According to Hori, the dissolution has led to discrimination and health issues, contradicting official claims that only tax privileges were affected.
Massimo Introvigne examines Konstantin Rudnev’s book “Siberian Shamanism” to address misunderstandings surrounding the author, who faces a criminal case in Argentina. Introvigne argues that Rudnev’s dense symbolic language is often misinterpreted as literal instruction rather than spiritual allegory. The article outlines Rudnev’s typology of spiritual seekers, explaining how his works target different audiences. It details the book’s cosmology, which blends Siberian, Slavic, and Eastern traditions. The analysis aims to clarify the text’s intent as a foundational teaching for serious spiritual students, countering claims of manipulation or cruelty.
Following the CESNUR 2026 conference in Taichung, a delegation of approximately thirty academics visited Tai Ji Men locations in Taiwan on October 15. The group toured the ruined Swiss Mountain Villa near Taipei and the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in the capital. These sites are central to a thirty-year legal dispute involving the group's founder, Dr. Hong Tao-Tze. A subsequent forum featured speakers such as Márk Nemes and Hans Noot, who discussed the historical and human rights dimensions of the case. The visit highlighted the group's long-standing conflict with Taiwanese authorities over tax and property issues.
Sociologist Massimo Introvigne drew parallels between the Tai Ji Men legal dispute and the 1920s Taiwanese Cultural Association during a CESNUR conference in Taichung, Taiwan. He argued that Tai Ji Men, like the historical group, defends its rights through peaceful means rather than violence. Introvigne highlighted that Tai Ji Men has faced tax issues since 1996, including land confiscation in 2020, despite a 2007 acquittal. He urged Taiwan to resolve the case fairly, noting the group's role in promoting Taiwanese culture globally. The outlet reports that Introvigne believes correcting this injustice aligns with Taiwan's democratic values and historical commitment to peaceful civic engagement.
An Argentine magistrate ordered the transfer of Konstantin Rudnev, a Russian dissident under house arrest in Buenos Aires province, to a hospital in Buenos Aires city. The ruling was issued without hearing the defense, despite medical experts stating that moving Rudnev is contraindicated due to his severe neurological condition. Rudnev faces human trafficking charges in Argentina. His family and doctors argue the transfer violates due process and endangers his health, noting that his treating physicians prefer he remain under local supervision. The decision has raised concerns about impartiality and the state's duty to protect detainees' health.
A girls’ school in a Tibetan region of China has been closed by authorities after twenty-one years of operation. Officials seized the premises and renamed it a state-run middle school. The institution, founded by a monk, taught Tibetan language, Buddhism, and modern subjects to nomadic girls. Reports indicate the closure is part of a broader campaign against private Tibetan schools. This shift aligns with Beijing’s policy favoring Mandarin instruction, which UN experts say affects approximately one million Tibetan children in state-run boarding schools.
A paper presented at the CESNUR 2026 conference in Taichung, Taiwan, compares the historical suppression of the Knights Templar with the ongoing dispute involving the Tai Ji Men community. Peggy Chen argues that both cases illustrate how states can commit injustices that remain unresolved for centuries. While the Templars were destroyed by King Philip IV of France in the 14th century, Tai Ji Men continues to seek redress against the Taiwanese government for tax and legal issues dating back to 1996. The author suggests that such unresolved conflicts erode public trust in democratic institutions and human rights commitments. The comparison highlights the difference between inherited historical memory and living collective resistance.
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