India’s Supreme Court issued notices to the central government and multiple states regarding a public interest litigation challenging state-level anti-conversion laws. The petition, filed by a national Christian council, argues these statutes criminalize voluntary religious change and facilitate vigilante violence against minorities. The court ordered governments to respond within four weeks. A three-judge bench will hear consolidated cases, including a separate challenge to a recent conversion ban in one state. The court aims to address claims that such laws undermine constitutional freedom of religion, balancing state security concerns with individual liberties.
On February 4, the United States and Hungary signed an agreement to support Christians facing persecution, particularly in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa. The U.S. State Department stated that religious violence threatens American security and undermines national values. Hungary has long assisted persecuted believers through its Aid of Persecuted Christians office. International Christian Concern welcomed the initiative but urged both governments to announce specific implementation steps soon. The partnership aims to provide life-saving assistance to endangered communities, though detailed project scopes were not disclosed in the initial announcement.
A U.S. Representative pledged to advocate for Christians in Nigeria following a meeting with a state governor. The lawmaker stated he will work with Nigerian authorities to address security and economic challenges, specifically citing concerns over attacks on Christian communities. This engagement occurs amid ongoing violence in the country’s central region, including recent reports of killings in another state. While Christian advocacy groups highlight disproportionate impacts on rural Christians, Nigerian officials describe the unrest as criminal rather than religious. The representative intends to keep the issue on the international agenda while fostering bilateral cooperation.
International Christian Concern reports that the Bible faces bans and misrepresentation globally. In England, the University of Sheffield faced criticism for labeling Scripture as containing sexual violence, a claim leaders called inaccurate. In Texas, the Canyon Independent School District briefly removed Bibles from libraries citing decency laws but restored them after clarification. Meanwhile, the 2025 Bible Access List highlights severe restrictions in Mauritania, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Yemen, where ownership can lead to imprisonment or death. In Iran, authorities allegedly print counterfeit Farsi Bibles with altered doctrines to mislead readers, according to a November 2024 report by Frontlines International.
International Christian Concern supports the Banning Perpetrators of Religious Persecution Act, introduced by US Senators James Lankford and Tedd Budd. The group argues the legislation is necessary to hold accountable those who violate religious freedom by denying them US entry. ICC President Shawn P. Wright states the bill addresses abuses against Christians and minorities in regions like sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. By restricting visas for perpetrators and enablers, the measure aims to deter future abuses. The organization highlights the bill's focus on both non-state actors and foreign officials as a critical step for global religious liberty.
Read more →
Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Ruslan Valeev on UnsplashPersecuted church
At least 70 members of the Tiv ethnic group are feared dead following coordinated attacks on multiple villages in a region of northern Nigeria. Local sources report that armed assailants simultaneously targeted communities, resulting in widespread casualties, burned homes, and looted property. Community leaders state that 35 churches were vandalized or destroyed, including the death of a local pastor. Survivors fled into surrounding areas for safety, while one resident was abducted. Residents have appealed to state and federal security agencies for protection and investigations, as no official government statement has been issued regarding the violence.
A Protestant pastor in a village in Oaxaca, Mexico, was arrested and expelled in January 2025 after refusing to pray to a statue of St. James. Although he served as a festival overseer, he declined the religious act, leading to his removal by local authorities. He now lives temporarily in a city in the region with his family. Advocacy groups cite this as a violation of religious freedom, noting similar incidents in the region. An attorney has filed a complaint with human rights officials, who have not yet responded as of mid-January.
A recent report outlines severe attacks on Christians in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup. The document highlights persecution across multiple regions, including the destruction of nearly all churches in a specific town and hundreds of Christian buildings nationwide. Data indicates that many believers have been killed or imprisoned over recent years. An unnamed church leader testified that scattered communities face displacement, though some pastors remain to support their people. International observers have urged prayers for those enduring authoritarian rule and forced relocation, emphasizing the ongoing crisis facing the Christian population in the country.
A thirteen-year-old Christian orphan died while in government custody in Nigeria, nearly ten months after a court order mandated the release of Christian orphans. A human rights lawyer reported that the child suffered stomach pain for a week but received no medical care before being found dead at a state-run facility. The child was among several children removed from a private orphanage in 2019 and transferred to state care. Although a consent judgment required the children's return, officials refused to comply. Seven children remain in custody following this death, which has intensified calls for an independent investigation into alleged medical negligence and religious coercion.
According to The Indian Express, five full trials under Uttarakhand’s anti-conversion law ended in acquittals because prosecutors failed to provide sufficient evidence. The state has registered 62 cases since 2018, but only five reached full trial by September 2025. The outlet reports that at least seven cases were dismissed earlier due to hostile witnesses and lack of corroboration. The law, amended in 2022 and 2025 to increase penalties, aims to prevent forced conversions. Despite rising arrests, court records show no convictions have been secured in these completed trials, highlighting a gap between legal charges and judicial outcomes.
Pastor Hyun-Bo Son of Busan Segyeoro Church was released from prison this week after his September 2025 arrest in South Korea. He faced charges of electioneering for interviewing candidate Jeong Seung-yoon during a service and posting the video online. The group Save Korea, which Son leads, opposes the current left-leaning government. Son and his family claim the arrest targeted Christian views and efforts against an anti-discrimination law. They intend to appeal the conviction. International Christian Concern reported the release, noting the controversy surrounding the case.
Looters from one tribal group attacked a Catholic mission in Ethiopia during ongoing conflict with another tribe. Starting at dawn, attackers used the parish as a base, arriving in dump trucks armed with tools to destroy buildings and steal valuables. A priest reported that even small items were taken and described the event as painful, noting that some perpetrators were members of his own congregation. The mission suffered bullet holes and destroyed religious items. At least two other nearby parishes were also damaged in the violence.
A convert in Iran describes the severe dangers faced by Muslims embracing Christianity. Authorities in the country impose imprisonment or death for such conversions. This individual, who follows Orthodox Christianity, notes that public religious observance has declined, allowing some believers to hide their faith. He joined an online community after acquiring a Bible in a major city. The group states that Iran has a rapidly growing Christian minority, though converts risk arrest. The convert hopes to escape to a neighboring region for safety and baptism, highlighting the ongoing persecution faced by believers in the area.
A recent report details violence against Christians across multiple regions. In parts of Africa, Islamist militias have executed believers to impose strict religious laws. In Southeast Asia, military forces systematically target Christian communities in specific provinces. European nations face persecution stemming from ongoing geopolitical conflicts involving state authorities. In North America, attacks are carried out by lone actors and hate groups, including incidents in several states. Meanwhile, Christians in South America endure harassment from criminal organizations and government entities that use legal mechanisms to suppress religious freedom. The study highlights these diverse regional threats facing global Christian communities today.
Stephen Musili, a 35-year-old teacher at Halugho Primary School in Garissa County, Kenya, was killed on January 26 by al-Shabab militants. Armed attackers entered his residential compound, demanded information about male staff from a female colleague, and fatally shot Musili after he attempted to flee. The Teachers Service Commission condemned the killing as cowardly. Musili had received repeated threats and requested a transfer, which was denied. His family and colleagues noted he faced constant danger due to his community engagement and Somali language skills. This incident highlights the severe risks educators face in northeast Kenya under extremist violence.
A nation in the Indian Ocean has enacted new media and freedom-of-speech laws, further restricting religious expression. According to International Christian Concern, these regulations punish broadcasts or communications deemed to threaten Islam, national security, or public well-being with fines, warnings, or public apologies. The country’s constitution mandates Islam as the state religion, making conversion from Islam illegal and punishable by death or heavy fines for citizens. While non-citizens may practice non-Muslim faiths privately, the new laws increase scrutiny on local believers and foreign Christians. This development marks another step in limiting religious freedom for non-Muslims in the tourist destination.
On January 6 in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, the Christian New Year celebration was disrupted by the radical organization PASS. The group protested a Christian Spiritual Revival Service led by Pastor Stephen Tong, claiming it aimed to convert Muslims. Despite a prior letter of rejection circulated on December 29, 2025, the church proceeded with the service. According to the report, demonstrators blocked roads and used loudspeakers to create a tense atmosphere. The congregation continued worshiping orderly despite the intimidation. The outlet attributes these details to its reporting on the incident.
Mila, a mother living in Indonesia, shares her experience of converting to Christianity after her husband, who suffered from dementia, abandoned her. According to the International Christian Concern, Mila was raised Muslim but felt isolated under her husband's control. After he lost his memory and his family cut off financial support, she attended a church and found peace. She left her previous job due to religious requirements and faced further rejection from her in-laws. ICC staff assisted with rent and provided spiritual materials to her son, who began engaging with Christian texts. The outlet reports this as a testimony of faith and divine provision in Southeast Asia.
Allied Democratic Forces fighters killed 25 villagers in a farming community in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group attacked residents while they slept, executing civilians inside homes and shooting others attempting to flee. A local activist confirmed the death toll, noting several people remain missing. Church leaders condemned the violence as a crime against humanity, highlighting the vulnerability of unarmed farmers. Survivors described the terror of the pre-dawn assault. The incident has intensified fears in neighboring areas, with locals calling for urgent protection measures to prevent further attacks on civilians.
Read more →
SermonWave writes its own short summaries and links to the original reporting. Every story belongs to the outlet that reported it. About World News · Our sources · RSS feed
