Portuguese authorities have arrested a man following an attack on the March for Life in Lisbon on March 22. According to the Public Security Police, an improvised explosive device was thrown into a crowd of approximately 500 attendees. The incident occurred during the annual pro-life demonstration in the capital city. Police confirmed the arrest in connection with the bombing, which targeted participants gathered for the event. The outlet reports that the investigation is ongoing as officials assess the impact of the explosion on the crowd.
Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports that Cuban religious leaders are rejecting calls for neutrality following a wave of state repression. In a village in Havana Province, worshippers were attacked with stones by a neighbor linked to the Ministry of the Interior. Additionally, a pastor was detained in a region of Matanzas after posting a video online, and a teenager was arrested in Ciego de Ávila Province for participating in protests. The Alliance of Christians of Cuba issued a statement denouncing the crisis and demanding the release of detainees. While the Western Cuba Baptist Convention urged silence, exiled leaders argue that remaining silent aligns with the government's actions during this human rights crisis.
In central Mexico, Christian women endure severe persecution driven by deep-rooted syncretic traditions and organized crime. Abandoning family religious heritage is viewed as rejecting identity, while criminal groups monitor residents closely. Women converting to Christianity risk rejection, loss of child custody, and violence. An organization provides training to help believers withstand these pressures. This support enables women to maintain their faith despite the hostile environment created by both armed groups and cultural expectations.
Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing was nominated for president during the first session of the newly elected parliament on Monday. The nomination follows a widely criticized election that excluded major opposition parties. The military controls nearly 90% of seats in the bicameral legislature. Min Aung Hlaing previously led the 2021 coup that ousted Aung San Suu Kyi’s government. Analysts suggest his desire for the presidency motivated the takeover. Under current law, he must resign as armed forces chief to assume the role. International reports indicate the junta has arrested over 30,000 political prisoners and killed nearly 8,000 people. The military continues to target religious minorities, including Christians and Rohingya Muslims, with airstrikes and violence.
Three Christians in a district of Nepal were confronted by a Hindu mob while sharing their faith. The group dragged the believers to a local police station. A local Christian told International Christian Concern that police ordered an investigation despite lacking evidence, making life difficult for the victims. Violence against religious minorities is rising in Nepal, where converting to another religion remains illegal. Although the constitution guarantees religious freedom, Hindus seeking a purely Hindu nation have increasingly targeted Christians. Following recent elections, some Christians hope the new government will provide better security against extremist threats.
A former Muslim who converted to Christianity in Iran was arrested by security forces after his house church was raided. He was detained for several months, enduring severe physical beatings and psychological torture. According to his account, he was charged with acts against internal security and sentenced to prison. After his appeal was rejected, he and his wife fled to a neighboring country. They eventually sought asylum and now reside in Ireland, where he pastors a church for Iranian expatriates. The case highlights the severe persecution of Christians in a major Iranian city, where many apostates have reportedly been identified and targeted by authorities.
A senior church leader in Nigeria describes his nation as a failed state due to escalating violence. He attributes the crisis to terrorism in the northeast and armed banditry in the northwest, which has led to numerous kidnappings and church attacks. The archbishop notes that systemic discrimination against Christians persists despite constitutional guarantees. He argues that conflicts between herders and farmers are primarily economic rather than religious, though politicians may exploit them. The situation has forced many priests to flee their parishes, leaving many non-functional in his jurisdiction. The Church aims to heal divisions while facing severe security threats.
Following Palm Sunday attacks in a city in Plateau State, Nigeria, conflicting reports have obscured the true scale of the violence. A state police spokesperson stated that twelve people were killed, while other sources cited figures exceeding forty. The identity of the attackers remains unclear, with residents blaming Boko Haram or Fulani militants. Additional violence was reported in other northern states. A state governor imposed a curfew but did not confirm casualty numbers. The fragmented reporting complicates policy responses and international assessments of religious freedom violations in the region.
Hagop Koujikian, pastor of the Armenian Evangelical Church in Valence, France, received death threats against himself and his family on March 21. The incident occurred while he was in Paris for an evangelization tour, according to Le Dauphiné libéré. The threats came from a man Koujikian occasionally accompanied, who reportedly suffers from psychological issues and has a history of violence. On March 24, this individual allegedly attempted to enter the church premises. Koujikian, who knows the man's mother, filed a police report and consulted leaders of the Union of Armenian Evangelical Churches. He stated that authorities took the situation seriously and did not rule out filing a formal complaint if the threats continue.
According to International Christian Concern, mob attacks targeting Christians remain a significant issue in rural Egypt, particularly in Asyut and Minya. While large-scale terrorist incidents have decreased, localized violence continues, often triggered by minor disputes or rumors regarding church repairs. Coptic Christians report that mobs aim to assert dominance, resulting in property damage and physical assaults. Sources indicate that legal consequences for perpetrators are rare, with customary reconciliations often replacing justice. Although some Muslims provide shelter to victims, the frequency of these attacks has not fully ceased, leaving many communities vulnerable to collective punishment based on religious identity.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Laura Siegal on UnsplashPersecuted church
Palestinian Christians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem are preparing for Easter amid ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as intensified settler violence. Usama Nicola, a Catholic resident of Bethlehem, describes life under missile barrages and strict movement restrictions that limit access to traditional spiritual sites. The community, numbering fewer than 47,000, faces economic hardship and fear of displacement due to settler attacks and military occupation. Many residents, including filmmaker Buthina Khoury in Taybeh, report increased aggression from settlers and restricted mobility. Emigration continues to rise, with estimates suggesting Bethlehem has lost ten percent of its Christian population in recent years as families seek safety and economic stability abroad.
Hajati Kyakuwa Kamiyati, a 45-year-old woman in Bugiri, Uganda, was severely injured on March 11, 2026, by her husband Mukiibi Rajabu during a Bible study. Sources say Rajabu attacked her after learning she had converted to Christianity. Kamiyati sustained facial cuts, a fractured hand, and suspected spinal injuries. She remains hospitalized at Bugiri Joint Clinic. The suspect fled the scene and has not been arrested. Local authorities are investigating the incident, which occurred at Christ the King Church in eastern Uganda.
International bodies have condemned atrocities in Sudan. A UN mission reported that Rapid Support Forces actions in a specific city exhibited hallmarks of genocide against local communities. The US Commission for International Religious Freedom recommended designating the RSF as an Entity of Particular Concern due to attacks on religious sites, including churches and mosques. Additionally, the US State Department designated the Sudanese Muslim Brotherhood and its armed wing as terrorist organizations for violence against civilians. Christian Solidarity Worldwide urges these designations to advance accountability and a humanitarian ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.
A Christian parliamentary group in Iraq issued a statement condemning recent attacks on a regional leader's residence and other sites in a northern city. The bloc described these incidents as serious violations of national sovereignty and reckless attempts to destabilize the area. They emphasized the urgent need for the federal government to protect lives and property, and to take firm measures to prevent future attacks on safe communities in the region.
A prominent Iranian royal figure addressed a major conservative conference in the United States, drawing attention to the rapid expansion of Christianity within Iran. He condemned the state apparatus and military forces for their harsh suppression of house churches and new believers. According to reports, security agents arrest and torture clergy, while converts endure harassment and threats of execution. The speaker argued that these oppressive measures define the current regime rather than the Iranian populace. This intervention continues his longstanding advocacy for international support to protect religious freedom amid systematic persecution.
Sectarian attacks rocked a predominantly Christian town in Hama province, Syria, following a dispute with residents of a neighboring Sunni area. Scores of men on motorcycles stormed the location, damaging homes, shops, and cars with bullets and fire. Government forces intervened to calm the violence, which lasted until early Saturday. Residents demanded accountability and declared a strike. The incident highlights ongoing tensions against minorities since the fall of Bashar Assad in December 2024, with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s government facing criticism for failing to control armed groups targeting Christians, Alawites, and Druze.
Ecuadorian police are investigating the murder of Father Maximiliano Estupiñán Gaisbauer, 64, found dead in his Quito home on March 23. His niece stated that thieves likely killed him for a laptop, phone, and cash. CCTV footage shows intruders inside the residence. The killing has intensified concerns about Ecuador's severe security crisis, despite President Daniel Noboa's military deployments. Cardinal Alfredo Espinoza condemned the violence during the funeral, calling for societal change. Family members described the priest as humble and dedicated to helping the poor and elderly.
Armed Fulani militia launched coordinated attacks in three Nigerian states, leaving several people dead and injured. In one state, assailants targeted passengers near a major city, causing severe injuries including an amputation. In another, fighters burned homes in a village, forcing residents to flee. In a third state, a dispute between a herder and a vigilante escalated into violence, resulting in multiple deaths and property destruction. Local sources report widespread fear and displacement across the country’s North-Central region, highlighting ongoing security concerns involving ethnic militias.
Insurgents aligned with ISIS have displaced over one million people in a northeastern region of Mozambique since 2017 through repeated village attacks. A radio station broadcasting to this population recently faced a threat, forcing staff to hide in the wilderness. The director of the station stated that the national army has established a camp at the facility to protect it, viewing it as a critical asset. The ministry continues to provide Scripture and encouragement to communities in this volatile region despite ongoing security risks, maintaining its mission to offer hope amidst the violence.
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