World in Brief

Christians in Maharashtra State, India have been denied caste certificates by the chief minister of the state, potentially leaving them more susceptible to discrimination.

The official claimed the decision was consistent with a Supreme Court order from the end of last year that Scheduled Caste (SC) certificates should not be available to Christians or Muslims, reports Christian Solidarity Worldwide. SC certificates give the holder access to affirmative action benefits which ensure they are better represented in various societal sectors, including government.

A Christian has been murdered by Muslims in a village in eastern Uganda after they broke into his locked home. The 37-year-old was converted in April and had been praying for his attackers during the Friday mosque service before they stabbed him to death, reports Morning Star News.

The believer had managed to keep his faith a secret from his Muslim family, even when asked why he had not been attending services at the mosque. However, a Muslim neighbour reported to his relatives that they had seen him leaving a church, leading to the attack.

Hundreds of Muslims recently gathered to protest against the construction of a new church building in West Java Province, Indonesia. Demonstrators held banners opposing the move and claimed they had not received sufficient consultation, but church leaders claim that about 60% of local residents are happy with the proposals.

According to Morning Star News, the local authorities had also approved the relevant permits for the Studio Alam Batak Kato Protestant Church to be built, after certain conditions were agreed. Church leaders have called the protests a display of “intolerance”.

A pastor in Nigeria has been shot and killed during an evening worship service. The attack on Bege Baptist Church, in Yaribori village, Kafur, also saw another person killed while a woman was abducted, according to Release International.

Reports suggest that the attack was carried out by 15 to 20 Islamic extremists who spoke with Fulani accents. Members of the church revealed that the pastor had worked to bring the Christians and Muslims of the village together, while the other person killed had converted from Islam.

The government of Pakistan has been ordered by the Islamabad High Court to form a panel within 30 days to look into abuse of the nation’s infamous blasphemy laws. Justice Sardar Ejaz Ishaq Khan gave the order while a case involving allegations of abuse rages on.

Morning Star News reports that families of over 100 victims of false charges have claimed that their relatives were set up by Federal Investigation Agency members and lawyers. Local attorneys have described the latest development as a “huge ray of hope”.

The Glory of Christ Tanzania Church is gradually closing down following the national government’s decision to de-register the denomination. The church’s registration was revoked by a directive issued by the Registrar of Societies after its leader was alleged to have preached politically and undermined public trust in the government.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the decision was made less than a day after the church’s leader repeated previous criticism of a large rise in human-rights violations in Tanzania ahead of national elections.

A Pentecostal church building in Khartoum North, Sudan has been demolished by the authorities without any warning to local residents beforehand. Open Doors reports that those who bulldozed the premises initially gave no official reason for the building’s destruction but later told church leaders that they were removing “unregulated” buildings throughout the state.

Church leaders have condemned the attack and are concerned it is representative of an increase in discrimination against believers across the nation under the rule of the Sudan Armed Forces.

Hundreds of Christian motorcyclists from across Europe gathered in the Jura mountains in Switzerland for the 34th European Motorcyclists for Christ (EMC) rally. The five-day programme, which took place at a campsite in Les Cerneux, all centred around the theme “Spirit Driven”, from Romans 8v14.

Those who attended came from different Christian motorcycling clubs and stayed in tents, caravans, group rooms or in accommodation further afield. The event featured teaching activities, campfires, trips around the area and fellowship.

A researcher has claimed that inscriptions found in a mine which is 3,800 years old could reference Moses in Hebrew. The marks, which possibly say “This is from Moses”, appear to have been written by Semitic-speaking workers during Pharaoh Amenemhat III’s reign, reports Premier Christian News.

The researcher suggests that the inscriptions could be supportive evidence for the events of the book of Exodus, but others remain unsure as to their origin and meaning.

Five people in Azerbaijan have been fined heavily for attending unauthorised worship services without state permission. The fines handed out amount to about three months’ average wages and come after police officers raided a Sunday Christian worship meeting in Nakhichevan, report Forum 18.

About 20 officers are reported to have been part of the raid and the three detained, alongside two other locals, were subjected to questioning and no food for two days. In a separate incident, members of a Korean family who allowed meetings to be held in their home have been arrested and deported.

A pastor in Kyrgyzstan has been sentenced to three years in jail on charges of “inciting racial, ethnic, national, religious or regional hatred”. Pavel Shreider, 65, had been serving a church in Bishkek, the nation’s capital, and he denies all of the charges.

Release International reports that Shreider was arrested by the secret police last November after they searching his home and confiscating thousands of books, cash and mobile phones. He claims he has been tortured during interrogations in prison.

This year’s Alliance Conference was held recently in Bad Blankenburg, marking the 129th iteration of Germany’s oldest Bible and faith-centered event of its kind. The four-day event was organised by the German Evangelical Alliance’s (EAD).

As reported by Evangelical Focus, the conference featured an extensive programme of morning and evening meetings, workshops and seminars alongside a youth programme. Those in attendance heard teaching from a range of keynote speakers from across the EAD and beyond on Colossians, centred around the theme of “Focus Jesus”.

A pastor in Moscow has been in prison for nine months and is currently standing trial after being arrested for speaking against Russia’s role in the war with Ukraine. Nikolai Romanyuk was arrested last October and has faced several court hearings but Release International have described the legal process thus far as unjust.

According to a Release partner, Romanyuk has faced interrogation and pressure to abandon his evangelical convictions, in favour of views considered more sympathetic to the state.

A pastor in Wenzhou, China has been arrested on charges of ‘illegal business operations’ after the authorities discovered he was selling sermon recordings. He and four other church members from other locations within Zhejiang Province were detained, before two were released on bail.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the pastor previously spent a year in jail in 2014. Concern has been raised regarding how quickly his current arrest has been processed, raising questions over how properly its review was conducted.

Luke Randall

The third annual Jesus Pochod (Jesus March) has taken place in Prague, Czech Republic.

Evangelical Focus reported: “Pastor Ojo Olyainko from the English-speaking RCCG Prague fellowship addressed the participants, proclaiming some Biblical truths and encouraging Christians to believe and preach the gospel.” It added: “British evangelist Daniel Chand, who recently preached at Trafalgar Square, addressed the march participants, tourists, and visitors (while an estimated 500 participants took part in the march, at least 1,000 people could hear.”

en staff