World in Brief

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is calling for Christian villagers, who were kidnapped by militants for ransom during Easter services, to be released. The attackers, believed to be of Fulani origin, killed at least seven and abducted 37 worshippers from multiple services in southern Kaduna State.

CSW believes eight of those taken have died because of the brutal conditions the attackers subjected them to. Victims of other attacks during the Spring have also reportedly been moved to the same location, where they are exposed to all weather conditions.

A court ruling which allowed a Muslim to marry a 13-year-old Christian girl will be revisited following the submission of a review petition filed by her father. The judge stressed that the case concerned the general rights of Pakistani citizens and did not consider faith implications.

The girl in question is believed to have been abducted and forcibly converted to Islam by the Muslim man, according to Morning Star News. Given her status as a minor, the court agreed to further consideration of the matter, which is still to take place.

A 25-year-old pastor in Uganda has been killed after participating at an interfaith dialogue and debate event, with the Muslim imam he argued against among the suspects. The imam was reportedly angry after the event, which saw two Muslim women become Christians, and told pastor Bernard Mulongo he deserved death for blasphemy and leading people into false religion.

Morning Star News reports that the imam also made comments supporting violence against believers. Mulongo was the pastor of New Restoration Church of Christ in Butebo District and he was married with two young children.

A pastor and his family in South Kordofan state, Sudan have been kidnapped alongside others as conflict continues to rage across the nation. Yaqob Ibrahim Tia, who serves the Sudanese Church of Christ (SCOC), and his two sons were taken by attackers who used to be affiliated with the Sudan People’s Liberation Army-North (SPLA-N), but there is no obvious motivation behind the incident.

Morning Star News reports that church leaders in the area are increasingly being targeted. No ransoms have been demanded following recent abductions and the aim of this attack could simply be to unsettle those in the area.

A woman has been removed from a plane travelling from Orlando to San Diego after briefly preaching about the gospel during a flight delay. Whitney Lynn, who describes herself as an evangelist on Instagram, was taken off the aircraft with her baggage after being told she made the crew unsafe.

Premier Christian News reports that Alaska Airlines described her departure as relating to “security reasons” and that she will not be allowed to travel on their flights for the “foreseeable future”. Lynn recorded her experience and shared it with followers on Instagram.

A Christian in Somaliland has been poisoned to death by Muslim relatives for secretly converting to Christianity. Sharif Ali, who became a believer in April, was pronounced

as having died from food poisoning after consuming ouabain, which is used as arrow poison in East African tribes, Morning Star News reports.

Ali’s family questioned him about their suspicions after they noticed he started missing Friday mosque prayers. He did not answer their questions and became unwell after eating a meal with them following their discussion. He left behind a wife and five children.

An evangelical woman, Viviane Morales, has been made Colombia’s Education Minister as part of what new president Abelardo de la Espriella has described as a “moral reconstruction of the country”. Morales is well known in the nation for her faith and has previously served as the nation’s first female Attorney General.

Evangelical Focus reveals that Morales, who has 15 years of experience in education work, strongly advocates for the promotion of traditional family values and parenting within the national education system. Opposition politicians have criticised the appointment because of her conservative views.

Six pastors and other Christians in India have been jailed for five years and fined under anti-conversion laws after being falsely accused of fraudulent or forced conversions at a child’s birthday party two years ago. The police had arrived at the party following reports of threatening behaviour towards Christians but arrested the believers instead.

Morning Star News reports that they were charged with “promoting enmity, hatred, or disharmony between different religious groups” and “deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings.” The convictions have seen at least six churches close, spreading fear among Christians.

This year’s March for Life event will not be hosted in Zurich city centre after officials refused to allow access on security grounds. Organisers say they will appeal the decision, stating that “anyone who wants to ensure safety must curb the source of aggression” rather than restrict peaceful demonstrators, but have said this year’s event will take place in the Zurich-Oerlikon area instead.

Organisers have described the measures as a “disproportionate restriction on freedom of assembly and expression,” reports Evangelical Focus. They point out that the event will now garner less public attention and claim that no other similar event would be banished to the outskirts in such fashion.

Luke Randall

Pressure from Iranian authorities for an evangelical church to evict 20 Armenian and Assyrian families living in its building is growing, with officials threatening church leaders with arrest if they do not adhere to their demands. Church members were also told to find somewhere else to worship, threatening an end to their use of the nation’s oldest Protestant church.

Evangelical Focus reports that the Spanish Evangelical Alliance (AEE) has called for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to act to help the Tehran congregation.

Luke Randall