Persecuted Christians

The Latest

Pastor Saeed Abedini and Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani

Iranian government arrests Christian pastor, closes church

May 28, 2013

By Adelaide Mena

The pastor of a Pentecostal church in Iran was arrested last week during a religious service, and the church has... Read more

CNA

Caritas official: Bombing of new Tanzanian parish surpasses other attacks

May 6, 2013

A top official with the charity Caritas Tanzania says a Sunday attack on a new Catholic parish was the first... Read more

Imprisoned pastor Saeed Abedin with his family.

Pastor's move to solitary confinement in Iran sparks worry

May 4, 2013

By Adelaide Mena

A U.S. citizen being held in an Iranian prison for his Christian activities has reportedly been moved to solitary confinement,... Read more

Patriarch Gregory III Laham at press conference in Basilica Santa Maria in Cosmedin.

Syrian patriarch asks Vatican to increase peace efforts

Apr 18, 2013

The most powerful Catholic leader in Syria met Pope Francis today to ask the Vatican to get more involved in... Read more

Iranian Christians speak during a panel at the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C. on April 12, 2013.

At DC event, Christian converts recount captivity in Iran

Apr 13, 2013

Two Iranian converts to Christianity recently spoke of their experiences facing persecution and imprisonment in their country for their religious... Read more

(L-R) Lela Gilbert, Paul Marshall, and Nina Shea take part in a panel at the Hudson Institute on March 27, 2013.

Panel urges awareness of global Christian oppression

Mar 29, 2013

Authors of a new book on the global persecution of Christians warned that Americans must recognize the grave threat that is... Read more

Imprisoned pastor Saeed Abedin with his family.

US help for jailed Iran pastor 'woefully' inept, congressmen charge

Mar 21, 2013

Five members of Congress say the U.S. State Department is not doing enough to help Pastor Saeed Abedini, an imprisoned... Read more

Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako of Baghdad of the Chaldeans.

Patriarch urges protection for Iraq's fleeing Christians

Feb 26, 2013

Patriarch Louis Raphael I Sako, head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, says greater security is needed for Christians in Iraq... Read more

Imprisoned pastor Saeed Abedini.

Jailed Iranian pastor reports 'threatening' abuse

Feb 22, 2013

Christian Pastor Saeed Abedini, a U.S. citizen sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison, has spoken out about his... Read more

Bob Fu.

Report finds Chinese persecution of Christians rising

Feb 8, 2013

A new analysis by ChinaAid found that persecution of Christians by the Chinese government increased in 2012, and focused on... Read more

CNA

Syrian bishop hopes new patriarch's experience will save lives

Feb 4, 2013

A Syrian bishop is happy with the election of Archbishop Louis R. Sako as Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church... Read more

CNA

Vatican official hopes legal dialogue will help persecuted Christians

Jan 29, 2013

As the Church celebrates the 30th anniversary of canon law, legal experts at the Vatican are continuing their push for... Read more

Imprisoned pastor Saeed Abedin with his family.

Iran's eight-year sentence for Christian pastor draws outcry

Jan 28, 2013

Christian pastor Saeed Abedini's sentence of eight years in prison by an Iranian judge for allegedly threatening local security with... Read more

Imprisoned pastor Saeed Abedini.

Imprisoned Christian pastor banned from trial

Jan 24, 2013

By Michelle La Rosa

An American citizen imprisoned in Iran for his Christian faith has been barred from attending his own trial and faces... Read more

Pastor Yousef Nadarkhani in prison.

One Iranian pastor freed, another remains imprisoned

Jan 9, 2013

By Michelle La Rosa

Reports in Iran indicate that a Christian pastor who was arrested on Christmas Day has been released, while a second... Read more

Eritrean seminarians at study in Asmara.

Eritrea's forced military service drains Church manpower

Dec 4, 2012

The Eritrean government’s practice of forced military conscription means that seminarians and other church workers are being forced into the... Read more

CNA

Car bombs terrorize Syrian Christians in Damascus

Nov 30, 2012

Two deadly car bombs that exploded in a Damascus suburb Nov. 28 killed at least 34 people and are “terrorizing”... Read more

Cardinal John Onaiyekan walks through Vatican City after being made a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI Nov. 24.

Nigerian cardinal condemns bombing of Protestant church

Nov 26, 2012

The newest cardinal from Nigeria has condemned a deadly terrorist attack on a Protestant church at a local military base,... Read more

Bishop Sebastian Shaw of Lahore, Pakistan.

Court dismisses blasphemy case against Christian teen

Nov 20, 2012

The Islamabad High Court has dismissed all charges leveled against a disabled Christian girl accused of violating Pakistan’s blasphemy law.  Read more

Msgr. Obiora F. Ike walks in front of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church in Enugu, Nigeria.

Nigerian Catholics respond to attack with prayer and fasting

Nov 13, 2012

After his parish in southern Nigeria was desecrated on Nov. 4, Monsignor Obiora F. Ike called on his parishioners to... Read more