Islamabad, Feb 18 (IANS) A Pakistan court has rejected bail for a blind Christian man charged with blasphemy, despite apparent discrepancies in the police report and prosecution testimonies, local media reported, quoting his lawyer. The case adds to ongoing concerns over the misuse of blasphemy laws against religious minorities in the country.Muhammad Jawad Zafar of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on February 4 dismissed the bail petition of 49-year-old Nadeem Masih, who has been in custody since Au…
Latest Christians News & Updates
Islamabad, Feb 16 (IANS) A federal court in Pakistan has given custody of a 13-year-old Christian girl, identified as Maria Shahbaz, to a Muslim man who had abducted her, converted her to Islam, and married her, a report has revealed. Judges did not accept the birth certificate presented by the parents of Maria Shahbaz, that proved her age. Safdar Chaudhry, chairperson of rights group Raah-e-Nijaat Ministry, stated that the judges also rejected the earlier judicial findings that the marriage was…
Dhaka, Feb 9 (IANS) As Bangladesh readies to hold national election on February 12, minorities in the South Asian nation feel the insecurity more profoundly, a report has highlighted. Quoting Bruce Allen of the Forgotten Missionaries International (FMI), a report in Mission Network News stated: “The social climate in Bangladesh has been one of uncertainty. FMI partners tell Allen that under the current caretaker government of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, there’s an indifference to …
Washington, Feb 6 (IANS) Donald Trump told lawmakers and religious leaders that faith is central to America’s strength, declaring that “prayer is America’s superpower” as he addressed the National Prayer Breakfast.Trump said religion is returning to public life after years of decline. He credited his administration with defending religious liberty and restoring faith to the national conversation.“This is a beautiful American tradition,” he said. “It’s a true honor to be here.”T…
Islamabad, Jan 30 (IANS) The World Watch List 2026 released by global Christian advocacy group Open Doors has highlighted that the Christians in Pakistan — who constitute just 1.8 per cent of the population — continue to face “systemic discrimination, violence, forced conversions, bonded labour, and gender-based persecution”, amid minimal state protection, a report said on Friday. It added that Pakistan remains among the top 10 most dangerous countries for Christians worldwide, securing …
Islamabad, Jan 29 (IANS) Pakistan’s military establishment has been emboldened by US and Arab engagement, enabling it to escalate repression against ethnic groups such as Baloch and Pashtun as well as Hindu minorities across the country. The resurgence of the Pakistani military on the global stage has given it confidence to stifle the autonomy of the country’s democratic institutions and rule civilians with an iron fist, a report said on Thursday.“Recent engagement by President Trump and key A…
Agartala, Jan 22 (IANS) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Thursday that the rule of law has been firmly re-established in the state and insurgency has been effectively tackled under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, with the welfare of all people remaining its top priority. Addressing an award distribution ceremony honouring academic excellence among students from minority communities at Pragya Bhavan here, CM Saha said that while the present BJP-led state government is un…
Colombo, Jan 21 (IANS) Highlighting that Buddhist minorities and other religious communities in Bangladesh are facing severe repression and violence, the Sri Lanka–Bangladesh Buddhist Solidarity Front has urged Buddhists across the world to unite for protecting their rights, especially those of indigenous Buddhists in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a report has stated. Addressing a media briefing in Kandy recently, the Front’s Secretary, Shastrava and Tripitaka scholar, Kavissara Thero of Nuwar…
Colombo, Jan 17 (IANS) The Sinicisation campaign under Chinese President Xi Jinping, that mandates religious groups align their doctrines, customs and morality with Chinese culture, has resulted in the demolition of numerous churches and crosses, restrictions on Bible possession, and banning or confiscation of religious materials not authorised by the government, a report has revealed. “As the world ushered in 2026 with hopes of a better life, Christians in China instead began the New Year on …
Islamabad, Jan 17 (IANS) The abuse of blasphemy laws in Pakistan and the politicisation of Islamophobia in Western democracies reflect a shared strategy designed to silence criticism, safeguard extremist ideologies, and deflect accountability, a report has revealed. It added that both mechanisms undermine public understanding of religion and fuel social polarisation, while the actual perpetrators of violence weaponise faith to pursue their agendas.“Radical extremist groups have increasingly fo…