“We need to repent for what we have done, first to God and then to the people of Ukraine”, pastors write in an open letter. Russian authorities impose new restrictions on freedom of speech.

Candidates from the radical left to the far-right compete against Emmanuel Macron on 10 April. The Evangelical Council proposes “values stemming from the Christian faith” that help “build society”.

Religious leaders also denounce the “disproportionate impact” that the draft law will have on “already marginalised minorities” and call for its removal.

His Muslim relatives accused the Christian evangelist of holding open-air meetings and debates.

Watch the speech of Finnish Christian politician Päivi Räsänen at the General Assembly of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, 19 February 2022. "We are especially called to stand firm in those parts of the Scriptures that contradict the spirit of the time".

Doubts about the new (proposed) laws which cover talking therapy are being expressed from within LGB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual) circles themselves.

An interview with Vlady Raichinov (Bulgaria) and Marc Jost (Switzerland).

Päivi Räsänen was the main speaker at the 2022 General Assembly of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance: “Everyone should be free to express their deeply held beliefs about important issues without fear of censorship or criminal sanction”.

Government officials have begun proceedings to close another Protestant church. Sixteen churches have been closed in the past four years.

The second hearing focused more strongly on the interpretation of the law than the first hearing. Bible quotes and questions about faith were not heard this time.

The Finnish Member of Parliament charged with incitement to hatred against homosexuals faces the court again on 14 February. She defends herself against what she considers “false claims” of the prosecution.

Big Tech companies in the US and China “spread technologies and hope that any problems that might follow will be easily overcome”, says expert Jonathan Ebsworth. Giants such as Meta have not demonstrated a willingness to seek “the good of society as a whole”.

The speakers at the evangelical gathering stressed that criticism and offense should not be equated to hate speech, and that freedom of expression should prevail in case of doubt.

The agreement between religious minorities urges to “combat violence, extremism and hatred”. They are now suffering a campaign of insults and threats.

The company failed to “reasonably accommodate the employee’s sincerely held religious beliefs” and will pay 44,000€, as well as train its managers on religious discrimination.

Spanish evangelicals denounce that “fundamental freedoms are at risk”, due to “authoritarian” legislative initiatives and “demand for all the right to think differently and to freely express it”.

The Winter Olympics begin this week amid complaints about the Chinese regime's “massive abuses” of minorities and the strict surveillance of its citizens.

Evangelicals say the new contract “contains guarantees for freedom of religion” but also warn about its application, because “certain terms could be misinterpreted”.

Attacks on evangelical home churches by Hindu extremists have increased lately with the connivance of the police and the media.

Silence is the biggest noise in Cuba, but Adelys broke it when her husband, a pastor, was arrested during the ‘11-J’ protests in the city of Matanzas.

A summary of the main statements by the prosecution and the defense of MP Päivi Räsänen and Bishop Juhana Pohjola. On the ground reporting from Helsinki, Finland.

The prosecutor demands that Päivi Räsänen's writings on homosexuality are removed. Her lawyer underlines the politician’s belief in the dignity of all people and refers to the European Court of Human Rights.

Theologian Timo Eskola says courts of law should “not dictate what churches are allowed to teach about sin”. Other Lutheran academics have been less supportive of the Finnish parliamentarian.

Afghanistan is new at the top of the Open Doors WWL 2022. Discover the full list.

The Islamic country replaces North Korea at the top of the World Watch List after 20 years. One in seven Christians worldwide suffers persecution, says Open Doors.