According to Open Doors, 215 million Christians suffer “high, very high or extreme persecution”. North Korea continues at the top of the World Watch List. Africa is the region in which more Christians are killed because of their faith.

Jamil, a former Muslim: “Yemenis follow Christ with all their hearts. There is no way back. We all know that. Becoming a Christian will cost you much”.

Have I ever felt hated or rejected or made fun of? Yes, I have.

Three others (including Czech aid worker Petr Jasek) remain in jail. Attorneys are hopeful that they also will be released soon.  

Christel Lamère Ngnambi, Brussels Representative of the European Evangelical Alliance, talks about religious freedom and freedom of conscience.

The police and Islamic religious authorities in these countries are highly vigilant against any attempts by Christians to reach Malay Muslims with the gospel.

The situation of Christians in North Korea does not seem to have improved during this past year.

About 400 Christians publicly showed their solidarity with the Persecuted Church in three Swiss cities on Human Rights Day.

Outside the heavily guarded court, those opposing Ahok chanted, “Jail Ahok, jail Ahok, jail Ahok now”. Muslim clerics refer to the Christian politician as a “son of Satan”.

Nadia Murad and Lamiya Aji Bashar survived Daesh slavery. “There remain more than 3,500 child and women held hostage as slaves under Daesh. Every day they die a thousand times”, they told MEPs.

MEPs criticise the alarming lack of freedoms after the failed coup attempt in July. Christians in the country denounce growing pressure on churches.

“Organ pillaging in China is a crime in which the Communist Party, the health system, hospitals, and the transplant profession are all complicit”, Human Rights activist David Kilgour tells Canadian lawmakers.

In the region, almost 40% of the Protestant churches have become secret churches. “We do not want to be associated with anything illegal and our desire is to be law-abiding citizens”.

For 20 years, IDOP has united millions of Christians to denounce and pray for those who suffer persecution. This year, events are being held the first three Sundays of November.

“Russian evangelical Christians have a call to be model citizens but now they are at risk of being considered lawbreakers for their loyalty to Jesus Christ”, the Spanish Evangelical Alliance says.

Now the government can independently deport anyone it deems a threat to “public security” without a judicial order or review. The directive was issued over the weekend.

Because of the paradoxical relationship between God’s freedom and human freedom, Christians need a robust “theology of surprise”.

The Evangelical Alliance United Kingdom has launched the Speak Up campaign to provide a clearer picture of the legal basis to talk about Jesus. Jurist Nancy Lefèvre (France) helped to start the initiative. 

The Guardian, The Telegraph and LGBT activist Peter Tatchell defend freedom of conscience. The EAUK: “We have all lost some our freedom”.

The Swiss Evangelical Alliance responds to a report published by tabloid ‘Blick’ because it “slanders” the work and leadership of three Christian churches.

“We have always said it was never about the customer, it was about the message”, the McArthur family said. Judges state that refusing the order “was direct discrimination”. 9 out of 10 evangelical Christians support the family, says survey.

Many churches worldwide will celebrate the Freedom Sunday on October 16 to raise awareness of human trafficking and slavery. ‘Don’t shut your eyes’ is the initiative of the European Freedom Network.

A controversial amendment to the ‘Loi Sapin II’ was withdrawn this week. “Some ideological groups attempt to reduce the voice of religions in the public space”, explains evangelical representative.

It appears once again as if the Russian state will be moving simultaneously in opposite directions. Restrictive measures are combined with financial support for Protestant and multi-confessional projects.

The Italian Evangelical Alliance supports a teacher who did not allow the celebration of a Catholic mass service during school hours.