Five incidents were reported on the same day. “Non-state actors seem to operate with impunity”, says the EFI.

At least 45 people killed and more than 100 injured in two attacks. The Egyptian President decrees three months of state of emergency.

A Venezuelan evangelical leader analyses the tense situation in the country and explains how Christians keep praying and preparing for an uncertain future. “The church has paid a high price.”

About 20 men arrived at the school with knives and other weapons and began to beat the women. Members of a nearby church tried to defend them. 

Police in Bihar state this month obeyed Hindu extremist orders not to interfere as they beat a pastor and a Bible college student.

Three churches have been banned for religious activities and another one was attacked in the last month. Banners against Christian candidate Basuki Tjahaja "Ahok" were rife all over Jakarta.

“I still have fears since I am taking care of many converts from Islam. I know nothing will separate me from the love of Christ and in serving Him”, says Hassan Muwanguzi.

The couple’s two daughters, 13 and 7, and their 9-year-old son were able to escape out a backdoor and have found safe shelter in another town.

Around 400 Christians threatened by Daesh, arrived in the Suez Canal city of Ismailiya “exhausted, with urgent needs for food and children’s clothing, and terrified.”

Petr Jasek has been allowed to return home after receiving “presidential pardon”. Meanwhile, Islamists put pressure on evangelical school near Khartoum. 

An in-depth interview with Vijayesh Lal of the Evangelical Fellowship India. Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh are the states were Christians face the strongest persecution.

The government reportedly claimed the churches were built on land zoned for other uses, but Christian leaders said it is part of wider crack-down on Christianity.

The man was sent to jail for declining to sign a document denying his evangelical faith and agreeing to contribute to the Traditionalist Catholic festivals.

Two other Christians, a pastor an a student were also sentenced to 12 years, on charges related to “espionage.”

“This demolition was done out of injustice and discrimination”, said Rev. Musa. Six more churches are due to be demolished.

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”.

Young Markus had been an ambitious Muslim. He studied in an Islamic university led by his father and his mission was to reach out to Christian youth and lead them to the “right path”.

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

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.

The mob blocked firefighter access to the village and cut off the water supply, and firefighters were unable to reach the burning building until police showed up and suppressed the rioting crowd with tear gas.

Churches are forbidden in Saudi Arabia, and converting from Islam is punished with decapitation.

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”.