Muslim leaders have caused upset by validating President Jammeh's declaration of Gambia becoming an Islamic state without having a referendum.

“Pray that all those who were abducted and have been released will know the Lord's comfort, healing and restoration.”

During his visit to the region, Pope Francis condemned the exploitation and social exclusion of the indigenous peoples. But Roman Catholics in Chiapas continue to persecute evangelical believers.

Local church members “invite refugees to their homes, let their children get to know their children, show them where to get a discount on children’s clothes.” 

They were expelled for refusing to renounce their faith. Christians hope this case will set a precedent for religious freedom in Mexico.

“As I fled, I could see two houses burning. Those who were attacked are Christians. I am very sure that the attackers were looking for Christians”, explains survivor.

The resolution also asks the EU to establish a permanent special representative for Freedom of Religion and Belief.

“This is the closest language to mean ‘genocide’ without using that terminology”, says EEA representative in Brussels Christel Lamère Ngnambi.

Suicide attacks on two predominantly Christian communities in northeast Nigeria. Many displaced Christians refuse to return to their homes, evangelical pastors told Morning Star News.

The Marrakesh Declaration, signed by more than 200 Islamic leaders, calls for religious freedom for non-Muslims in majority-Muslim countries. Believers of faith minorities should be protected from persecution.

“It is amazing how these people are still happy, despite everything they have gone through”, director Fernando De Haro explains.

An American missionary and six Canadian mission workers lost their lives after Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) gunmen attacked hotel and coffe shop in Ouagadougou. Australian Christian doctor and his wife were kidnapped the same day.

“We can be the voice of those who cannot cry out by themselves”, the Director of Open Doors Spain says in an interview. “Nigeria is the country where most people have died because of their faith.”

North Korea is still the most difficult place in the world to be a Christian, according to new report by Open Doors. Jihadism, Hindu and Buddhist extremism are the greatest sources of persecution.

Over 1,000 religious communities which had legal status under Ukrainian law, are no longer recognised as legal entities under Russian law.

Several Leyva Velazquez community leaders asked evangelical Christians to renounce their faith.

Christmas and New Year celebrations are banned because “are contrary to Islamic culture, and could damage the faith of the Muslim community.”

“My mother struggled with the gunmen until they finally shot her and the three kids,” Rose Monday’s explained. “She died trying to save the three children.”

Sixty signatures from people of a different faith and a permission from the local authority are needed to build a church. Closures and violence against Christians have not stopped the Church from growing.

Protestors in Madrid ask the government to take action. 135 Spaniards have joined Daesh in Syria this year.

The war-torn country is ruled by Sharia law, and 99% of the population is Muslim. One of the victims “had been receiving direct threats from Al Qaeda members that he knew personally.”

Iraq’s Christian community is opposing a new law forcing children to become Muslims if their father converts to Islam or their mother marries a Muslim.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted by noisy crowds outside Downing Street, in protest at ongoing religious persecution in India..

A Roman Catholic agency informs about an ecumenical meeting which would have brought 150 representatives of 7 religions to North Korea this week. 

“Secret Protestant Churches in Donetsk: Ukraine’s Religious War”. A 20-minute report produced by Simon Ostrovsky for Vice News.