“We thought Covid-19 was going to minimize the effect of persecution, but it has been the opposite. Persecution has increased”, says the director of Open Doors Spain. The organisation releases its annual World Watch List.

“Philosophical and religious convictions” will be described in records of thousands of people who are seen as a threat to the state. Evangelicals worried about the “fragility” of fundamental rights.

“Christ, Mary and Spain – Get out, Protestant and Lutheran rats”, read one of the signs hanging on the windows of an evangelical church in Santander. The bishop of Cantabria and several parties expressed their condemnation.

Since March, the searches for words like fear, peace, hope and faith in Bible apps increased. “People are seeking God as they wrestle with what they faced in 2020”, You Version founder says.

Death for Ernest Hemingway was a release from the role that life seemed to have assigned to him.

Evangelicals condemn forced therapies but say the will of same-sex attracted people who seek spiritual support has to be respected.

There were 78 Jihadist attacks or attempted attacks in the EU between 2017 and 2019. “The biggest failure in Europe is the failed integration of Muslims”, the World Evangelical Alliance Director of Public Engagement says.

The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka publishes a report analysing messages in social media against religious minorities.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has analysed the effects of blasphemy laws worldwide between 2014-18. 11% of the blasphemy-related incidents took place in Europe.

"It will send a clear signal to those responsible: there will be consequences", says the representative of Foreign Affairs. Christian Solidarity Worldwide applauds the decision.

The religious freedom report of the Protestant Association of Churches in Turkey goes to the government, politicians and media.  Foreign embassies, EU, UN, Christian partners and human rights NGOs also receive copies.

A report of the Korea Future Initiative (KFI) presents well-documented violations in North Korea. Investigators conducted 117 interviews with survivors, witnesses, and perpetrators.

Joshua Wong was in solitary confinement for organising an unauthorised meeting. “A Bible passage in Romans is what gives me strength”, he said while in prison.

The draft law prompted criticism for being “too vague” and threatening free speech. “It could see people prosecuted for offences that they did not know they committed”, the EAUK warns.

The CNEF suggests to “include a reaffirmation of the right to the peaceful exercise of religious freedom” and “hopes that the freedom of education will not be violated”.

Mainline Protestant and Catholic churches in Pakistan have decided to petition courts against forcible conversion of underage girls.

A Pew Research analysis combines data of a dozen of trusted sources. It concludes that “most of the 56 countries with high or very high levels of government restrictions on religion are in the Asia-Pacific region or the Middle East-North Africa region”.

The European Union new strategy includes criminalising “homophobic hate speech” and funding pro-LGBT initiatives. Countries that not comply with the new policy could lose funds.

The church is one of the few that keeps a legal status, because it was registered before 1959. “As repression has spread, the bonds between pastors are stronger than ever", a pastor said.

An Iranian Christian who fled his country continued to receive threats from his countrymen in Spain, where the authorities have not granted him asylum after 16 years. “I have confidence in God”, he says.

England and France ban worship services, strong restrictions are implemented in Switzerland. Churches in Germany, Italy and Spain, are not directly affected by the newest measures.

Sudan joins the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which already signed the 'Abraham Accords'. Palestinians say “it violates the Arab Peace Initiative”.

For the first time in Montenegro's history, the ruling party has lost its majority due to a confrontation with the Orthodox Church. Evangelical Christian Danijel Petkovski analyses the current situation in this small Balkan country.

The agreement will be extended for 2 years. “It does not address all the open questions that still concern the church, but just the topic of episcopal appointments”, The Holy See admits.

The Organization of American States declares 27 October as International Day of Religious Freedom. Evangelicals participated in the sessions defending the life and the family.