The Anglican Church of Pakistan welcomes an initiative that will “pave the way for unified action on forced conversions of underage girls and misuse of the blasphemy laws”.

A month after the attack on a Christian colony in Faisalabad, Imran, a Pakistani Christian, analyses the situation on the ground. “Churches fear a repetition”, he says.

MEPs adopt a resolution asking Indian government to take action in Manipur, where tribal and religious conflict already left 250 churches destroyed.

“If Christians cannot meet in their homes, where should they meet to worship?”, asks the Spanish the Spanish Evangelical Alliance.

While the state of Karnataka passes an 'anti-conversion' law, evangelicals denounce the government “is empowering lynch mobs to target the next Christian they see”.

The World Evangelical Alliance sends a report to the United Nations denouncing “how the Indian government has fostered violence and legal discrimination against religious and social minorities”.

A report originally written to help the EU fight the persecution of faith minorities was watered down before its approval. The European Evangelical Alliance warns about the risks of minimising the importance of certain human rights.

Evangelicals at the UN Human Rights Council also asked the Greek government to look for alternative religious education classes for non-Orthodox students.

Evangelicals speaking at the UN Human Rights Council also denounced anti-conversion laws in Nepal and India, while praising peacemaking efforts in Lebanon and Colombia.

Some of the criticisms that can be made against the Acts of Nicaea II, specifically its use and interpretation of historical sources and its claim to be an ecumenical council.

“Keshab went to the court for his regular hearing. We had no idea that he would be convicted that day and not return home”, says his wife. Christian leaders in Nepal are appealing to the international community.

The regional government is due to approve a controversial anti-conversion law. “Christians have reasons to apprehend an outbreak of violence against them”, says the Evangelical Fellowship of India.

The draft law will not be presented to Parliament, because the “environment to formulate it is unfavourable” and it “clashes with Islamic Sharia”, says the Religious Affairs Minister.

The entity was created by the government of Imran Khan. Pakistani Christians say it “quotes and voices the minority issues, but it has not real power” to protect them. 

The EFI has published its report on the persecution of Christians in the first six months of 2021. They have identified 145 incidents, including three murders.

Iran’s newly amended penal code, which states that “any deviant education or propaganda that contradicts or interferes with the sacred Sharia [Islamic law] will be severely punished”.

In a written statement to the UN Human Rights Council, the WEA also addresses the deteriorating environment for religious minorities in India and the incitement to violence of anti-conversion laws.

Officers and Hindu extremists threaten and beat Christian men, women and children.

A Korean Christian and three nationals have been accused of fraudulent conversion attempts while distributing food to people in need.

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.

The Lahore High Court’s refusal to take into account the documented age of Maira Shahbaz and the falsification of documents, including a fake marriage certificate, is unprecedented and could lead to more such cases.

Civil society reports estimate that in 2017 alone at least 50 individuals were imprisoned on charges of blasphemy, with at least 17 facing possible death sentences.

The closure of at least 12 Protestant church buildings gets international attention. Algerian Christians share their situation in videos posted online. 63,000 have already signed a petition defending religious freedom.

The release of Asia Bibi is “extraordinarily good news”, but blasphemy laws “should be repealed once and for all” to protect faith minorities.

Muslims in-laws pressured women to accuse husbands.