As part of a larger prison sentence delivered in 2013, Ebrahim Firoozi, 33, was sentenced to two years in exile in Sarbaz, a frontier town on the Iranian-Pakistani border known for its isolation and prevalence of Islamic militant groups.

Turkey attacks Kurdish territories after the withdrawal of US forces. The move could lead to “one more tragedy to the Christian presence in Syria”.

It is the second visit of a group of leaders who support Israel and US President Donald Trump. In a meeting with Mohamed bin Salman, they addressed human rights, politics and religious freedom.

“Blasphemy law should be reviewed, with proper investigation mechanisms”, Asia Bibi told The Sunday Telegraph in her first interview since she left Pakistan. The Christian woman and her family are expected to move to Europe soon.

According to a Pew Research survey, “52 countries impose high levels of restrictions on religion, up from 40 in 2007”. Social hostilities have grown even more.

The biggest region of the United Arab Emirates starts a process of regularisation. Christians in the country see the initiative with good eyes but “precaution” is needed.

The Iranian government “prefers to be destroyed dragging the people with them before giving in”, says a Christian source in the country. “Pray for an integral transformation of the nation”.

Ramez Atallah, Director of the Bible Society Egypt, addresses some of the misconceptions about the country, and analyses the presence and influence of the Christian minority. 

The release of Asia Bibi is “extraordinarily good news”, but blasphemy laws “should be repealed once and for all” to protect faith minorities.

Six months after her acquittal, the Christian woman that survived 9 years in prison will now be able to start a new life with her family in Canada.

The response to date, and what still needs to be done.

Efraim Tendero represented evangelical Christians at the Global Conference on Human Fraternity in Abu Dhabi.

According to World Watch List, released today by Open Doors International, 4,305 people died in 2018 because of their Christian faith. Christian persecution has drastically increased.

The UK government has ordered a review “to map Christian persecution worldwide, and make recommendations on the practical steps it can take to support those under threat”.

More than 150 have been detained in the last month. “The current situation has been described by some as unprecedented, there are a huge number of arrests and detentions”.

Nearly 16 million people go hungry - half the population of the country. The UN announced a ceasefire that seeks to prevent “thousands of children from dying of malnutrition”.

The water level of the Sea of Galilee has dropped by six meters compared to 2004. Israel believes that the best solution is the desalination.

Islamists blocked roads. Security has been stepped up for churches. Bibi is expected to leave the country soon.

Twice-monthly social events are held for between 80-150  people, sometimes even more. The asylum seekers and refugees cook meals from their own countries, with occasional British cuisine.

They are accused of “propaganda activities against the system and in favor of Zionist Christianity through holding house meetings, evangelism, and invitation to Christianity”.

Representatives of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria explained in Brussels their social model for a post-war Syria. The initiative for the cooperation was taken by the Christians, in collaboration with Muslims and other groups.

“We love our country, we pray for our authorities, and we have no intentions against our government”, Iranian Christian Dabrina Bet Tamraz told the UN Human Rights Council.

At least 55 Palestinian protesters die in clashes with Israeli troops in Gaza. The “alliance between the US and Israel is stronger than ever”, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says at the opening ceremony.

The families of the victims say they were abducted by Muslims who wanted to convert them to Islam and marry them. These abductions have become a recurring phenomenon in Egypt.

The sensationalist zeal of some writers and self-proclaimed experts in eschatology is as big as their incapacity to get it right.