Pastor John Cao was accused and imprisoned in 2017, for “organizing illegal border crossings”, while providing humanitarian aid to the Wa people in Myanmar .

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.

Hundreds of thousands took the streets again. “We urge the Chief Executive to respond to the strong demands of the public to withdraw the Bill”, Hong Kong Christian Council said.

Christians were dragged to the village leaders and forced to sit and bow to the goddess idol. Police decline to act, sources say.

The only thing the Kim family has done, says Eunman Jeon, the son of North Korean Christians, is to “change the name of God and put his own. That is the system of government of the country”.

Representatives of Assemblies of God and the Cuban Evangelical League were stopped at the airport when they tried to travel to Washington D.C. The government reacts to the newly formed Alliance of Cuban Evangelical Churches.

Former President Omar al-Bashir has been jailed and the military and opposition parties have reached an agreement for a transition period which should culminate in democratic elections.

Publishers warn that the proposed increase of tariffs to China could result in a Bible shortage in the United States. There are “no substantial domestic manufacturing alternatives” to respond to the demand.

The Christian workers demanded asylum in Germany after their church activities were countered with regular verbal and physical aggressions.

Systemic persecution and its implications.

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 Foreign Affairs Office releases the long-awaited Independent Review on Persecuted Christians. It was commissioned by Jeremy Hunt, who could become the next Prime Minister.

Uighurs in Western China are targeted in what could be a deliberate policy to “raise a new generation that has been cut off from original roots and religious beliefs”, according to an in-depth journalistic investigation.

After protesters stormed Hong Kong’s legislative building, Christian leaders wrote a letter asking to “boycott any act that harms peace, and to express their views in a rational and peaceful manner”.

Separately, another judge fines owner of land where church was meeting in a tent.

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”.

Another massive demonstration is expected for Friday. “We seek God's justice and mercy to fill our land”, says Fellowship of Evangelical Students representative.

The coalition brings together Christian leaders and human rights campaigners. Kenneth Bae, the evangelical pastor who was detained by the regime of Kim Jong-un for two years, is one of its members.

Seven big evangelical denominations take a step forward to create their own association as they don’t feel represented by the officially approved Council of Churches of Cuba (CIC).

Far East Broadcasting Company radio signal will be “unblockable by North Korean regime and reach the entire country with the message of Jesus Christ”.

The resolution, approved by consensus, hopes to “help combat hate crimes and acts of violence related to religion or belief, and further strengthen inter-religious dialogue”.

Citing a law that requires authorization for non-Muslim places of worship, authorities in North-central Algeria ordered the closure of the church and its Bible school.

According to the Observatory for Religious Freedom and Conscience, these incidents grew by 20% in 2018.

What is the attitude of the parties / candidates towards freedom of religion for all, including in public? How will they make sure that people of all faiths and none can live together as good neighbours?

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