Persecution

WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. designation of Nigeria as an egregious violator of religious freedoms has not gone far enough to stem violence there, top persecution watchdogs said amid an intense uptick in attacks on Christians in the African nation.

WASHINGTON (BP) – Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela form a Latin American authoritarian triad where leaders exert religious persecution to maintain governmental control, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) reported Nov. 18.

PLATEAU, Nigeria (BP) -- Nigerian missionary and community activist Fred Williams recalls New York’s 9/11 not only because of the previously unthinkable terrorist attack. Sept. 11, 2001, was also the first time Islamic terrorists attacked his village in Plateau State, Nigeria.

WASHINGTON (BP) -- U.S. President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) Oct. 31 for tolerating religious freedom violations especially against Christians, and threatened sanctions and military force to discourage such persecution.

MEZCALA, Mexico (BP) -- A leading religious freedom advocacy group joined Christians in southern Mexico Oct. 17 demanding answers after the latest murder of a Catholic priest in the region torn by drug cartels.

WASHINGTON (BP) -- Chinese Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, among 22 pastors jailed this week in China on erroneous charges, lived in the U.S. with his wife Chunli Liu and their children before returning to China in 2007 to plant Zion Church.

BEIJING (BP) – China falsely claimed Oct. 13 to protect religious freedoms after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged the country’s government to release several pastors arrested in house church raids.

LOUISVILLE , Ky. (BP) – As retired International Mission Board missionaries Nik and Ruth Ripken speak in a variety of small group settings, churches and conferences, they desire to share practical insights with prospective missionaries about what to expect mentally, physically and spiritually.

LAGOS, Nigeria (RNS) — Ruth Abah, 28, no longer walks to her local church, St. Paul’s, which now lies in ashes. Instead, the mother of two locks her doors and prays with her children, fearful the next attack could come at any moment.

MAYUGE DISTRICT, Uganda (BP) – A Muslim convert who said he saw a vision of Christ while napping at a Ugandan mosque is recovering after his relatives beat him and destroyed his home, Morning Star News reported.