Tags

Detainment / Arrest

  • Christian Convert Sentenced to Ten Years in Prison
    A small group of Christians is on their knees, heads bowed in prayer.
    Christians in Iran.
    Photo: VOMC

    A Christian convert identified as Toomaj Aryan-Kia has been sentenced to ten years in prison for allegedly committing the following offenses: 1) "propaganda"; 2) collaborating with the "hostile governments" of Israel, the United Kingdom and United States; and 3) holding a membership with "anti-regime groups." Along with administering the recently applied prison sentence, Judge Mostafa Narimani banned the Christian man from having any affiliations with a group for an additional two years following his release. Although Toomaj has appealed the sentence, his request for a retrial was denied.

  • Coordinated Church Raids Continue Throughout China
    A large group of Chengdu Early Rain Church members are kneeling in prayer together.
    Christian worshippers in China.
    Photo: ChinaAid

    Recent incidents of police action against churches in China demonstrate the ongoing persecution of believers throughout this Communist nation. These raids are only the latest to occur amid the government's intensifying crackdown on Christianity. To learn more about the governmental opposition experienced by Christians in China, go to our country report.

  • Coordinated Raids on Beijing Church Meetings
    Beijing Zion Church members are gathered together, sitting on chairs.
    One of the Beijing Zion Church congregations.
    Photo: ChinaAid
     

    On the morning of October 20th, multiple branches of the Beijing Zion Church had gathered for their usual worship services when police and religious affairs officials simultaneously forced their way into the meetings. The identities of everyone present were recorded and 12 people, including pastors and church members, were taken into custody.

  • Bail Granted for Christians Facing Blasphemy Charges
    Zimran Asim is standing with his lawyer. There is a poster behind them which reads, "[Stand] up for your rights. The Voice Society."
    Zimran Asim with his lawyer.
    Photo: Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
     

    The previous week's Persecution & Prayer Alert reported on an unusual case in which bail was granted to Saima Masih, a Christian woman who was accused of blasphemy in Pakistan. (Read the previously published report.)While Saima has been freed from prison, she remains in danger from the avenging violence of militant vigilantes who are seeking to achieve what they falsely perceive as "justice." Remarkably, this past October, two similar blasphemy cases came before the Pakistani courts in which other accused Christians were also released on bail.

  • Preacher of Early Rain Church Faces Harassment
    Wu Wuqing
    Preacher Wu Wuqing
    Photo: ChinaAid
     

    Since December 2018, the Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, China, has been subjected to repeated raids and ongoing oppression from Communist Party authorities who seek to shut down the influential unregistered church. Though the church's pastor, Wang Yi, is serving a nine-year prison sentence, members of the church continue to boldly reach out with the Gospel message.

  • Pastor John Cao and Colleague Detained for Conducting Baptisms
    John Cao is baptizing a believer.
    Pastor John Cao baptizing a believer.
    Photo: ChinaAid
     

    On March 4th, Pastor John Cao was released from imprisonment in China after serving a seven-year sentence. Since his release, the pastor has longed to return to the United States, where he holds permanent residency, in order to reunite with his wife and family there. However, the Chinese government has prevented Pastor John from leaving the country by withholding his ID card and passport. (Read more.)

  • Military Officers Arrest Christian Refugees
    A group of men are standing together. They appear to be singing.
    Photo: VOMC
     

    Amid the ongoing civil war in Sudan, a group of over 100 Sudanese men, women and children travelled to the city of Shendi on the banks of the Nile River in search of refuge from the fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary group, RSF. There, the refugees – most of whom are members of the Sudanese Church of Christ – sought shelter in an affiliated church building.

  • Christians Accused of Forcibly Converting Children
    A woman and two children are looking through a small bag of goods. Other women are seated around them.
    Photo: VOMC
     

    Recently, 11 female evangelists from the southern states of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh travelled from Hyderabad (the capital of Telangana state) to Bhagwanpur (a town located within the northeastern state of Bihar) in order to spread the "Good News" of the Gospel in villages surrounding the area.

  • Pastor Sentenced for Alleged Forced Conversions
    Three men are standing on a shaded pathway. One of the men has his Bible open and is speaking with the other two.
    A pastor in India sharing God's Word.
    Photo: VOM International
     

    A church leader in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has been convicted on false charges of forcing Hindus to convert to Christianity. On September 25th, a court in Jhabua sentenced Pastor Vikas Nimach to five years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of over $1,600 CAD. His legal team intends to appeal the recent verdict, claiming that the trial lawyer mishandled the proceedings.

  • Christian Woman Convicted of Blasphemy
    A woman is holding a cell phone.
     

    In July 2021, Shagufta Kiran was arrested after she forwarded a message in a WhatsApp group chat. The Christian woman was charged with intentionally offending religious feelings and insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad. While awaiting the court process, the accused believer has remained in custody since the time of her arrest. Following the allegations, Shagufta's family received constant threats. As a result, her husband Rafique and their children have been forced to relocate multiple times in search of safety. For previously published reports on this believer's case, see this page.