An English-language commentary published by the state news agency Xinhua stated that the U.S. should focus on its own problems, pointing to the unrest that occurred at a white nationalist weekend rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The rally ended in violence after a car plowed into the counter-protesters, killing one woman and injuring 19. “Against the…
Unsurprisingly, at the release of the State Department’s annual report on religion freedom last week, journalists peppered a senior State Department official with questions about how high-minded rhetoric on the importance of religious freedom abroad squares with Trump’s promise to prioritize Christian refugees, his efforts to enact a so-called “Muslim ban,” silence in response to increased attacks…
“As we make progress in defeating ISIS and denying them their caliphate, their terrorist members have and continue to target multiple religions and ethnic groups for rape, kidnapping, enslavement and even death,” said Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson, referring to the Islamic State, in brief remarks Tuesday morning at the State Department. He went on…
(AFP) — Syriac Orthodox Christians in Syria’s northeastern city of Hasakeh celebrated the inauguration of the community’s new bishop on Saturday, four years after the last one left the country. Six years of conflict have ravaged Syria and displaced more than half of its population, including millions who have become refugees. Christians in some parts…
VAN, Turkey – Some 500 Christian converts from Iran have sought asylum in Turkey following what they say is persecution by the authorities. A man and his family who converted to Christianity from Islam say they used to practice their faith in secret. Of those Rudaw talked to in Turkey’s Van, close to the Iranian…
The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Tuesday saved seven Christians from ISIS militants in Raqqa province. The SDF-linked Syriac Military Council (MFS) said on Tuesday that the rescued civilians were from Syriac and Armenian origins, adding that they are originally from Raqqa city in northeastern Syria. “Our forces have saved two Armenian families today,” said…
On the twelfth day, they ran out of food and water. Staying put was no longer an option. “Come what may, because these people were going to die of hunger – rather than ISIS bullets or military bombs – I had to make a decision,” said Mr Norodin. “After dawn prayers, I woke them up…
CAIRO — Egypt’s interior ministry said Thursday its forces had killed three jihadists suspected of involvement in deadly attacks against the country’s Coptic Christian minority. An officer also died in a shootout in the southern province of Qena on Tuesday, security officials said. Egypt is battling a local affiliate of the Islamic State terror group,…
The full force of a shotgun blast hit Williams in the chest. He crumpled to the floor, awash in blood. “I’m hit, Steve,” he cried to his friend. Colter ducked inside a side room. After a few moments he gingerly peered out. “I began to holler: ‘Maurice, Maurice. If you can hear me, say so’,”…
A Cameroon bishop who was found dead in June was killed for his opposition to homosexual clergy, a local priest has alleged. Bishop Jean Marie Benoit Bala of Bafia was found dead on June 2, 2017, in mysterious circumstances – his body discovered in a river four miles from his abandoned car after he went…
