Newsfeed
Renewed crackdown on Christians in Iran underway
Author: Georgia Gilholy
Publication Date: 17/8/2023
Source: Catholic Herald
Britain is an increasingly impoverished society: spiritually and financially. Still, anyone born here has won the historic lottery relatively speaking. It is easy for us to forget that harsh persecution, especially of a religious type, is the global norm, not the exception.
10 years later, Aleppo’s Christian shepherds still missing
Author: Terry Mattingly
Publication Date: 8/7/2023
Source: Democrat Gazette
Metropolitan Paul Yazigi had no way to know that he was about to vanish into the chaos of the Turkish-Syrian border during the violent rise of the Islamic State.
More than 50 Christian converts arrested in Iranian cities
Publication Date: 18/7/2023
Source: Release International
More than 50 Christian converts have been arrested in five Iranian cities in July. And there are warnings that number could increase as fresh reports emerge.
The arrests occurred at the homes and house-churches of at least 51 Christians in Tehran and four other cities, Karaj, Rasht, Orumiyeh, and Aligoudarz. Many remain in custody, while some have been released on bail.
Syria’s president wants non-Muslim religions to help end his pariah status
Publication Date: 13/7/2023
Source: The Economist
In woods, playgrounds and stadiums across Syria, children and adults perform yoga routines. Their palms open in supplication, their arms flung back, they chant “Surya Namaskar “. It sounds like an Arabic blessing for Syria, but means “sun salutation” in Sanskrit. Instructors in Hindu monks’ robes preach the teachings of Shiva, an Indian god said to have founded the practice
Mother converted to Christianity from Islam; ‘Iran had problems’ says Yavarivafa, IOC Refugee program shuttler
Author: Shivani Naik
Publication Date: 3/7/2023
Source: The Indian Express
The biggest sacrifice Dorsa Yavarivafa has had to make to play badminton is being away from her family, especially her father who got her started out in the sport as a 10 year old. The sport has been a constant through all the tribulations of her refugee life though, and as a International Olympic Committee scholarship athlete, she hopes it will lead her to the Olympics.
President Assad Holds Meeting with Delegation of Heads of Christian Churches in Australia
Publication Date: 3/7/2023
Source: The Syrian Observer
On July 2, 2023, President Bashar al-Assad met with a delegation of heads of Christian Churches from Australia, including bishops from the Armenian Catholic, Armenian Orthodox, and Coptic Orthodox Churches.
Iranian state security cracks down on Christian converts
Author: David Goodwin
Publication Date: 24/7/2023
Source: Christian Today
A wave of raids by Iranian state security forces has seen over fifty Christian converts arrested, with local advocacy groups saying that the number might be as high as seventy.
The arrests were part of a series of raids and arbitrary detentions carried out over the past week that occurred over five cities.
From Iranian Muslim to Israeli Christian priest: The life of Daniel Dana
Author: Tali Farkas
Publication Date: 1/7/2023
Source: The Jerusalem Post
He set up an underground against the Khomeini regime, was sentenced to death three times and forced to flee from Iran for his life. He was born a Muslim, converted to Christianity but discovered that he is a Jew. As one who has undergone so many vicissitudes, Dr. Daniel Dana preaches “brotherhood of the monotheistic faiths” and hopes for the downfall of the Iranian regime.
Iranian pastor sent to prison over 1,000 miles from his home
Author: Anugrah Kumar
Publication Date: 17/7/2023
Source: The Christian Post
An Iranian pastor has been relocated to a prison over 1,000 miles from his residence in the country's southern region after he was recently arrested and facing contested accusations of undermining state security.
Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry gets boost from unlikely source: Christians
Author: Tal Heinrich
Publication Date: 28/6/2023
Source: All Arab News
For many decades, almost all tourists to Saudi Arabia were Muslim worshippers traveling to Mecca, Islam’s holiest city. Many of them went there to participate in the annual pilgrimage, known as the Hajj. The spiritual journey that started this week is required of all capable adult Muslim believers at least once in a lifetime.
