Open Doors News

• Algerian Faces Five Years in Prison for Sharing Christian Faith Wednesday, December 5, 2012
  Accusers who say an Algerian Christian insulted Islam provided no evidence to a judge hearing the Christian’s appeal of his original sentence. Karim Siaghi, a convert to Christianity, was sentenced...
• Syria: Christians Targeted for Their Politics or Their Faith? Monday, December 3, 2012
  A part of the Christian community in Syria has been actively supporting President Assad, thus being an actor in the civil war. But some Syrian Christians say a series of incidents recently points...
• Pakistani Court Drops Blasphemy Charges Against 14-Year-Old Rimsha Masih Tuesday, November 20, 2012
  The case against Rimsha Masih, the teenage Pakistani Christian girl, has today been dropped by the court in the Pakistani capital Islamabad. "This is the first case of its kind when a person...
• Egypt: Brief Salafi Occupation of Coptic Land Part of Larger Problem, Copts Say Wednesday, November 14, 2012
  For about 24 hours, members of the Coptic Church had to reckon with a group of Salafi Muslims who insisted Christians had no right to a piece of land in the Shoubra el Kheima district of northern...
• Egypt's Copts Can't Rely on New Pope to Secure Their Rights Thursday, November 8, 2012
  To learn more about Bishop Tawadros and what his selection means for Egypt’s Christians, Open Doors News spoke at length with Youssef Sidhom, chairman of Watani, a news website and weekly newspaper...
• Nigerian Christians on Front Lines Vow to Stay Despite 40 'Barbaric' Student Deaths Tuesday, October 23, 2012
  "Despite these circumstances the church will hold on to God and will triumph; we are not going to retaliate," a local Mubi church leader said. "We want to display Christ-likeness even when they...
• Nairobi Church Stands Strong After Grenade Kills Boy, Injures Others Thursday, October 11, 2012
  On Sept. 30, an explosive device was hurled at the Sunday school building of St. Polycarp Anglican Church in Nairobi, killing a 9-year-old boy and injuring eight other children.
• Rimsha and Family Will Stay in Pakistan, Lawyer Says Wednesday, October 10, 2012
  Rimsha Masih and her family will remain in Pakistan after her legal ordeal is over, one of her lawyers says. The teenage Pakistani girl, who was arrested in August on suspicion of desecrating...
• From Africa to Asia, Offended Muslims Vent Anger on Churches Friday, September 28, 2012
  As anger over internet video "Innocence of the Muslims" reverberates from Africa to Asia, it can be difficult to distinguish between video-inspired backlash against Christians and the...
• Perpetrators of Turkey's 'Malatya Massacre' Put on Trial Thursday, September 20, 2012
  Nineteen suspects accused of inciting the brutal 2007 murders of three Christians in eastern Turkey went on trial before Malatya’s Third Criminal Court in early September.
• Pope Urges Peace as Muslim Protests Continue Monday, September 17, 2012
  Pope Benedict started a visit to Lebanon in the Middle East on Friday, as angry demonstrations and attacks on Western interests continued to spread across the region and into Asia.
• Pakistan: 14-Year-Old Girl Released on Bail into Protective Custody Friday, September 7, 2012
  A court has ordered that Rimsha Masih, the 14-year-old accused of blasphemy, is to be released into protective custody, on bail security of approximately $10,500.
• Pakistan: Dramatic Turn in Blasphemy Case Prompts Heated Debate Thursday, September 6, 2012
  An unexpected twist in the Rimsha Masih blasphemy case appears to have paved the way for her freedom from apparently false charges of desecrating the Quran. In the meantime, the case has triggered...
• Pakistani Christians Worry About 'the Next Rimsha' Tuesday, September 4, 2012
  The story of Rimsha Masih, the 14-year-old girl accused of burning pages from the Quran, has shaken Christian families across Pakistan, and has re-ignited national debate on the blasphemy law.
• Talk of Violence Against Jailed Pakistani Teen Worries Her Lawyer Friday, August 31, 2012
  Confident on Wednesday of Rimsha Masih’s release, her lawyer was apprehensive Thursday after a prosecutor hinted strongly at the likelihood of violence if she is freed.
• Pakistan: Teen Accused of Blasphemy Will Leave Jail, But Can't Go Home Thursday, August 30, 2012
  Rimsha Masih, the young Christian girl whose case has renewed international debate about Pakistan’s notorious anti-blasphemy laws, is likely to be cleared of the blasphemy charge against her, but...
• Murder of Nigerian Christian Senator, Physician Sends Shockwave Through Community Friday, July 27, 2012
  The death of Senator Gyang Dantong, a member of the National Assembly, reverberated through Nigeria’s struggle to hold itself together.
• Indian Christians Forced Into Hindu Worship, Driven From Homes Wednesday, July 18, 2012
  Hindu extremists forced 15 Christians to participate in Hindu worship rituals, then beat them up and rousted them from their village.