South Asia

Three years on from the most serious wave of violence against Christians in Pakistan in recent years, the community in Faisalabad has taken to the streets once more. In July, a man was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment after footage showed him demolishing churches. However, the majority of the suspects remain at large.

A Joint Parliamentary Committee is set to review a bill amending the rules affecting many NGOs. The All India Christian Council is urging lawmakers to heed schools, hospitals, and charities. Cardinal Gracias speaks out against the risks the bill poses for many NGOs.

The body of Billal Hossain, who went missing on 8 August, was found buried near an indigenous Catholic village. Nineteen people were held for questioning, but the circumstances of the murder remain unclear. Meanwhile, several Garo families were attacked and their homes ransacked.

The violence that broke out in late July has spread to Madhesh. In the lowland bordering India, symbols and the language of Indian nationalism are increasingly visible, while the secularism enshrined in the 2015 Constitution is being challenged by movements calling for the return to a Hindu state.

After fleeing Afghanistan, Farid (not his real name) arrived in Switzerland in late 2023, where he obtained asylum after a long process. Today he studies and works as an electrician and in his free time climbs mountains with other refugees thanks to the Peaks4All organisation. Meanwhile, in Mazar-e-Sharif, his mother and three sisters live under the Taliban who came back to power five years ago.

In Lahore, Christian artist Alyas Rahmat has been using community performances to speak out about women's rights, early marriage, minorities, and peace for 25 years. But in Sindh and Quetta, he has also faced threats and pressures.

In addition to Russia, Armenia’s prime minister is looking to China and India to boost the country’s development. New Delhi plays an important role in military-industrial and security matters. China is looking for Armenian raw materials. In the background, ties with the European Union (along with the United States) remain the primary political objective.

Arun Pannalal, 75, president of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum, is accused of offending Hindu religious sentiments. Human rights groups slam the political use of laws against religious incitement. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting on the Christian minority in the state.

Milinda Edirisinghe, founder of the Gemological Report of Ceylon (GRC) in Colombo, is behind it. The instrument reduces the time it takes to study and evaluate a gemstone. The precious metals sector is among the most lucrative in the country. Complete digital documentation offers buyers greater guarantees.

The first riot broke out last night in the Welikada Prison, a maximum-security facility on the outskirts of Colombo, resulting in three reported deaths and a dozen people hospitalised. Threats have been directed at members of the Prisoners' Rights Protection Committee. The Minister of Public Security announces new measures.

For the first time, a Dalit candidate wins top place in entrance examination to the country's most prestigious medical schools. Meanwhile, the government promises to reform the controversial admissions system following student protests. In the background, the debate rages on over reserved quotas and meritocracy in India.

In Bandarban, students and residents are calling for urgent healthcare reforms, as a countrywide measles outbreak persists. Protests reflect the pain of losing loved ones. Caritas is committed to addressing healthcare gaps.