Christians persecuted

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.

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.

Almost six months since the United States and Israel waged war on Iran, Bishop Berardi talks about the life of the Church and the people in the Gulf as well as about the future of the mission and the Christian presence in the region. Despite joblessness among migrants, no priest has asked to leave.

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.

Father Bashar tells AsiaNews that he welcomes “any measure” to “protect our people” as long as it is useful and does not affect Christians. Yesterday, Israel’s military blocked entry to non-residents, a step that applies “only to Israelis, not to Palestinians”.

The church in Nazat is targeted. The radical group's leader issued a seven-day ultimatum to the parish priest to leave. Christian groups reported the incident to the police, to no avail. The bishop of Baruipur, who praises the missionaries' work, expressed his firm condemnation to AsiaNews.  

Human rights groups are shocked by the court’s decision. The girl had been rescued after her family filed a complaint. In court, she was threatened her with apostasy if she rejected Islam. Activist Ashiknaz Khokhar urges the authorities to vet documentary evidence to verify victims’ age.

After serving an 18-month sentence for the “public sale of religious books”, the former head of Zhejiang’s large Catholic community was welcomed by hundreds of the faithful. The authorities are exerting ever-greater pressure even on “official” communities, including a ban on minors entering churches. by Andrew LawChina28 July 2026

The inquiry into allegations that thousands of Church members joined political parties has now extended to the ruling Democratic Party. The religious movement's founder, 95-year-old Lee Man-hee, has been in pre-trial detention for about a month. This case continues to fuel divisions in South Korean society.

Four months after his resignation, the Patriarch Emeritus shares his reflections and hopes with AsiaNews. The tragedy of the Islamic State and the revocation of the patriarchal decree were the hardest moments. The joy of Pope Francis’s visit, and the days devoted to prayer and writing. “A martyred Church that has much to offer the universal Church”.