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Iraq to disarm pro-Iranian militias to avoid war with the US (and Israel)
by Dario Salvi

Speaking to AsiaNews, Jordanian scholar Al Sabaileh says that reports that several Shia groups in Iraq plan to disarm are likely accurate. US pressure and the fear that Iraq might become another battleground like Syria, Lebanon and Yemen have been decisive. But with the end of the armed struggle, the militias’ political weight will not be the same in upcoming October elections.

| 11/04/2025
| IRAQ – IRAN
 
Parish priest in Latakia: we live in fear, Alawites (and Christians) want to flee

Brother Fadi Azar, a Franciscan from Jordan, has been a parish priest for five years in the coastal city, once an Assad stronghold. He talked to the Terrasanta online magazine about his fear that the civil war might start up again. In his testimony, he talks about the most tragic phases of the revolt repressed in blood, with thousands of deaths. Talks between Turkey and Israel are underway to avert an armed clash in Syria.

| 10/04/2025
| SYRIA – ISRAEL – TURKEY
 
Archbishop of Nagpur appeal for peace after violence breaks out between Muslims and Hindus
by Nirmala Carvalho

More than 50 people have been arrested in the wake of communal violence that included several vehicles and houses vandalised. The authorities imposed a curfew imposed in some areas of the city in Maharashtra. Hindu nationalists want to remove the tomb of a Mughal ruler. Rumours that a copy of the Qur'an was burnt sparked a violent a reaction by Muslims. Archbishop Gonsalves urges respect for everyone, and warns against spreading “rumours and false news.”

| 18/03/2025
| INDIA
 
Kuala Lumpur: radio satire triggers sectarian tensions between Muslims and Hindus
by Joseph Masilamany

Hostile and derogatory comments inflame the climate in the country during the holy month of Ramadan (and during Lent). For the police, these are events that threaten ‘national security, economic stability and racial harmony’. The characteristic rituals of the Hindu festival of Thaipusam and the Kavadi Attam dance are in the crosshairs.

| 14/03/2025
| MALAYSIA
 
Tehran sentences three Christian converts to 40 years in prison, one a pregnant woman

Abbas Soori, Mehran Shamloui and Narges Nasri, about halfway through her pregnancy, have been sentenced without extenuating circumstances. Among the charges: ‘activities contrary to Islamic law’, belonging to ‘opposition groups’ and ‘propaganda against the state’. In addition, additional penalties including fines, deprivation of civil rights and a ban on travelling abroad. Somayeh Rajabi released on bail of 40 thousand dollars.

| 13/03/2025
| IRAN
 
Punjab, arrests and violence: a Ramadan of persecution for the Ahmadis
by Shafique Khokhar

Last week in Sialkot, 22 members of the community were imprisoned even though they were innocent, following pressure from Islamic extremists. In Sargodha another 23 were put in jail because they were ‘caught’ praying in a house during the holy month for Muslims. Minarets vandalised by the police in Bahawalnagar. Ahmadi leaders appeal to the State to demand protection and respect for their rights.

| 13/03/2025
| PAKISTAN
 
Syria: Archbishop Mourad calls for UN peacekeepers to stop internal violence and Israeli attacks
by Dario Salvi

After days of violence and more than a thousand dead, including some Christians, the al-Sharaa government has declared the operation against the Alawites on the west coast of the country over. Damascus also signed a merger agreement with the Kurds. For the archbishop of Homs, peace requires an international presence and the end of sanctions. So far, the authorities have not fulfilled their promises.

| 11/03/2025
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
Christians among the victims of a massacre in al-Sharaa's 'new Syria'

Scores of Christians – priests, mothers, children – were caught up in the violence triggered by a revolt that broke out in Assad's former stronghold. In a message, Syrian patriarchs bemoan the “dangerous escalation of violence, torture and murder” against “innocent civilians, including women and children”. Syria’s Islamist president makes a belated appeal for unity. Fr Jihad calls for “fasting and prayers” for peace.

| 10/03/2025
| SYRIA
 
West Java: Islamic radicals against celebrating Ash Wednesday
by Mathias Hariyadi

Extremists target a facility built by a Catholic priest in Arcamanik claiming that it should be exclusively for social purposes, not religion. In fact, it has been used for some time for weekly services, although it is open to other activities. As the local Catholic community grows, so do its needs, which is why local Church leaders want the building to be officially designate as a place of worship.

| 06/03/2025
| INDONESIA
 
Hind Kabawat’s mission in the spirit of Fr Dall'Oglio for an inclusive Syria
by Dario Salvi

AsiaNews interviewed the only woman, a Catholic, on the Committee of Seven set up by President Ahmad al-Sharaa. Amid sanctions and economic crisis, the challenges of reconstruction affect the country and its people. For her, “Syria is not a single thing: Christians, Muslims, every ethnic group must be part of the process.” And “women should be at least 30 per cent or even more in the various bodies, starting with the Constituent Assembly.”

| 04/03/2025
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
Malaysia greenlights controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik
by Joseph Masilamany

Wanted in India for money laundering, he now can preach in public after a ban imposed five years ago for making incendiary sermons. Malaysian political leaders and human rights activists urge the government to reconsider the decision. His attacks against the believers of other religions risk undermining harmony and coexistence.

| 25/02/2025
| MALAYSIA – INDIA
 
International cricket returns to Pakistan amid massive security measures

The last time the country hosted such an event was in 1996. It was banished in 2009 after terrorists targeted Sri Lanka’s team, wounding six players. Imposing security measures are in place with the deployment of 20,000 men and snipers on rooftops. Only India refuses to play in the country with matches scheduled in the United Arab Emirates.

| 19/02/2025
| PAKISTAN
 
Mosul regains its minaret. Abp. Moussa: a new culture, fanaticism will not return.
by Dario Salvi

The al-Nuri mosque has been restored to its former glory thanks to the work financed by UNESCO together with the restoration of the Al-Tahera church. A project that lasted seven years, for a total value of over 100 million dollars. The Chaldean archbishop: ‘significant progress in education, healthcare and infrastructure’. The memory of the Pope's visit. For Christians, school and work are a priority.

| 19/02/2025
| IRAQ
 
Turkey, nationalism and Islam: the two engines of anti-Christian persecution
by Dario Salvi

The report by Open Doors ranks the country among the top 50 in the world with the most cases of abuse, violence, targeted attacks and murders. The minority is the “most persecuted” and in the last year the phenomenon has increased. Protestant communities and historical groups such as Chaldeans, Armenians and Assyrians are in the crosshairs. The “Grey Wolves” in schools to convey clearly neo-Ottoman programmes.

| 11/02/2025
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
'Honour killings' reach epidemic porportions with one woman killed every two days

The latest case in recent days, a 30-year-old woman killed by her husband for wanting to leave over constant domestic violence. Another young woman shot by her father and brother while she was holding her small child in her arms. According to some studies, more than 130 women have been killed since last March. At least 74,000 reports of abuse and violence have been filed, but the real number could be 100 times higher.

| 08/02/2025
| IRAN
 
Iraq passes ‘child bride’ law amid sectarian tensions
by Dario Salvi

The ‘Personal Status Law’ approved without a parliamentary vote alarms activists and civil society. The fear of a ‘disintegration’ of the family and a step backwards in the role (and rights) of women. Iraqi scholar Saad Salloum: ‘Barter’ between the three main political forces Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish and linked to the interests of each'. Card. Sako: ‘Shocking’ norm that violates ‘freedom’.

| 28/01/2025
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
Aleppo parish priest warns not to forget Syria too quickley
by p. Bahjat Karakach*

Fr. Karakach reaches out to AsiaNews, sharing that the country still has ‘a long way to go’ to become a true ‘rule of law, stable and democratic state’. Among the positives are an open economy and conflict resolution with neighbours, concerns about ‘political freedom’ and an ‘Islamist’ matrix. Summary executions of at least 35 former Assad officials over the weekend.

| 27/01/2025
| SYRIA
 
Controversy surrounds possible repatriation of Indonesian Jemaah Islamiah leader
by Mathias Hariyadi

Hambali, who masterminded the attacks in Bali and against Christians, is currently held in Guantanamo. A s part of a policy of repatriating Indonesians incarcerated abroad, Indonesian authorities envisage bringing him home after his group said it was disbanding. Activists argue that helping jailed migrant workers come home and leniency towards a convicted terrorist are not the same.

| 20/01/2025
| INDONESIA
 
Cecilia Sala and the thousands of 'forgotten' foreigners in Iranian prisons

Westerners jailed by the Islamic Republic, who are rightly an international issue, are but a fraction of the more than 8,000 non-Iranians jailed in Iran, 95 per cent of them migrants from Afghanistan. More than 70 Afghans were hanged in 2024. Other countries of origin of prisoners include Pakistan, Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan and India.

| 03/01/2025
| IRAN
 
Aleppo parish priest: Christmas of hope, amid packed churches and no incidents
by Fr. Bahjat Karakach

The testimony to AsiaNews of Fr. Karakach, who speaks of a ‘very special’ celebration amid ‘reassurances’ from the new authorities and ‘massive security presence’. Compared to the past, there was no sign of celebrations on national TV. In some cities, ‘unpleasant’ episodes such as the burning of a Christmas tree, set up again with the help of Muslims. The Jubilee Year a source of courage.

| 27/12/2024
| SYRIA
 
Patton: From Christmas to the Jubilee, a year of ‘hope’ for the Christians of the Holy Land
by Dario Salvi

The provincial of the Franciscans custodians of the Holy Sites speaks with AsiaNews about the festivities once again without pilgrims, whose return is ‘linked to the end of the conflict’. The focus is on events in neighbouring Syria, amid ‘suspended’ or ‘moderately positive’ judgements. The Custody ‘increasingly international’ with ‘about sixty’ countries present. The ‘debt’ of Western Christians with their brothers in the Holy Land.

| 24/12/2024
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
Syria and Western indifference loom over Christmas for Chaldean Patriarch
by Dario Salvi

Card. Sako speakes of Iraqi Christians' preparations for the festivities as they watch events unfold across teh border with trepidation. The threat of a new Isis, and teh need to be ‘prudent’ and evaluating ‘facts’ not speeches. they need for a Syrian state based ‘on citizenship’ and fight against ‘all sectarianism’. The Christmas wish for a document between the Pope and the Shiite leaders of Iran and Iraq on the example of ‘human brotherhood’.

| 23/12/2024
| IRAQ
 
Crosses destroyed and a horrendous murder: All is not well for Syria’s Christians
by Dario Salvi

In Damascus, threatening words against the Christian minority are spotted in a car. In Hama, someone using a Kalashnikov fired at the Greek Orthodox archbishopric. In a Christian village, a couple was killed during a "burglary" that ended with the man being beheaded. Source tells AsiaNews that Greek Orthodox are targeted because they are considered close to the Russians. Trappist nuns of A'zer note that in their area there is respect, but warn that releasing common criminals has created problems. Bishop Mourad: Beware of news on social media. 

| 19/12/2024
| SYRIA
 
From Guantanamo to prison in Malaysia: the repatriation of two of the Bali bombers
by Joseph Masilamany

They are 48-year-old Mohammed Farik Amin and 47-year-old Mohammed Nazir Lep, who spent - without trial - 18 years in the Cuban prison. They will now have to serve five more after the proceedings in which they pleaded guilty and cooperated with justice. They will undergo a rehabilitation programme.

| 19/12/2024
| MALAYSIA
 
A Christmas of hope and fear for Syrian Christians
by p. Bahjat Karakach*

 Aleppo's parish priests sits down with AsiaNews: in some cases women are asked to wear the veil or drivers to remove symbols such as the cross, but there are also examples of solidarity. And calls from Muslims to rebuild the nation ‘together’. The call for a ‘democratic and civil state’ in which all ‘citizens’ have equal ‘rights and duties’.

| 18/12/2024
| SYRIA
 
Syrian churches beyond Assad: Rebuilding from citizenship
by Fady Noun

Syrian Christians wait with bated breath fearing the introduction of Sharia law and waiting for a new constitution. The Maronite Patriarch and the bishops of the various Churches defend the idea of citizenship and equal rights. The self-criticism of the Maronite Archbishop of Damascus who admits a ‘lack of courage’ in ‘telling the truth’ about the atrocities committed by the deposed regime.

| 16/12/2024
| LEBANON - SYRA
 
Aleppo parish priest calls for Constitution ‘for all Syrians exhausted’ by the regime
by p. Bahjat Karakach*

Leader al-Jawlani spoke from the historic Umayyad mosque. UN Security Council meeting today. The apostolic nuncio calls for the lifting of sanctions, a ‘burden’ that ‘weighs on the poor people’. Fr Karakach's testimony to AsiaNews: ‘We hope that what happened will unblock the political situation’. Christians ‘citizens who have rights and duties equal to all’.

| 09/12/2024
| SYRIA
 
Rumours of appointment as governor fake news, says Vicar of Aleppo

In a message on social media, Monsignor Jallouf denied the ‘news’ that had been spread online that Hts had entrusted him with the leadership of the city. The prelate speaks of ‘lies’ and ‘shame’, reiterating that ‘meddling in politics is not the Church's mission’. To AsiaNews, the parish priest speaks of a ‘disoriented and confused’ community that must be ‘encouraged’. Rebels at the gates of Homs.

| 06/12/2024
| SYRIA
 
Famine looms in wake of bombing, warns Aleppo's parish priest
by Dario Salvi

Fr. Bahjat Karakach speaks to AsiaNews from the northern city now controlled by opposition groups led by Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. The anti-Assad front is targeting Hama, while in the conquered territories it promises protection for minorities. The parish is the distribution point for aid, but resources are limited. A people ‘exhausted by years of suffering and stalemate’.

| 05/12/2024
| SYRIA
 
About 100,000 Kurds flee Aleppo, the third front in the war between rebels and Assad

The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) are forced to pull back From Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh, and Tel Rifaat from advancing pro-Turkish forces. HTS promises of "inclusiveness" find few takers. Meanwhile, government forces and allied militias are trying to push back rebel advance towards Hama.

| 04/12/2024
| SYRIA
 
Assault on consulate in India sparks protests and tensions between Dhaka and Dehli
by Sumon Corraya

Hundreds of students have taken to the streets in recent hours to demonstrate against the attack on the diplomatic representation, with serious damage to the building. Earlier there had been demonstrations in India against the arrest of Hindu leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in the neighbouring country. The two governments tighten control and security measures.

| 04/12/2024
| BANGLADESH - INDIA
 
Bishop Bizzeti: a ‘Turkish Church’ fulfilment of mission in Vicariate of Anatolia
by Dario Salvi

Yesterday the Pontiff accepted the prelate's request for resignation, appointing auxiliary Msgr Ilgit as apostolic administrator. Satisfaction for the growth of a reality ‘of Turkish language and culture’. The earthquake of February 2023 still an open wound, need to rebuild from ‘living stones’. The testimony of refugees and displaced persons who broaden horizons on a ‘cultural, spiritual’ level.

| 26/11/2024
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
Nuncio to Damascus calls Fr Dall'Oglio a 'courageous voice' of dialogue in forgotten Syria
by Dario Salvi

Card Zenari remembers the founder of Mar Musa on his seventieth birthday. The monastery remains his “most living” legacy. The tragedy of the missing is compounded by that of refugees and the displaced, the ongoing war, and last year’s devastating earthquake. Increasingly frequent, Israeli raids have cut links with Lebanon which are an “umbilical cord". Pope Francis’s proclamation of the martyrs of Damascus is a “breath of fresh air”.

| 15/11/2024
| SYRIA – VATICAN
 
Pope: saints, like Mother Teresa, are brothers and sisters 'witnesses of shining paths'

On the Solemnity of All Saints and the proclamation of the Beatitudes as the "path of holiness", the pontiff stressed how war is "ignoble, because it is the triumph of the lie". He called on the faithful to pray for Chad hit by a grave terrorist attack and the Valencian community overwhelmed by storm Dana, a huge "environmental catastrophe". He also turned his thoughts to the "153 women and children massacred in Gaza in recent days.”

| 01/11/2024
| VATICAN
 
Activists and NGOs against Mufti Bill: violates rights of Malaysians, Muslims and non-Muslims
by Joseph Masilamany

The controversial legislation presented for second and third reading in the current parliamentary session. Opponents reject without appeal the text that would grant broad powers to an unelected but ministerial-appointed official and turn a fatwa (also for non-Muslims) into law. For the promoters, it aims to define the role and responsibilities of the mufti in the federal territories.

| 16/10/2024
| MALAYSIA - ISLAM
 
Card. Sako: in Middle East 'weapons and disorder' win out over timid international mediation

The Chaldean Patriarch speaks to AsiaNews of a “worrying” situation especially for the civilian population, which pays “the highest price.” Mediations stagnate and the “economics of war” continue to prevail, triggering on other elements of crisis, such as demographics and climate. The role of Shiite militias in the Iraqi scenario and the “scandal” that hit the Chaldean Church recently.

| 15/10/2024
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
Post-Hasina Bangladesh sees radical trend with black flags and pro-Caliphate slogans
by Sumon Corraya

The return to freedom of expression, following the fall of the former prime minister, opened up space for extremist movements and groups. In recent street demonstrations, Islamic State-like banners have appeared. Police and law enforcement agencies are in action to avert an extremist escalation, but there are concerns among minorities, including Christians.

| 11/10/2024
| BANGLADESH
 
Vicar of Arabia calls for re-opening of Yemen mission, as soon as possible
by Dario Salvi

Msgr. Martinelli told AsiaNews that it is ‘urgent’ to relaunch the Church's ‘presence’ in the country tormented by conflict and violence. The testimony of the nuns, the work of Caritas and the local Christian reality. The Houthi missiles towards Israel, the neutrality of the Gulf and the fragile balance with Riyadh and Tehran. The Abrahamic House a model of encounter, confrontation and prayer.

| 08/10/2024
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
New cardinal in Tehran, in the footsteps of Saint Francis as an 'instrument of peace'
by Dario Salvi

AsiaNews met with Archbishop Mathieu on the sidelines of the Synod, a few hours before the announcement of his elevation to the rank of cardinal. The appointment shows the pope's "incessant desire" to "weave and strengthen bonds with all peoples." The Iranian people are "welcoming", not just " chadors and beards” as portrayed in the West.

| 07/10/2024
| VATICAN - IRAN
 
Punjab: doctors refuse to treat seriously ill elderly because they are Christians
by Shafique Khokhar

The incident took place at the Civil Hospital in Sahiwal, Punjab. According to a complaint by Yousaf Masih Gill, the parent was refused urgent surgery by the doctors on confessional grounds. A health worker said: ‘If I had known earlier that you are a Christian, I would not have touched your father’. The family's protest and the health management's apology.

| 04/10/2024
| PAKISTAN
 
Blasphemy remains an emergency in Pakistan as summary executions and extrajudicial killings continue
by Shafique Khokhar

Three cases shake the conscience of the country and revive the issue of abuses linked to blasphemy rules. In Sindh, police kill a doctor investigated for blasphemous posts; a suspect is killed by an agent in Quetta, and his relatives forgive the murderer; a Christian woman is sentenced to death for messages on WhatsApp.

| 20/09/2024
| PAKISTAN
 
Executions, arrests and repression: Iran two years after the death of Mahsa Amini
by Dario Salvi

Two years on from the murder of the young Kurdish woman at the hands of the morality police, the authorities still impose silence and censorship. Her family, confined to house arrest, iis threatened with mprisonment in the case of public ceremonies. Fragility and divisions in the opposition favour the ayatollahs. The new president promises more freedom on the internet and hijab.

| 17/09/2024
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
Istanbul: Chechen Isis militiaman linked to Saint Mary's attack apprehended

Viskhan Soltamatov allegedly masterminded the assault on the Franciscan church and supplied the group members with weapons. The arrest took place during a joint operation at the weekend. Up to 42 people are on trial, of whom at least 31 are already in custody. Turkish Christians the most persecuted minority in the country.

| 16/09/2024
| TURKEY
 
Catholic MP questioned over criticism of mandatory Hahal certification
by Joseph Masilamany

Teresa Kok, a six-time MP with the Democratic Action Party, which is part of the ruling coalition, is in the crosshairs for questioning a proposal seen as too burdensome for small businesses. During questioning, she stressed that she did not “disrespect Islam”.

| 13/09/2024
| MALAYSIA
 
More than 200,000 pilgrims visit the Mariamabad Shrine, tougher than extremist attacks
by Shafique Khokhar

The local Church celebrated the 75th anniversary of the first pilgrimage to the Marian place of worship and the inauguration of the grotto of the Virgin. At least six worshippers died in road accidents, while police foiled an attack by a group of Islamic extremists. Some observers call for greater road safety and better facilities for pilgrims, including sanitary facilities.

| 10/09/2024
| PAKISTAN
 
Women's faces covered and beards for men: Taliban sharia is now law

Enforcement is overseen by the Ministry of Morality. Over the past year more than 13,000 people detained, half of them held for 24 hours. Specific rules are also provided for the media, such as a ban on showing images of living beings. Sanctions include counseling, warnings of divine punishment, verbal threats, confiscation of property, and detention.

| 24/08/2024
| AFGHANISTAN
 
UN report: minorities, including Christians, targeted by regime during pro-Mahsa Amini protests

A new report by a UN fact-finding mission exposes the repression endured by Iran’s ethnic and religious minorities. In the Islamic Republic, persecution on gender grounds intersects with persecution on ethnic and religious grounds. Even children are victims of particularly serious violence. The hijab hides “gender apartheid”.

| 10/08/2024
| IRAN - UNITED NATIONS
 
Card Sako: 10 years after the Islamic State, Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders ‘must stand together’ against hatred
by card. Louis Raphael Sako*

In early August 2014, the advance by the Islamic State sparked the great Christian flight from Mosul and the Nineveh Plain. This tragedy is still etched in the victims’ memory and only 60 per cent have returned to their lands. The Chaldean primate calls for a move away from "fear and despair" by stopping the conflicts that ravage the region.

| 09/08/2024
| IRAQ
 
Attacks on two churches foiled a month before the Pope's visit
by Mathias Hariyadi

Two places of worship in Malang were the targets. Police dismiss claims that the planned attack was linked to Francis’s upcoming apostolic trip to Asia-Pacific. Three people were arrested, including one man known as "Hok" suspected of affiliation with the extremist group Daulah Islamiyah. Explosive materials used to make the "Mother of Satan" bomb were confiscated.

| 06/08/2024
| INDONESIA – VATICAN
 
Iraq, the return of Isis in a crescendo of attacks. Card. Sako meets the premier

In the first six months of the year, the Islamic State has already carried out 153 operations and is reportedly trying to ‘rebuild itself’. The jihadists' strength in acting and carrying out their objectives is worrying. The prime minister praises the ‘diversity’ represented by Christians, who are a ‘factor of stability’. The Chaldean Synod closes with an appeal for unity among Churches and belonging to the land.

| 19/07/2024
| IRAQ
 
Negeri Sembilan: police arrest members of Millah Abraham, 'heretical' Islamic sect
by Joseph Masilamany

According to the prosecution, the sect, declared deviant by the Islamic religious authorities in 2019, operates clandestinely throughout the country. It believes in the existence of a new prophet, recites an alternative shahādah and seeks to merge Islam, Judaism and Christianity into a single faith. Notebooks, a laptop computer and mobile phones were also seized during the arrests.

| 13/07/2024
| MALAYSIA
 
Christians are the most persecuted minority group in Turkey in 2023

A report by the Freedom of Belief Initiative shows the extent of the problem. After Christians come Jews, Alevis, Yazidis, and atheists. Especially targeted are cemeteries, places of worship, homes, and schools linked to religious groups. Anti-Jewish violence has escalated since Israel's war in Gaza.

| 12/07/2024
| TURKEY
 
Islamic preacher gives directives to secretly convert non-Muslim minors

After several complaints and a video that went viral, the police opened an investigation against the controversial leader Firdaus Wong. In a video that went viral on social media, he talks to a teacher giving instructions on how to make children pray and hide their conversion from their parents. Malaysian activist: the teacher's behaviour is also contrary to the 'relationship of trust' with families. 

 

| 26/06/2024
| MALAYSIA
 
Lynched and set on fire, Mohammad Ismail is the latest victim of Pakistan’s blasphemy rules
by Shafique Khokhar

The man was holidaying in the Swat Valley. Police arrested him on charges of burning pages of the Qur'ān, but a mob stormed the station and killed him. Activist accuses Pakistan of being "a barbarian state" while the authorities remain silent. For Naveed Walter, “No one is safe now.” In another case, the wife of Nazir Masih, another lynch mob victim, died from the traumatic experience. In Sialkot, a Christian man is on the run.

| 22/06/2024
| PAKISTAN
 
Mosul Eye: ten years after Isis, the eyes of a wounded people reborn
by Dario Salvi

On the anniversary of the Iraqi city's fall into the hands of the radical Islamist movement, Omar Mohammed - the blogger who chronicled its brutality - talks to AsiaNews about the importance of remembrance, the pope's visit in 2021 and the challenge of reconstruction based on ‘inclusion’. Chaldean Patriarch Sako: the memory of jihadist violence spurs the construction of a ‘civil and democratic’ state. 

| 11/06/2024
| GATEWAY TO THE EAST
 
Nazir Masih, Christian lynched on false blasphemy charges in Sargodha, dies
by Shafique Khokhar

The mob that attacked the victim on 25 May also set his home and business on fire. The rest of the family miraculously escaped. Doubts are being raised over the timing of his death, with some believing the government delayed the announcement to avoid international censure. Activists accuse the authorities of knowingly covering for the groups who use the law to kill indiscriminately.

| 03/06/2024
| PAKISTAN
 
Cotabato: government and Church unanimously condemn attack on Santo Niño Chapel

The raid took place on 19 May, Pentecost Sunday. Two men on a motorbike threw a grenade during the service. Marybel Atis, 40, and Rosita Tubilo, 65, were hit by the shrapnel, sustaining several injuries. Card. Quevedo: 'dastardly' attack and 'sacrilegious act'. Appeal to the authorities for justice to be done.

| 22/05/2024
| PHILIPPINES



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