Tag: Persecution

Church firebombed in Jenin as Christmas celebrations resume

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

Arsonists damaged the Holy Redeemer Church in Jenin this week, along with attacks on a Christmas tree and the Nativity Grotto in the West Bank city. The Christmas tree was set ablaze by three Palestinians on Monday, drawing sharp condemnation from both local church leaders and Israeli officials.

Father Amer Jubran, pastor of the Holy Redeemer Church, condemned the attack in a Facebook post, describing it as a “deliberate and fabricated act carried out by outlaws.” He emphasized that the violence does not reflect authentic Palestinian or Christian culture, which he said is based on love, tolerance and coexistence. Jubran stressed that the incident does not represent the values of the people of Jenin or undermine communal unity.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded the following day, stating that under the Palestinian Authority there is “growing hostility towards Christians.” The ministry condemned the attacks on Christian sites and symbols, especially ahead of Christmas.

The attacks come as Christmas celebrations in Palestinian Authority-controlled areas have been subdued for the past two years due to the war in Gaza. Following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, the Palestinian Authority allowed fuller Christmas celebrations this year. However, Christian residents of Beit Jala and Nablus are reportedly avoiding public celebrations due to fear of local Muslims.

Christmas in the Shadows: Millions of Christians Celebrate in Secret

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JEFF TURNER

For millions of Canadians, Christmas is a public and joyful time. Streets are filled with lights, churches welcome everyone to services, and families gather freely. Around the world, however, there are Christians who experience Christmas very differently. In many countries, celebrating the birth of Jesus can lead to arrest, prison, or even death. As a result, countless believers are forced to celebrate Christmas in secret, if they can celebrate at all.

Those living in high-persecution areas often keep their Christmas joy hidden. Singing carols, decorating a tree, or attending church can be dangerous. For these believers, faith is something practiced quietly, behind closed doors, where safety comes before celebration.

In some countries, Christmas is completely banned. North Korea is one of the harshest examples. The government sees Christianity as a direct threat to its leadership. All Christmas worship and holiday displays are illegal, and even owning a Bible is considered a serious crime. Since 2016, citizens have been ordered to honour Kim Jong-suk, the dictator’s grandmother, who was born on December 24, instead of celebrating Christmas. Any attempt to recognize the birth of Jesus can result in severe punishment, including forced labour or worse.

In Somalia, public Christmas celebrations have been illegal since 2015. The country’s ministry of religion has instructed police and national security forces to actively stop Christmas events. Christians who attempt to gather openly face danger not only from authorities but also from extremist violence, making Christmas a time of fear rather than joy.

Other countries allow Christmas only under strict legal limits. In Brunei, public Christmas displays have been banned since 2014. The government says the ban is meant to protect Muslims from being influenced away from Islam. Christians are allowed to celebrate privately in homes or churches, but public celebrations are forbidden. Muslims who take part in Christmas activities, such as wearing Santa hats or joining festivities, can face up to five years in prison. It is also illegal for Christians to share their faith with Muslims.

In some places, Christmas is permitted only if the government tightly controls it. In China, celebrations are limited to government-approved churches and groups, and the rules vary by region. People under the age of 18 are legally banned from attending church services, including those held at Christmas. Churches are also pressured to include communist ideology in sermons and worship, reshaping religious messages to match state values.

In Iran, Christmas gatherings are allowed only in registered churches and approved areas. Unregistered house churches, especially those made up of converts from Islam, are often raided. In November 2025, two Christian converts were sentenced to two years in prison after authorities broke up a Christmas planning meeting. Church services are not allowed to be held in Farsi, the country’s main language. Instead, they must use minority languages such as Armenian or Assyrian, a rule designed to limit the spread of Christianity.

In other regions, the main threat comes not from laws but from violence. In northern Nigeria, Christian communities are frequently targeted by ISWAP, an extremist group linked to the Islamic State. Kidnappings and executions are common, especially around major Christian holidays. These attacks create constant fear and make public Christmas worship extremely dangerous.

Despite all of this, many Christians continue to mark Christmas in quiet and personal ways. Some meet secretly in small groups. Others pray alone in their homes. Many remember the meaning of Christmas without decorations, music, or public worship.

For Canadians, these stories are a reminder that freedoms often taken for granted. For millions around the world, Christmas still comes, but it arrives quietly, behind closed doors, and at great personal cost.

The Last Open Church in El-Fasher

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William Desjardins

In the war-torn Sudanese city of El-Fasher, one Christian sanctuary remains open against all odds. The Rev. Daramali Abudigin, an Anglican priest, has refused to abandon his community despite relentless fighting and a city under siege.

St. Mathew of the Anglican Church of Sudan now stands as the last remaining Christian church in El-Fasher. Abudigin has kept its doors open to all Christians, offering a place of prayer and hope while nearly every other pastor and priest has been forced to flee the violence.

The risks of staying are immense. In May, five church members living with Abudigin were killed when armed men sprayed bullets into the church compound at random. Still, he continues his ministry alongside his wife and three sons, determined to serve the dwindling Christian population that has no other refuge.

El-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur, has been encircled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April of last year. Inside the city, the Sudan Armed Forces (SAF) continue to fight the RSF in a conflict that has devastated civilian life and displaced countless families.

In the midst of this blockade and violence, Rev. Abudigin and St. Mathew’s Church endure for Christians in a city otherwise darkened by war.

Pakistan Court Sentences Two for Blasphemy on WhatsApp

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

A court in Gujranwala, Pakistan, has issued severe punishments in a blasphemy case involving social media messages. A 22-year-old student received a death sentence, while a 17-year-old was given life imprisonment for sharing content deemed blasphemous through WhatsApp. The sentences were announced this week.

The case began when the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) filed charges in Lahore based on a complaint. The plaintiff stated that he had received offensive videos and photos from three different mobile numbers. After examining the plaintiff’s phone, the FIA concluded that “obscene material” had been sent.

Initially handled by the Lahore High Court, the case was later transferred to a local court in Gujranwala for trial. An additional district and sessions judge delivered the verdicts. Defence lawyers contend that the accused students were “trapped in a false case”. However, details about the specific nature of the shared content or the defence’s evidence were not provided in the available information.

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are among the strictest globally. They mandate capital punishment or life imprisonment for individuals found guilty of insulting Islam or the Prophet Mohammad. This applies to offences committed through spoken or written words, visual representations, or indirect insinuations.

It is worth noting that many blasphemy convictions in Pakistan are overturned on appeal in higher courts. However, the accused often face significant dangers even before their cases go to trial. There have been numerous instances of mob violence against individuals accused of blasphemy, with some being lynched before formal legal proceedings could take place.

The case highlights ongoing concerns about the application of blasphemy laws in Pakistan, particularly in relation to social media content. Human rights organizations have expressed worry about the potential for these laws to be misused or to infringe on freedom of expression. As this case progresses, it is likely to draw attention from both domestic and international observers, given the severity of the sentences and the young age of the accused.

INTERNATIONAL: Rise in Anti-Christian Hate Crimes in Turkey Raises Concerns

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TEXAS GOSPEL STAFF

Reports show a significant rise in hate crimes targeting Christians in Turkey. Data from the Freedom of Belief Initiative (FOBI) highlights that such incidents have more than doubled over the past two years. In 2021, ten incidents were recorded, while in 2023, the number rose to 22.

Christians remain the primary victims of religious hate crimes in Turkey, with a total of 52 cases documented since 2020. These crimes range from harassment and property damage to acts of violence. The true scale of the issue may be higher, as many victims reportedly do not come forward due to fear of social exclusion.

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has also noted several hate crime incidents against Christians in Turkey. These include not only physical violence but also broader patterns of intimidation. In addition, the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) reported in 2023 that Turkish authorities have increasingly targeted Christian pastors, missionaries, and their families with deportation orders and permanent re-entry bans.

Turkey’s treatment of its Christian minority is part of a broader historical and modern trend. Christians, who made up about 25% of the region’s population before 1914, now represent less than 0.5%. This dramatic decline follows decades of persecution, including the Armenian genocide from 1915 to 1916. During this period, approximately 1 million Armenian Christians were killed through mass executions, starvation, and other atrocities orchestrated by Ottoman authorities.

January 2024, Two gunmen burst into Church of St. Mary Draperis in Istanbul. ISIS claimed responsibility.

Turkey is ranked 50th on Open Doors’ World Watch List, which assesses global persecution of Christians. Factors like Islamic oppression and authoritarian governance contribute to the challenges faced by Christians in the country today.

The rise in anti-Christian hate crimes in Turkey occurs amidst a broader increase in such incidents globally. For example, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC Europe) recently reported a 226% jump in hate crimes against Christians in Europe within a single year.

While the challenges faced by Christians in Turkey are not new, the growing frequency of targeted crimes underscores the ongoing risks for this minority group in a nation with a long history of religious conflict.