ERITREA: 24 Christians Recently Released!

Source: VOMC
Source: Church in Chains

Photo: NeedPix

A report has recently surfaced, indicating that 24 Eritrean believers were released from prison in early April. While most of the freed Christians had been detained for more than two years, one of them endured imprisonment for over 18 years. As is often the case, few details have been made available, and no official explanation was given for the releases.

This latest development brings the total number of Christian prisoners who have been released during the past year to more than 400. According to Dr. Berhane Asmelash, director of Release Eritrea, an estimated 200 to 220 believers currently remain imprisoned – marking the lowest figure throughout the past 20 years.

Several theories have been proposed to explain the recent increase in releases. Some suggest that the previously noted overcrowded prison conditions may be a contributing factor. Others speculate that Eritrean officials may be questioning the value of prolonged imprisonments, or that governmental opposition towards evangelical Christianity could be waning.

Despite the encouraging outcome, followers of Jesus in Eritrea continue to suffer unprovoked raids and arrests. On March 15th, for example, 13 believers were detained by police.
To learn more about that particular incident, and/or to access other reports concerning the persecution of Christians in this highly restrictive African nation, visit our country profile.

• Pray that those who have been recently freed from prison will experience the Lord's healing and strength – spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.

• As these followers of Christ now rebuild their lives, may they also receive the faithful support and encouragement of loved ones and fellow believers.

• While we praise God for the increased numbers of released Christians, please continue to lift up those still awaiting freedom from imprisonment, asking that they too would be strengthened, encouraged and reminded that they are not forgotten.

• Ask the Lord to work mightily within the hearts and minds of Eritrea's governing authorities, guiding them so that they will serve the citizens of their country with justice, compassion, and a growing openness to the "Good News" of His salvation.

BELARUS: Supreme Court Denies Churches Legal Status

Source: VOMC
Source: Forum18

A Greek Catholic Parish. Photo: Katolik.life

Churches in Belarus continue to encounter increasing pressures under a new religion law that came into effect in July 2024. The legislation requires all churches to undergo re-registration, including those that had previously been approved by the government. As a result, three Greek Catholic parishes that were originally registered in the 1990s have had their applications rejected.

The affected parishes – all of which are located within the Brest region of Belarus – appealed the decision, but their cases were dismissed by the regional court. On April 9th, the Supreme Court upheld the lower court's ruling, leaving the congregations without legal status. Any religious activity conducted by these churches is now considered illegal and punishable under law, placing them at risk of forced liquidation.

Under Belarusian law, any expression of religious belief without official state permission is prohibited, with violators facing potential fines or imprisonment.
For more information, including access to other reports addressing the persecution of Christians in this Eastern European country, go to our country profile.

• Following the denial of their legal status, may God impart wisdom, direction and courage to the church leaders and members of these Greek congregations as they now seek ways in which to corporately gather and worship Him.

• Also prayerfully uphold congregations representing other denominations throughout the nation that are likewise at risk due to the growing restrictions on faith activities.

• Ask the Lord to strengthen all of His people in Belarus, helping them to remain steadfast in their faith and reflect the light of Christ amid opposition.

• Pray that many more Belarusians across the country – whether they work in areas of governance or otherwise oppose Christianity – will be powerfully transformed by the love of God and the truths conveyed in His Word.

PAKISTAN: Child Marriage Law Officially Approved

Source: VOMC
Sources: Church in Chains, Dawn

Governor of Punjab, Sardar Saleem Haider Khan. Photo: Wikipedia (CC)

On February 11th, the governor of Punjab, Pakistan, signed the "Child Marriage Restraint Ordinance 2026" into effect. The bill raised the minimum age for marriage, providing greater protections for the country's vulnerable youth. It is hoped that this law will now help prevent the kidnapping, forced conversion and marriage of Christian girls. (Further details about the newly implemented legislation are available in this report.)

On April 27th, following a heated debate, the provincial Assembly officially passed the bill, marking the final step in the approval process. During the session, an amendment was also adopted – emphasizing that, in matters relating to the new legislation, the best interests of each child must be the primary consideration.

• Please prayerfully uphold the many young lives in Pakistan that have been negatively impacted as a result of past forced conversions and marriages, asking the Lord to provide healing, restoration and lasting comfort to each of the young victims and their families.

• Pray that this new law would be effectively implemented and upheld by the country's authorities, truly serving as a safeguard for other vulnerable children.

• Praise God for the legislators who have willingly taken a stand for justice. May many others – including members of Pakistan's political leadership and those of society at large – acknowledge the importance of protecting the dignity and well-being of every precious child.

EGYPT: Case Against Believer Adjourned

Source: VOMC
Source: Church in Chains

Saeid Mansour Abdulraziq Photo: CSW

On April 21st, legal proceedings began in the case against Saeid Abdulraziq, a Christian convert in Egypt. Although the believer has been accused under the country's anti-terrorism laws, advocates believe his arrest is primarily linked to his conversion to Christianity and subsequent involvement in faith-related activities.
(To access a previously published report regarding Saeid's case, go to this report.)

The hearing on April 21st did not specifically address the substance of the charges against the Christian man. Instead, defence lawyers requested an adjournment to allow sufficient time to review the case and prepare their arguments, which will involve interviews with prosecution witnesses. The request was granted, and the proceedings are scheduled to resume on June 15th. In the meantime, Saeid will remain in detention.

• Please continue to intercede on Saeid's behalf, praying that he will be further strengthened by God's abiding presence during imprisonment, comforted in the midst of uncertainty, and filled with divine peace as he awaits the outcome of his upcoming hearing.

• May the court officials involved in Saeid's case receive a full understanding of his situation so they can rule with justice, wisdom and mercy.

• Also prayerfully remember the many other Christian converts in Egypt who are encountering hostility from the opposing members of their families and communities, asking that they too would receive God's protection and sustaining grace – along with opportunities to personally testify of His life-changing power in each of their lives.

Prayer for the Persecuted - Monday May 4, 2026 @ 7 PM

1. Open in Prayer: 

2. Scripture: Matthew 10: 37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.38Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.39Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.

3. Worship Video: "No Turning Back" Christian Persecution Play by CORNERSTONE ASIAN CHURCH YOUTH - YouTube (I have Decided to Follow Jesus)

Video: In the Hidden Places - An Anthem for the Persecuted Church

Prayer for the Persecuted

4. China - Wu Qiuyu Held 205 days • Arrested October 2025

5. Ethiopia - Refusing to Reject Jesus

6. Sierra Leone - Muslim Woman Beaten for Visiting Church

7. Middle East - Convert's Family Faces Spiritual Attack

8. Nigeria - Gunmen Abduct Christian Schoolgirls, Kill 1

Recent News

• Bill to Curb Child Marriage Passes in Punjab, Pakistan
• Pakistan Urged to End Forced Conversions/Marriages
• Change Sought to Help Kidnapped Christian Girls in Pakistan
• Evangelist Killed after Gospel Event in Kampala, Uganda
• Police Action Lacking in Abduction of Christian Girl in Pakistan

• NIGERIA: Hundreds of Militants Convicted

• INDIA: Harsh Anti-Conversion Laws in Chhattisgarh

• CHINA: Christian Leaders Released from Prison

• 
  

Nigeria - Gunmen Abduct Christian Schoolgirls, Kill 1

Source: ICC

Armed attackers abducted several Christian school girls traveling to school in Kachia Local Government Area on Sunday, according to field reporting by TruthNigeria, which has documented a series of ambushes along the Akwando–Kachia corridor since early 2026. 

The victims were traveling from Akwando village to Kachia town on April 26 when gunmen intercepted their vehicle less than 10 minutes into the journey. The children had resumed travel after schools reopened in the area. 

Local sources said the driver attempted to flee the ambush, but the attackers opened fire, forcing the vehicle to stop. Several passengers were taken into the surrounding bush. 

Those reported abducted include:
Augustina Muntari, student at GSS Gumel
Happy Muntari, student at GSS Gumel
Favour Tanimu, student at GSS Kachia
Patience Joseph, student at GSS Kachia
Peace Irimiya, student at St. John’s School, Kachia
Bishara Irimiya, student at St. John’s School, Kachia
Irimiya Galadima, the driver
Fatu Danladi
Laraba Caleb 

One of the students, Purity Babangida, was killed while attempting to escape during the attack. Witnesses said at least 15 other students managed to flee by jumping from the vehicle and later reached nearby communities, including Awon village, after trekking for several hours through the bush. 

Residents in Kachia and surrounding communities claim the road has become a high-risk route, especially for students commuting between villages and schools in the town. Many families rely on shared transport due to long distances and limited access to boarding facilities. 

Education officials and community leaders have previously raised concerns about the impact of insecurity on school attendance, especially for girls. Local advocacy groups report that repeated attacks and kidnappings have contributed to disruptions in schooling, with some families withdrawing children from school due to safety concerns. 

In affected communities, families of the abducted students are awaiting further information as local volunteers and security actors continue search efforts. 

Please pray that these girls will be rescued unharmed!

Middle East - Convert's Family Faces Spiritual Attack

Zaynab reads her Bible
and prays for her family.

Source of: iCommitToPray

The family of a new Christian is enduring unexplained health issues believed to be a demonic attack. Zaynab and her family fled violence in Iraq in 2017, and she became a follower of Christ through the kindness of Christians. (Her story was shared in VOM’s December 2025 magazine.) But her former Sufi community has continually pressured Zaynab to revert. Members of the mystical Sufi community wanted Zaynab’s daughter to marry the son of a Sufi imam. Zaynab and her husband refused, and she believes the Sufis used witchcraft to cause several family members to become physically and emotionally incapacitated to the point of hospitalization. 

“Please pray for her and her family, as we believe they are under a demonic attack,” said a front-line worker. 

He also asked for prayer for Zaynab’s husband to become a follower of Christ and for the entire family to experience the love and power of Christ.

Sierra Leone - Muslim Woman Beaten for Visiting Church

Source: iCommitToPray

Isata had never sewn before being
enrolled in this Christian training program.

A Muslim woman was beaten for visiting a church but has now placed her faith in Christ. Isata is from a town where her father is an imam and her brother is a local muezzin (someone who calls Muslims to prayer). Despite being raised in a strict Muslim home, she began to have dreams in which Jesus Christ appeared. After having this dream three times, she decided to visit a church, which angered her husband. He felt she had brought shame upon his family and gathered some Muslim men, who tied her up and beat her. He then told Isata she could no longer enter her home and burned all her clothes. With nowhere to live, Isata fled to a pastor’s house. His family cared for her until they enrolled her in a Christian sewing center where she receives practical training and discipleship in God’s Word. The center was created to help Christian women like Isata start new lives after being rejected by their families for following Christ.

Overview:

Persecution is associated with tribal violence and the rise of radical Islam. Despite identifying publicly with a particular religion, an estimated 90 percent of Sierra Leoneans are aligned with secret societies that dominate all aspects of life in the country. These societies practice demonic rituals that include bodily mutilation of society members. Those who leave secret societies when they place their faith in Christ are persecuted and even risk being killed.

Pray for Isata and women like her as they start new lives after being rejected by their families for following Christ.

Pray that demonic secret societies will be exposed as powerless against the truth of Christ.

Ethiopia - Refusing to Reject Jesus

Source: ICC

Haroji Wado, on Ethiopia’s western border with Sudan, is now a place where choosing a new faith means risking everything.

For 18-year-old Zamzam Addaamaa, her only crime was loving Jesus. The simple act of choosing her faith has transformed her life into a struggle for survival.

“I was born into a devout Muslim family in Haroji Wado,” she said. “For 18 years, I lived within the prayers and expectations I was raised with. However, something stirred in my heart, a quite unshakable conviction that Christ is real.”

That conviction led her to make a life-altering decision — one she could never take back.

“When I surrendered my life to Jesus,” she said, “I never imagined that it would cost me the very same day.”

What followed was immediate and harsh rejection. Not just from her family, but from her entire community.

“When my family and community discovered my conversion, my house became a place of danger,” she said. “I was not only rejected but also expelled. I was thrown out and left with nothing to sustain me. In many parts of Eastern Ethiopia, leaving Islam is seen as a change of belief; it is seen as a betrayal worthy of punishment, and sometimes death.”

Being cast out was only the beginning of Addaamaa’s ordeal. Because of her conversion, she became a target.

“I now live hidden in someone else’s house,” she said. “A hiding place, not a home. I cannot freely step outside. I cannot go out without considering the risk. Every knock on the door could be from a neighbor, a relative, or someone sent to hurt me.”

Despite the dangers, Addaamaa survives through the compassion of other Christians. Even that kindness comes with risk.

“I survive on the kindness of strangers,” she said. “But they live in fear of being discovered while helping me. This hiding place is a temporary sanctuary, but the threat to my life remains continuous.”

Addaamaa’s story is not a new incident in Ethiopia. Across the Horn of Ethiopia, Christian converts from Muslim backgrounds face a brutal reality of family rejection, community violence, and state indifference. Girls are especially vulnerable without anyone to defend them; they become targets for beatings, isolation, or even death. Many flee to cities such as Addis Ababa or attempt dangerous crossings into Sudan or Kenya, only to face trafficking and exploitation. Yet despite everything she has lost, Addaamaa’s faith remains unshaken.

“I remain hidden, not because I want to, but because I have no resources to leave,” she said. “I have lost my family, home, and my safety, but I cannot renounce Christ.”

Please Pray!

China - Wu Qiuyu Held 205 days • Arrested October 2025

Source: VOM
 
Between Oct. 9 and Oct. 11, 2025, Chinese authorities arrested nearly 30 leaders of Zion Church, an urban house-church network based in Beijing with influence in more than 40 cities across China. Wu Qiuyu, the wife of Pastor Yang Jun, was among those arrested. Many of those detained were charged with "illegally using an information network" on the grounds that the church conducts online worship services. This charge carries a sentence of up to three years in prison.

The series of raids and arrests was the biggest crackdown on Chinese Christians since 2018. Besides Wu Qiuyu, nine men and eight women remain in detention: Jin Mingri, Wang Lin, Liu Jiang, Sun Cong, Gao Yingjia, Yin Huibin, Liu Zhenbin, Lin Shucheng, Wang Zhong, Wang Cong, Wei Yunfei, Zhu Mingli, Li Shengjuan, Hu Yanzi, Zhan Ge, An Mei and Mei Liming.

"Their only 'offense' is worshiping God peacefully, preaching the gospel faithfully, shepherding their flock and serving their neighbors," church leaders said in a statement on Oct. 12.

Founded in 2007, Zion Church has grown rapidly, reaching an estimated 1,500 members in Beijing by 2018 when it was shut down by authorities. During the coronavirus pandemic, the church shifted to online meetings and outdoor small group gatherings, hosting up to 10,000 participants for its regular gatherings.

Pray for encouragement and boldness for Wu Qiuyu as she waits in detention and is separated from her husband and family. 

Pray also for the other Zion Church leaders as they face prosecution and imprisonment. 

Pray, as the church's leaders have requested, that "those in chains for Christ will be completely free in Christ."

NIGERIA: Hundreds of Militants Convicted

Source: VOMC
Sources: Associated Press, Deutsche Welle, International Christian Concern, Open Doors

Nigeria’s Federal High Court Complex in Abuja. Photo: Wikipedia / Ovinuchi Prince Ejiohuo (CC)

In early April, more than 500 individuals who had committed terrorism-related crimes were brought before a federal court in Nigeria. The proceedings, which took place in the nation's capital of Abuja, were heard by a panel of 10 judges. Many of the accused submitted guilty pleas. In the end, 386 individuals were convicted, receiving sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment. Over 100 other cases were adjourned to a later date.

Those convicted were affiliates of the Islamic State West Africa Province or Boko Haram terrorist groups. For years, members of these militant groups have committed horrific acts of brutal violence, particularly in the northern part of the country. While the Nigerian government insists that religion is not a motivating factor behind the attacks, it is clear that churches and predominantly Christian communities have been specifically targeted. Groups seeking to establish an Islamic state consider Christianity a significant obstacle to their goals.
To review previously published prayer alert reports concerning the crimes committed against law-abiding citizens in this West African nation, go to our country profile.

• Pray that Nigeria's judicial authorities will continue to pursue and legally prosecute those who have committed such horrific crimes of violence against innocent victims in Nigeria.

• Ask the Lord to strengthen, sustain and comfort His suffering people as they now recover from the aftermath of the attacks – including the resulting loss and trauma.

• May He also minister within the hearts of the perpetrators responsible for carrying out these acts of violence, leading them to true repentance and transformation through the redeeming power of Jesus Christ.

INDIA: Harsh Anti-Conversion Laws in Chhattisgarh

Source: VOMC
Sources: Morning Star News, Catholic Connect, International Christian Concern

A pastor is sharing the Gospel in India.

Photo: VOM International

While many Indian states have instituted laws aimed at preventing coerced or forced religious conversions, the newly passed legislation in Chhattisgarh is notably more severe. Signed into effect by the governor on April 7th, the recently implemented law replaces a 1968 statute that Christian leaders say was frequently used as a weapon against minority communities.

The new law further enforces potential abuse by making it a non-bailable offence to convert anyone through force, allurement, undue influence, misrepresentation, marriage, and now also digital platforms. The ruling also mandates that individuals seeking to convert must give 60 days' advance notice, allowing opposing officials, family members, as well as others within the state, opportunities to scrutinize their intent. Police are then authorized to intervene and make arrests if any violation is suspected.

The law specifically exempts conversions to Hinduism, adding that reconverting to one's "ancestral religion" is not treated as a religious conversion. Punishments for violating the new statute are particularly harsh as standard offences carry prison sentences ranging from seven to ten years, along with fines of approximately $7,000 CAD. If the converting individual is classified as vulnerable (such as a woman, youth, mentally ill person, or someone deemed a member of India's Scheduled Castes), punishments are doubled. In addition, a "mass conversion" (involving more than one convert), could result in a life sentence.

Christian advocacy groups have called the law unconstitutional and discriminatory, arguing that it is designed to harass religious minorities. Vaguely defined terms such as "allurement" and "undue influence" have been misappropriately applied in the past, often leading to false accusations. On April 13th, more than 30,000 people gathered in Jagdalpur to protest the new law and call for its repeal. Similar demonstrations have also taken place in other communities across Chhattisgarh.

While genuinely coerced conversions should be discouraged, laws of this nature have repeatedly been used to falsely accuse, harass, intimidate and mistreat Christians.
For access to VOMC's previously published reports, go to our country profile.

• Prayerfully uphold followers of Jesus in India, asking the Lord to provide them guidance, courage and wisdom as they seek to faithfully and peaceably share the "Good News" of His great love and gift of eternal salvation amid the growing restrictions.

• Intercede for India's governing leaders, as well as the members of its judicial courts and police enforcement, praying that they would exercise discernment and strive to uphold true justice – not only preventing the misuse of laws for political or personal gain, but also rightfully granting religious freedom for all citizens.

• Additionally, pray that India's anti-conversion laws would be overturned; and that, in the interim, all believers undergoing spiritual oppression and persecution will receive persevering strength and enduring hope through their unity in the Holy Spirit.