NIGERIA: Expanding Dangers for Christians

Source: VOMC
Sources: Mission Network News, BBC, Morning Star News, International Christian Concern, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Truth Nigeria

Video screenshot showing some of the destruction following the Benue massacre. Photo: Stefanos Foundation

In recent weeks, the Voice of the Martyrs Canada produced a special two-part video series on Nigeria, highlighting the dangers facing Christians in the northern region of the country while focussing on the urgent need for prayer.
If you have not yet taken the time to view these two brief but powerful videos, please do so at our country report.

The persecution of believers in Nigeria continues to escalate, fuelled by intensifying attacks from more than six different militant groups vying for control of the nation. As a result, hundreds of Christians have been killed, injured or kidnapped in recent months. In mid-June alone, more than 200 villagers lost their lives in the state of Benue and thousands of others were displaced. While economic and cultural factors contribute to the unrest, religion remains a major catalyst of the ongoing violence. For instance, during the recent raid in Benue, eyewitnesses reported that the attackers shouted, "Allahu Akbar," as they targeted predominantly Christian communities, leaving devastation in their wake.

The scale of violence in Nigeria has reached such a magnitude, that there are urgent calls from around the world prompting decisive action against the country's militants. Yet, despite assurances from Nigerian political leaders, the attacks have continued unabated. Less than three weeks after the Benue massacre, four more Christians were killed in the same area.
An in-depth video interview about the ongoing violence is available here.

Militant Fulani herdsmen also attacked the villages of Dogon Fili and Attang in Kaduna State on July 7th, resulting in the deaths of two Christians, as well as injuries to three others. Several individuals were also reportedly kidnapped, although the exact number remains unknown. That same evening, a pastor and another worshipper were killed in a separate attack when militants stormed a worship service at the Bege Baptist Church in Yari Bori, Kaduna. Armed assailants shouted, "Death to infidels," before fatally shooting Pastor Emmanuel Na'allah Auta and Mallam Samaila Gidan Taro. During the raid, an unidentified woman was also taken captive.

Since Yari Bori is a religiously mixed region, comprising both Muslim and Christian residents, Pastor Emmanuel served as a strong advocate for interfaith dialogue and peace between its religious communities. According to one local farmer, this church leader is remembered as "a fearless voice for unity" who "worked with Muslim youth and never stopped speaking out against violence."

• Amid the escalating violence against Christians, please continue to lift up the nation of Nigeria in your prayers, especially interceding for all those who have been directly affected by the recent attacks.
• Pray specifically on behalf of Nigerians within these targeted communities who are now mourning the tragic loss of loved ones, asking the Lord to provide them greatly needed comfort and peace.
• Also ask God to minister healing – mentally, emotionally and physically – to all who are suffering in various other ways as a result of the violence.
• Pray that He will continue to raise up courageous Christian leaders, like Pastor Emmanuel, who are willing to serve as Godly advocates for peace, unity and reconciliation in the face of fear and division.

INDIA: Legislator Issues Bounties on Evangelists' Lives

Source: VOMC
Sources: International Christian Concern, Mission Network News, The Times of India, India Today, The Indian Express

A village in Maharashtra Photo: Wikimedia / Nikhil More (cc)

A legislator in India's Maharashtra state has publicly announced the issuance of bounties on the lives of Christians who visit villages for the purpose of proselytization. In a speech that he made on June 17th, Gopichand Padalkar offered rewards ranging from 300,000 rupees (about $4,800 CAD) for assaulting a Gospel worker to over one million rupees (approximately $17,500 CAD) for killing a pastor. The legislator's remarks were made in retaliation, following the suicide of a young woman who had allegedly been pressured by her in-laws to pay a customary dowry and adhere to the family's belief in Christianity.

The official's recent announcement has sparked widespread concerns among India's Christians. Various protests have since been held throughout Maharashtra, with demonstrators demanding that Gopichand Padalkar face criminal charges for inciting violence and promoting religious hatred. The Christian community is also calling for the governing official's expulsion from state legislature. Thankfully, some dissent over the official's life-threatening stance has even taken place within his own political party. While Gopichand is a member of the Hindu-nationalist BJP – a party known for supporting anti-conversion legislation – some BJP leaders have publicly condemned his remarks which they consider "irresponsible" and unrepresentative of the party's official stance.

This incident comes amid a broader rise in hate speech and hostility towards religious minorities throughout various parts of India. Additionally, the enforcement of anti-conversion laws, which are often used to target Christians, has been gaining traction across the country. On July 9th, officials working for the Maharashtra state government announced that they will be enacting their own anti-conversion legislation, making this Indian state the 11th with related laws. Such measures have frequently been used to intimidate and oppress religious minorities.
To review previously published reports addressing the challenges encountered by Christians in India, go to our country profile.

• Pray that our Christian brothers and sisters in India will receive God's wisdom and discernment as they seek ways to appropriately deal with the hostility inflicted against them, so that they may respond to their opposers with grace and unwavering hope.
• Ask the Lord to shield the pastors and evangelists in Maharashtra state from harm by thwarting any violent schemes of the enemy and ensuring peace prevails over discord.
• May the Holy Spirit move mightily within the hearts of India's governing and judicial leaders – at the local, state and federal levels – bringing about policies that promote tolerance, justice and mutual respect for all of the country's religious communities.

PAKISTAN: Court Decisions Render Justice for Christians

Source: VOMC
Sources: Morning Star News, International Christian Concern, VOPM

Adil Babar Photo: Morning Star News

Christians in Pakistan often encounter intense opposition, particularly through the country's legal system. However, three recent court rulings have brought about a measure of relief and a renewed hope for justice.

In 2023, two Christian youths, Adil Barbar and Simon Nadeem, were accused of blasphemy after a neighbour claimed to have overheard them calling a dog "Muhammad Ali" and laughing about it. Although the families of both teens denied the presence of any dog, Adil and Simon were charged for allegedly insulting the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
(Read more details on the incident.)

On July 8th, after more than two years of legal uncertainty, the two Christian youths were acquitted and dismissed of all charges. While they are now considered free, concerns remain for their safety due to the threat of vigilante violence. Regrettably, Pakistan's blasphemy laws have been frequently misused to settle personal disputes, incite violence and persecute religious minorities.

In a separate case, 14-year-old Elishba Adnan was abducted from her home on June 11th by Baba Mukhtar, a 28-year-old man known to the family. Though members of the Christian girl's family turned to the local police for assistance, their pleas were repeatedly ignored.

Elishba's father eventually sought help from a human rights activist named Albert Patras, who discovered that the teenage girl had supposedly converted to Islam on June 12th and married her kidnapper. Albert was able to bring the case to court, arguing that – since Elishba was under the age of 16 – the marriage constituted statutory rape under Pakistani law. On July 3rd, the judge ruled in favour of the family, denying custody to Baba and placing Elishba in a women's shelter. Her parents remain hopeful that she will soon return home now that she is no longer under the influence of her captor.

In a similar ruling on July 9th, a judge in Lahore sentenced Ahmed Raza to life in prison for the rape of a 12-year-old Christian girl. The victim, whose identity has been withheld for security reasons, was kidnapped in 2023 and assaulted by Ahmed and his three accomplices. The perpetrator then fabricated documentation indicating that the girl had converted to Islam and married him. Ahmed was ultimately found guilty of rape, though the judge did not rule on the legitimacy of the conversion or marriage. However, during a separate proceeding, a family court issued a decree in the girl's favour and thus declared the marriage void.

Blasphemy accusations and forced marriages remain two of the most prevalent threats against Christians in Pakistan. While the courts often succumb to pressure from militant groups, these recent rulings offer a glimmer of hope that justice and protection for minorities are still possible.
To learn more about the incidents of persecution encountered by our Christian brothers and sisters in Pakistan, go to our country report.

• Praise God for the courage and integrity of judges who upheld justice in these recent cases, even in the midst of opposing societal and political pressures.
• Pray for further reforms to take place within Pakistan's government and its operating legal system, asking that laws respecting the rights and dignities of all citizens – regardless of their faith – will be duly upheld.
• Lift up all those in Pakistan who have suffered from abductions, false blasphemy accusations and threats of violence, asking our Heavenly Father to minister healing, restoration and peace to these believers and their families.

SYRIA: Suicide Bomber Attacks Damascus Church

Source: VOMC
Sources: BBC, International Christian Concern, Middle East Concern, ECSPE

The Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church after the bombing. Photo: Middle East Concern

At least 20 worshippers were killed and dozens of others wounded when a lone attacker targeted the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church near Damascus on June 22nd. Approximately 350 people were inside the church building when the assailant suddenly opened fire and then detonated a suicide vest near the entrance of the church. The resulting blast not only killed those inside the building but also several people who had been standing within the immediate vicinity.

This incident marks the first major attack on a church within Syria in several years. Syrian authorities believe that the male bomber was affiliated with the Islamic State terrorist group, though it has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack. The interim government, which took power in December 2024, has condemned the bombing and promised to take appropriate action.

In the meantime, many church leaders have expressed frustration over what they perceive to be inadequate protection for the country's Christians. At the funeral for the victims, the Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, John X, remarked: "We are grateful for the phone call [from Syria's interim president], but the crime that took place is a little bigger than that."

The country of Syria remains in a period of political transition after the overthrow of the authoritarian government under Bashar al-Assad.
To review more reports concerning the persecution of our persecuted Christian family in Syria, visit our country profile.

• Remember all those who are mourning the loss of their loved ones as a result of this tragic attack, praying that they would sense the nearness of God's presence, as evidenced by His abiding comfort and peace.
• Also prayerfully lift up the surviving church members who sustained injuries and trauma, asking for God's healing power to be manifested in their lives – physically, emotionally and spiritually – leading them to full recovery.
• Pray for the establishment of a stable government in Syria; one that will pursue peace, justice and protection on behalf of all citizens residing within the country, including those of vulnerable Christian communities.

CHINA: Arrests of Church Leader and Four Other Christians

Source: VOMC
Sources: Open Doors Canada, ChinaAid, Bitter Winter

Pastor Huang Yizi Photo: ChinaAid

Pastor Huang Yizi is a well-known house church leader in China's Zhejiang Province. For more than a decade, he has encountered repeated harassment and imprisonment for his Christian faith. In 2014, the pastor was arrested and sentenced to one year in prison after publicly protesting the government's campaign to remove crosses from church buildings across the province. He was arrested again in September 2015 and held for five months in a "black jail," where he had been forbidden from contacting his family and legal representatives. In 2021, Pastor Huang reported that he was being constantly monitored by the authorities and subjected to random interrogations (read more).

On June 26th, 2025, the church leader was once again taken into custody by local police and placed in detention. According to his wife, the authorities also searched the Christian couple's home and confiscated several items. At around the same time, four other believers were reportedly arrested as well. Following Pastor Huang's detention, lawyers attempted to visit the detained church leader but were denied access and told to return in 48 hours. A complaint has since been filed against the detention centre for violating the pastor's right to receive proper legal representation.

Pastor Huang has allegedly been accused of conducting "illegal business operations," a charge frequently used by Communist authorities to target religious dissidents.
For other reports addressing Christian persecution in China, go to our country profile.

• Pray that Pastor Huang's legal team will be granted wisdom, favour and full access to their detained client so they can effectively represent him.
• During this time of incarceration, may God sustain this Christian leader with supernatural strength, endurance and hope.
• In addition, prayerfully uphold this imprisoned church leader's wife, asking that she too would sense the Lord's comforting presence with her daily.
• As Pastor Huang awaits vindication, pray that he will receive divinely appointed opportunities to serve as a testimony of the Lord's love and grace to those around him.

PAKISTAN: Christian Acquitted After 23 Years

Source: VOMC
Sources: UCA News, Independent Catholic News, Barnabas Aid

Photo: Pixabay

In 2001, during the aftermath of the World Trade Centre attacks in New York, a Christian man in Pakistan named Anwar Kenneth published a letter defending Christianity and expressing his belief that Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was not a prophet of God. As a result of the letter, Anwar was charged in 2002 and ultimately convicted of blasphemy – a crime that carries an automatic death sentence under Pakistani law. The imprisoned believer has remained on death row for the past 23 years.

In 2014, Anwar's legal representatives argued that he suffered from mental illness and therefore should not have been found guilty. Despite these claims, the Lahore High Court ruled to uphold the Christian man's original sentence. In March 2024, however, the Supreme Court of Pakistan acknowledged the possibility that Anwar may not be guilty under Pakistan's blasphemy laws, noting that, as a Christian, he has the constitutional right to express his religious beliefs (read more).

Following years of repeated appeal rejections from judiciaries representing the lower courts, the country's Supreme Court finally ordered an official acquittal on June 25th, declaring Anwar to be of unsound mind and thus not criminally liable under Pakistan's blasphemy laws. Finally, after more than two decades behind bars, the 72-year-old Christian man is now scheduled to be freed from prison.

As Anwar's release date approaches, his lawyer has expressed concern for the family's safety, warning of threats from militant Islamic vigilantes who consider it their duty to kill those accused of blasphemy. The lawyer, who happens to be a Muslim, has been under police protection himself after receiving threats for publicly speaking out against the misuse of Pakistan's blasphemy laws.
For more details on the difficulties facing Christians in this South Asian nation, go to our country profile.

• Praise God that Anwar has been acquitted after experiencing so many years of imprisonment.
• Uphold this believer in your prayers as he adapts to life outside the prison walls – and reenters a world that has changed significantly during his time behind bars – asking that he and his family will receive the Lord's divine peace and protection.
• May Anwar also be provided the support of a caring community of fellow believers as he begins this new chapter of his life.
• Pray that Pakistan's court officials and governing leaders would consider the harmful consequences of the country's existing blasphemy laws, and thus make necessary changes to prevent further abuses and cases of injustice from taking place.

Nigeria: The most dangerous country in the world to be a Christian. - Part 2

 

SPECIAL MEDIA PRESENTATION Second of a Two-Part Series   VOMC's production team has filmed on location in Nigeria a special two-part "Persecution & Prayer Alert" video series. We now invite you to view the second part of this informative series. (To watch the previous week's video presentation, and/or to explore published written reports addressing persecution in Nigeria, visit our country report.)   The focus of this week's video presentation shifts to the vital need for unity among members of the Nigerian church, where a divide has emerged between persecuted believers in the north and the more prosperous Christian communities in the south. Encouragingly, some church leaders in the south are beginning to recognize this separation and, as a result, are calling for greater solidarity and support for fellow Nigerian believers who are suffering horrific abuses for their faith. Stephen Wesley, VOMC's Director for Global Education and Discipleship, leads us in prayer for healing, love and unity to take place among the body of Christ in what is statistically known as Africa's most populous nation. Please join us in this special time of intercession as we prayerfully uphold our Nigerian brothers and sisters in Christ.

Watch the Video Now

Pray that the Holy Spirit will move powerfully among members of the Nigerian church – spanning across all regions, denominations and backgrounds – so that followers of Jesus throughout the country will unite together in love, humility and purpose. Please remember the grieving families of those who have been tragically slain because of their faith in Christ, asking that they would tangibly experience the great comfort of the Lord's abiding presence with them. Continue to pray that the peace of God would reign – not only within the hearts of His people in Nigeria but also throughout the nation as a whole.