Asia

• 3 December 2013
  ASIA/IRAN - After the nuclear agreement, it is urgent to look at human rights in Iran Tehran (Agenzia Fides) - "There is an increase in human rights violations and executions in Iran. Religious minorities continue to suffer persecution. After the agreement on the nuclear issue in Geneva, the issue of huma ...
• 3 December 2013
  ASIA/IRAQ - Chaldean Patriarchate to Christians: sign up to the electoral lists and participate as candidates Baghdad (Agenzia Fides) - The Patriarchate of Babylon of the Chaldeans has issued an invitation to its faithful to renew or check that their names are on the the lists of voters and to get the electoral cards to guarante ...
• 3 December 2013
  ASIA/LEBANON - Abouna.org awarded as best Arab Christian website Beirut (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic website www.abouna.org, directed by Father Rifat Bader – a Jordanian priest of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem - was voted best Arab Christian website in the competition organi ...
• 2 December 2013
  ASIA/INDIA - Christian missionaries denounced for "conversion of the tribals" Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - A Hindu group that works for the development of tribals in the state of Karnataka submitted a complaint to the police against Christian missionaries, accusing them of having converted over a t ...
• 2 December 2013
  ASIA/SYRIA - Maalula again occupied by the rebels Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - The predominantly Christian village of Maalula, 60km west of Damascus, was again attacked by rebel militias on Saturday, November 30. The news was confirmed by both the Syrian Observatory for H ...
• 2 December 2013
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - "Silsilah" movement chosen for the Goi Peace Award Tokyo (Agenzia Fides) - "We have chosen the “narrow road” of those who live and promote a Culture of Dialogue starting from a personal transformation in the midst of divisions and conflicts. This is for us the best w ...
• 29 November 2013
  ASIA/HOLY LAND - Patriarch Twal: pray for rain Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) - "Rain is late in our Holy Land and the threat of drought is hanging over us. In times of drought, we must pray that God bless us and have mercy on us and provide us with our needs – especial ...
• 29 November 2013
  ASIA/PAKISTAN – The Christian Younis Masih, sentenced to death for blasphemy, has been released Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – It is a day of joy for the Christian community in Pakistan: the 35 year-old Christian Younis Masih was released yesterday, with a decision on behalf of the Court of Appeal in Lahore. Masih was ...
• 29 November 2013
  ASIA/IRAQ – EU delegate: the government of Baghdad does not protect minorities. Let us give EU subsidies to the NGOs Erbil (Agenzia Fides) - The European Union "must stop sending such financial aid to Baghdad, where it simply disappears, but must instead give it directly to the NGOs who are actively helping the Syrian refugees in Iraq. ...
• 28 November 2013
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Alarm among Christians: the scourge of blasphemy gets worse, four cases in a month Karachi (Agenzia Fides) - Although many Muslims have expressed solidarity with Christians, victims of the tragic suicide bombing in the church of Peshawar, on September 22, there is a sharp increase in complaints and in ...
• 28 November 2013
  ASIA/TURKEY - The oldest Christian place of worship will become a mosque in Istanbul Istanbul (Agenzia Fides) - The ancient monastery of San Giovanni in Studion, currently classified as the museum complex, will be transformed into a mosque in 2014, once the restoration work in progress are completed. The ...
• 28 November 2013
  ASIA/SYRIA - A parish priest: "The exodus of civil Christians from Qara, invaded by foreign jihadists" Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - Christian and non-Christian villages, in the north of Damascus, are targeted by foreign jihadist armed groups, bringing only death and destruction. This is what was stated by Fr. George Louis, ...
• 27 November 2013
  ASIA/MALAYSIA - Use of the word "Allah": UN's appeal to the government, in the name of freedom of expression and religion Kuala Lumpur (Agenzia Fides) - The Malaysian government should permit the use of the word "Allah" in the columns of the Catholic weekly "Herald" in the name of freedom of expression and religion: says a team of UN observ ...
• 27 November 2013
  ASIA/SYRIA - Pax Christi International: Europe must not close its doors to Syrian refugees Damascus (Agenzia Fides) - Pax Christi International urgently appeals to the government in Damascus and forces involved in the Syrian conflict so that the Country's borders are opened in order to allow humanitarian relie ...
• 27 November 2013
  ASIA/SOUTH KOREA - Controversy between a priest and the Korean President: the Archbishop of Seoul invites priests not to get involved in politics Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - The laity, not the clergy, have the responsibility of administering and participating directly in politics: this was confirmed in a statement sent to Fides Agency by the Archbishop of Seoul, His E ...