Asia

• 7 January 2014
  ASIA/KAZAKHSTAN - Christians were fined for possession of "extremist books" Astana (Agenzia Fides) - A court in Astana has fined two Protestant Christians for possession of Christian publications, defined as "extremist material". As reported in a note sent to Fides by the organization "Forum 1 ...
• 7 January 2014
  ASIA/SYRIA - Battle between Islamist factions in Raqqa Raqqa (Agenzia Fides) - The clash between the different Islamist factions that oppose the Assad regime has become open war in Raqqa, the city where the Italian Jesuit Paolo Dall'Oglio was abducted five months ago. In rec ...
• 7 January 2014
  ASIA/CHINA - Pope Francis elected among the ten "key men of the year 2013" Beijing (Agenzia Fides ) - Pope Francis was elected in the group of the ten "key men of the year 2013" by 50 representatives of the media, journalistic and diplomatic associations, among the most important of mainland Ch ...
• 4 January 2014
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - New plan of evangelization with mass media dedicated to the "protection of life" Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - In the new year the Church in Pakistan reintroduces evangelization with mass media, with a plan that will focus on the theme of "protection of life": this was reported to Fides by Fr. Nadeem John ...
• 4 January 2014
  ASIA/MYANMAR - The Archbishop of Yangon: a road map of peace and fraternity for the country in 2014 Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - Peace, fraternity, democracy in Myanmar are "a common hope for all citizens": at the beginning of a new year, "Myanmar is preparing the beginning of a new era, made of freedom, justice and peace" ...
• 4 January 2014
  ASIA/SYRIA - The Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo: "At the Geneva 2 one has to take cognizance of the fact that Syria is not Libya" Aleppo (Agenzia Fides) - "The participants at the Geneva 2 Conference will have to start respecting the characteristics of their Syrian Country". This is how the Bishop of Aleppo of the Chaldean, Antoine Audo describes ...
• 4 January 2014
  ASIA/INDONESIA - Christian politicians: "Remove one's religious belief from identity cards" Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - It is time to remove one’s religious belief from identity cards: is the proposal made by Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian politician who has the important role of leutenant governor of the ...
• 3 January 2014
  ASIA/INDONESIA - To eradicate terrorism, we need a national plan of "de-radicalization" Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - The radical Islamic terrorist groups in Indonesia are weaker than in the past, but they are still dangerous. To eradicate them what is needed is, on the one hand, coordinated effort on behalf of ...
• 3 January 2014
  ASIA/LEBANON - The Maronite Church is against the formation of a fait accompli government and the postponement of presidential elections Beirut (Agenzia Fides) - The highest representatives of the Maronite Church are opposed to the formation of a fait accompli government that does not represent the balance of political forces operating in the Country of t ...
• 2 January 2014
  ASIA/IRAQ - Patriarch Sako appeals for national harmony Baghdad (Agenzia Fides) - "We appeal to all parties in the nation, in these precise circumstances, to work for calm and invoking the language of dialogue, understanding, moderation and putting the interest of the nation ...
• 2 January 2014
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Religious leaders: may 2014 be a "year of peace" in Pakistan Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – May 2014 be "a year of peace and reconciliation" in Pakistan: is the appeal launched by the leaders of Christian and other religious communities during an interfaith meeting in Lahore, in the n ...
• 21 December 2013
  ASIA/BANGLADESH - The year 2013 full of social conflict and human right abuses Dhaka (Agenzia Fides) - "The year 2013 has been a year full of conflict and human right abuses. Over 100 people have been violently killed for political reasons during the year. More than 1,200 have died on the job. It ...
• 21 December 2013
  ASIA/LEBANON - Patriarch Rai: some lawyers help Catholics to convert in order to divorce Bkerké (Agenzia Fides) - Maronite Patriarch Bechara Boutros Rai has denounced lawyers helping Catholic couples divorce suggesting to convert to other non-Catholic Christian churches. "Every lawyer who helps a married co ...
• 21 December 2013
  ASIA/INDONESIA – Terrorism Alarm: at Christmas Muslims and Christians united in defense of churches Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - The Indonesian police is mobilizing to protect the Christian minority from terrorist threats that could disrupt Christmas. And, in addition to the commitment of the authorities, there is also a ...
• 20 December 2013
  ASIA/CHINA - At Christmas engaged in Christian charity and evangelization Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) - As every year, the Chinese Catholic community is intensifying its journey towards Christmas in the name of Christian charity and evangelization. According to information gathered by Fides ...