Economic Persecution (Part 1 of 5) March 9, 2026 — By Lisa Navarrette, ICC Fellow When persecution is discussed, it is usually framed in images of violence: burned churches, imprisoned pastors, mobs chanting in the streets. These images are real, and...
Syria 2025 In Review: A Year of Violence and UncertaintyJanuary 15, 2026 — By Linda Burkle, PhD, ICC Fellow It has been a little more than a year since the collapse in December 2024 of 50 years of the totalitarian dictatorship under Syrian President Assad. This article provides an update...
Cruel and Unusual: Christians Throughout the World Imprisoned for Years for Following Jesus December 23, 2025 — Around the world, Christians are forced to spend years of their lives, many times a decade or more, behind bars for the “crime” of believing in Jesus Christ. Believers in nations...
One Year After Assad, Continued Uncertainty for Persecuted Minorities in Syria December 8, 2025 — Celebrating one year since the toppling of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad, Syrians this week are taking to the streets of Damascus in scenes of mass joy accompanied by fireworks, festive music, and the new national...
U.S. Weighs Permanent Sanctions Relief for Syria After Al-Sharaa White House Visit November 14, 2025 — Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited the White House earlier this week, marking the first visit from a Syrian head of state since the country's independence in 1946. His trip comes...
Syria’s President to Visit White House in Historic First November 7, 2025 — Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa is slated to visit the White House on Monday, marking the first-ever visit by a Syrian president to Washington, D.C., and al-Sharaa's second meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump...
Azerbaijan Denies Church’s Registration Applications October 10, 2025 — Armenia (International Christian Concern) — In the city of Sumgait, Azerbaijan, government officials have refused to approve Peace Church’s application for official registration, thereby preventing the congregation from holding gatherings...
Syria’s Parliamentary Elections a Historic but Limited Step October 9, 2025 — Syria (International Christian Concern) — In Syria’s first elections since rebel forces deposed longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2025, 119 new parliamentarians have been announced after voting that began...
US Sends About 100 to Iran in Surprise Nighttime FlightSeptember 30, 2025 — A few minutes after midnight on Tuesday, September 30, the New York Times published a breaking news story about a flight in the air on its way from Louisiana to...
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa Speaks at U.N. General Assembly September 25, 2025 — United States (International Christian Concern) — Speaking before gathered world leaders Thursday, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa urged the international community to come alongside Syria as it rebuilds. “Syria is...
Several U.S. Diplomats to Syria Removed as Integration of Syrian Minorities is Debated September 18, 2025 — Syria (International Christian Concern) — News broke early Thursday that several of the seniormost U.S. diplomatic officials working on Syria were abruptly removed from their posts in recent days. ...
Iranian Court Upholds 10-Year Prison Sentence for Christian ManSeptember 17, 2025 — Iran — Mehran Shamloui, a Christian convert, has been denied a retrial for his case by the Iranian Supreme Court. Shamloui was arrested in 2024 and sentenced to 10 years and...
Hope for Persecutors September 16, 2025 — By Lisa Navarrette, ICC Fellow Throughout history, the Christian faith has testified to one undeniable truth: the gospel has the power to transform even the most hardened hearts. From Saul of...
Libyan Authorities Urged to Overturn Convictions of 11 ChristiansAugust 20, 2025 — 8/20/2025 Libya (International Christian Concern) — Amnesty International recently called for the convictions of 11 Christians convicted in Libya to be overturned, citing "grossly unfair" trials. The human rights organization...
Azerbaijan-Armenia Agreement Paves Way for Peace but Ignores Religious Freedom Concerns August 14, 2025 — 8/14/2025 Armenia (International Christian Concern) — Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met last Friday at the White House to sign a joint declaration that may...
Us and Them: How Egyptian Christians Navigate Persecution and IdentityAugust 6, 2025 — By Joseph Daniel, ICC Fellow "It is really disturbing to me whenever a Muslim customer at my office calls me a 'khawaga,' as if I am not an Egyptian, even...
