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International Christian Concern staffers are experts on global persecution and pride themselves on knowing the trends and ins and outs of religious freedom. ICC’s global team, ICC Fellows, and guest scholars write breaking news stories and reports on persecution topics, countries, and regimes. ICC’s signature comprehensive report is the annual Global Persecution Index.

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Churches Vandalized in Sudan

December 6, 2025 Sudan — Last week, in the center of Port Sudan’s market area, two of the oldest churches in Sudan were vandalized with red graffiti by two unknown persons. The desecration occurred in broad daylight.  On the exterior wall of...

Under the Microscope: How Communist Nations Persecute Christians Through Intense Scrutiny, Red Tape 

December 6, 2025 China, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, Vietnam — In an attempt to slow the growth of Christianity, each of the world’s five communist nations severely restricts the flow of funding into Christian churches and implements stringent requirements for churches...

Rwanda, DRC Reaffirm Intentions for Peace Amid Ongoing Violence in Eastern DRC 

December 5, 2025 Congo, DRC, Rwanda — President Donald Trump gathered in Washington, D.C. this week with the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to sign a document aiming to reinforce the countries’...

Nigeria Remains in the Crosshairs of Attention for Crimes Against Christians 

December 5, 2025 Nigeria — Nigerian government leaders remain in a global vise of attention and pressure for the ongoing mass killings and kidnappings of Christians by Islamic extremists.   The U.S. Department of State this week opened the...

Genocide Concerns in Ethiopia  

December 4, 2025 Ethiopia — By Dr. Greg Cochran  International Christian Concern (ICC) and other such organizations recently celebrated the Trump administration’s decision to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (officially adding the African nation to the CPC list).   While ICC...

Terrorists Kidnap Pastor, Wife, and Others During Church Service in Kogi 

December 3, 2025 Nigeria — Armed Muslim bandits attacked Ejiba, a community in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi state, on Sunday morning, abducting a pastor, his wife, and several worshippers during a church service.   The incident occurred at a newly...

India’s Supreme Court Upholds Christian Army Officer’s Dismissal 

December 2, 2025 India — The Supreme Court of India on Nov. 25 called a Christian Indian Army officer a “misfit for the Indian Army” while declining to interfere with a regional court order upholding the termination of his services from the defense forces.  The Christian officer, Lt. Samuel Kamalesan, had allegedly refused to...

Churches Vandalized in Sudan

December 6, 2025 ICC News — Last week, in the center of Port Sudan’s market area, two of the oldest churches in Sudan were vandalized with red graffiti by two unknown persons. The desecration occurred in broad daylight.  On the exterior wall of...

Rwanda, DRC Reaffirm Intentions for Peace Amid Ongoing Violence in Eastern DRC 

December 5, 2025 ICC News — President Donald Trump gathered in Washington, D.C. this week with the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to sign a document aiming to reinforce the countries’...

Nigeria Remains in the Crosshairs of Attention for Crimes Against Christians 

December 5, 2025 ICC News — Nigerian government leaders remain in a global vise of attention and pressure for the ongoing mass killings and kidnappings of Christians by Islamic extremists.   The U.S. Department of State this week opened the...

Genocide Concerns in Ethiopia  

December 4, 2025 ICC News — By Dr. Greg Cochran  International Christian Concern (ICC) and other such organizations recently celebrated the Trump administration’s decision to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (officially adding the African nation to the CPC list).   While ICC...

Iranian Christian Prisoner Denied Medical Treatment After Spinal Fracture 

November 13, 2025 ICC News — Iranian authorities on Oct. 31 denied proper medical treatment to prisoner Aida Najaflou, an Iranian Christian convert, after she fell and fractured her spine.  Najaflou, who suffered from spinal disc...

Pastor Remains in Medical Unit of Kyrgyzstan Prison

November 3, 2025 ICC News — On Sept. 25, an imprisoned Kyrgyzstan pastor was transferred to the medical unit of the prison to receive treatment for injuries from his arrest 10 months earlier. The transfer delayed his court date to appeal his sentence.  Pavel Shreider,...

ICC Report Highlights the Faith, Struggle of Armenians Displaced from Artsakh  

November 3, 2025 ICC News — A new report by International Christian Concern (ICC) documents the continuing hardship and resilience of Armenia’s displaced Christian population nearly two years after the fall of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh).   “Hope and the Wandering Souls from...

Iranian Christian Convert Released from Prison 

October 28, 2025 ICC News — Mina Khajavi, a 61-year-old Christian convert, was released from Iran’s Evin Prison on Oct. 20 after serving nearly two years in jail for activities related to her Christian faith.  Khajavi,...

India’s Supreme Court Upholds Christian Army Officer’s Dismissal 

December 2, 2025 ICC News — The Supreme Court of India on Nov. 25 called a Christian Indian Army officer a “misfit for the Indian Army” while declining to interfere with a regional court order upholding the termination of his services from the defense forces.  The Christian officer, Lt. Samuel Kamalesan, had allegedly refused to...

Two Indian Missionaries Cited Under Anti-Conversion Law

November 24, 2025 ICC News — Police in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan recently registered the first case under the state’s recently enacted anti-conversion legislation against two missionaries. The Christians were accused of carrying out...

Priest Rescues Christian Slaves in Pakistan 

November 21, 2025 ICC News — Three Christian families in Pakistan have been freed from modern-day slavery, thanks to one Argentine missionary priest and a young layman who paid for their release.  Father Rico, a priest...

Christian Advocates Call for National Convention as Persecution in India Increases 

November 18, 2025 ICC News — Due to a sharp increase in violence against Christians in India, several advocacy organizations have called for a national convention of Christians this month to raise concerns about Christian persecution...

Under the Microscope: How Communist Nations Persecute Christians Through Intense Scrutiny, Red Tape 

December 6, 2025 ICC News — In an attempt to slow the growth of Christianity, each of the world’s five communist nations severely restricts the flow of funding into Christian churches and implements stringent requirements for churches...

U.S. Endorses Upcoming Elections in Myanmar in Split from International Consensus 

December 2, 2025 ICC News — In a notice signed last week by Kristi Noem, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, the U.S. cited “plans for free and fair elections” in Myanmar in its decision to end Temporary Protected Status...

Thai Appeals Court Upholds Decision to Extradite Bdap to Vietnam 

November 26, 2025 ICC News — The Court of Appeals in Thailand upheld a lower court’s verdict on Wednesday and ordered Y Quynh Bdap, a Christian activist and co-founder of Montagnards Stand for Justice (MSF), to...

Chinese Pastor Released After 12 Years Behind Bars

November 25, 2025 ICC News — Chinese authorities released Pastor Zhang Shaojie, a 59-year-old Christian, from prison on Nov. 16, after the man completed a 12-year prison sentence. The pastor conveyed great joy over his release...

Under the Microscope: How Communist Nations Persecute Christians Through Intense Scrutiny, Red Tape 

December 6, 2025 ICC News — In an attempt to slow the growth of Christianity, each of the world’s five communist nations severely restricts the flow of funding into Christian churches and implements stringent requirements for churches...

Fifth Ministerial to Advance International Religious Freedom Convenes in Prague 

November 13, 2025 ICC News — World leaders, diplomats, and faith advocates gathered this week at Prague Castle and the Czernin Palace for the fifth annual International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance (IRFBA) Ministerial, marking the...

Russia Continues Crackdown on Unregistered Baptist Churches

November 10, 2025 ICC News — Russian courts banned three more Baptist churches in October for failing to register with the government, according to the religious freedom watchdog Forum 18. These churches, located in the southern...

UK University Mislabels Genesis, Story of Christ as Graphic, Sexually Violent 

November 6, 2025 ICC News — The University of Sheffield in the United Kingdom reportedly added trigger warnings to parts of the Bible for students studying classical and biblical literature this year, according to a Freedom of Information...

Update on Syria: A New Era or More of the Same for Syrian Christians?

September 19, 2025 ICC Fellows — By Linda Burkle, Ph.D., ICC Fellow  Several years ago, while in Jordan, I had the privilege of participating in a feeding and grocery distribution program for Syrian refugees. We served...

Word Wrangling in the Sahel Region 

May 8, 2025 ICC Fellows — By Dr. Greg Cochran, ICC Fellow One of the greatest half-truths ever unleashed on humanity was the pithy encouragement parents commonly passed down to their children: “Sticks and stones may...

The Refugee Camp Economy: How Refugee Camps Fuel Growth

March 24, 2025 ICC Fellows — 03/24/2025 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – When conflict and persecution happen, whole populations flee their homes, cross national borders, and end up in refugee camps. By 2030, more than 300...

Education Is Key: The Role of Education in Fostering Religious Tolerance

March 17, 2025 ICC Fellows — 03/17/2025 Washington, D.C. (International Christian Concern) – “Education is key,” they say. Education for religious tolerance can be effective in developing mutual respect and understanding among individuals from different religious...

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