U.S. Lifts Sanctions on SyriaJuly 3, 2025 — 7/3/2025 Syria (International Christian Concern) — The White House this week announced the official easing of sanctions on Syria, a move that follows an in-person meeting between U.S. President Donald...
Syrian Church Bombing Comes Amid Growing Threat from Islamic State June 25, 2025 — 6/25/2025 Syria (International Christian Concern) — A lone gunman wearing explosives entered the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church near Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, opening fire on congregants before detonating his...
Christians in Iran, Israel Cling to Hope During ConflictJune 24, 2025 — 6/24/2025 Iran/Israel (International Christian Concern) — During the conflict between Israel and Iran, Christians in both countries have lived in fear and uncertainty. In Iran, which is No. 9 on...
Suicide Bomber Attacks Church in SyriaJune 23, 2025 — 6/22/2025 Syria (International Christian Concern) — A suicide bomber detonated himself during worship on Sunday inside Mar Elyas Greek Orthodox Church in the Dwelia neighborhood of Damascus, Syria. The...
Forced Marriages, Religious Conversions in the Spotlight on Capitol Hill June 19, 2025 — 6/18/2025 United States (International Christian Concern) — Christine walked nervously to the lectern on the fifth floor of the Longworth House Office Building on a recent sunny afternoon. Across the...
Forced Marriages, Religious Conversions in the Spotlight on Capitol Hill June 18, 2025 — 6/18/2025 United States (International Christian Concern) — Christine walked nervously to the lectern on the fifth floor of the Longworth House Office Building on a recent sunny afternoon. Across the...
Christian Population in MENA is Shrinking Due to Religious Disaffiliation June 13, 2025 — 6/13/2025 Middle East (International Christian Concern) — Pew Research released data from more than 2,700 census reports, surveys, and population records across the Middle East-North Africa (MENA) region, showing that...
Christians in Former-Soviet Central Asian Nations Increasingly Face PersecutionJune 12, 2025 — 6/12/2025 Central Asia (International Christian Concern) — Formerly part of the USSR, the five “stan” countries — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — have a mix of ex-Soviet authoritarianism...
Iranian Christian Refugees Granted 6-Month Extension in PanamaJune 6, 2025 — Panama (International Christian Concern) — Artemis Ghasemzadeh, a 27-year-old Iranian woman, and other Christian asylum seekers in Panama were given a six-month extension this week to find a new home. ...
The (Not So) Secret Discrimination of Christians in Islamic-led Countries June 6, 2025 — 6/6/2025 Middle East/Asia (International Christian Concern) — Brunei, Iran, and Yemen, among others, follow Sharia law, a legislative system that governs citizens using various interpretations of Islamic criteria. In Pakistan...
Persecuted Communities Worldwide Face New Restrictions from the USJune 5, 2025 — An executive order announced this week introduced near-total restrictions on travel to the U.S. by citizens of 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iran, and Myanmar — countries widely recognized as...
Armenian Christian Pens Letter Detailing Abuses while Imprisoned in IranMay 23, 2025 — 5/23/2025 Iran (International Christian Concern) — Hakop Gochumyan, an Armenian Christian arrested in Iran in 2023 for his Christian faith, recently sent a letter to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) detailing...
ICC Releases Emergency Petition to Help Iranian Christians Seeking AsylumMay 20, 2025 — 5/20/2025 United States (International Christian Concern) — Artemis Ghasemzadeh, an Iranian-Christian convert who fled persecution in Iran, has less than three weeks to find a country that will grant her asylum....
Bill Inspired by Iranian Christian Refugee Introduced in CongressMay 20, 2025 — 5/20/2025 United States (International Christian Concern) — A new bill inspired by the story of Artemis Ghasemzadeh, a 27-year-old Iranian-Christian convert deported four months ago by the Trump administration, was...
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Syria Despite Uncertain Future for Human Rights May 15, 2025 — 5/15/2025 Syria (International Christian Concern) — On the sidelines of a trip to the Middle East this week, U.S. President Donald Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Saudi...
Iranian Christian Refugee in Panama Faces Deadline to Find AsylumMay 13, 2025 — 5/13/2025 Panama (International Christian Concern) — After spending three months in Panama, a 27-year-old Iranian woman is still praying and searching for a safe country to accept her. And her...
