Pope Francis’ Indonesia Visit Canceled Due to Coronavirus

March 16, 2020 — 03/16/2020 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – Given the prolonged fight against the novel COVID-19 virus, sources in the Vatican said that Pope Francis will no longer visit Indonesia in September...

Baptist Church in Indonesia Unable to Build Its Church Due to Protests

March 15, 2020 — 03/15/2020 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – For six months, Indonesian Baptist Church (GBI) Tlogosari has not been able to continue its construction for its church thanks to opposition from local...

Malaysia’s New Government Concerns Christians, Minorities

March 14, 2020 — 03/14/2020 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) – The sudden resignation of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in late February and the succession of Muhyiddin Yassin, a Malay nationalist, present new challenges to...

Family of Missing Christian Told Not to Inform Indonesian Embassy

March 11, 2020 — 03/11/2020 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) – One of the sisters-in-law of missing pastor Joshua Hilmy told a Human Rights Commission of Malaysia’s (Suhakam) inquiry last Wednesday, that her family was...

Wife of Missing Malaysian Pastor Awarded “Women of Courage”

March 4, 2020 — 03/04/2020 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) – The wife of missing Malaysian pastor Raymond Koh was named as one of 12 recipients of the US’ International Women of Courage (IWOC) awards....

Group in Indonesia Seeks to Ban All Non-Muslim Religious Activities

March 3, 2020 — 03/03/2020 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – A group of people calling themselves the Community Care People Forum (FMPU) in Cilegon from Banten Province, Indonesia is rejecting all forms of religious...

Missing Malaysian Pastor Received Warning from Official

March 2, 2020 — 03/02/2020 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) – In the latest hearing held by The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) for missing Malaysian pastor Joshua Hilmy and his wife Ruth Hilmy...

Pope Francis To Visit Indonesia in September

March 1, 2020 — 02/29/2020 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – According to Archbishop Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, Pope Francis’ expected apostolic trip to Muslim-majority Indonesia next September might include a Eucharistic celebration at the...

Closure of China Border Due to Coronavirus Affects Rural Kachin Townships

February 28, 2020 — 02/28/2020 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) – The fast-spreading Coronavirus in China has pushed Beijing to close borders inside and around the country. Myanmar’s northern Kachin state, which heavily depends on...

A Farmland for Persecuted Hmong Christians in Vietnam

February 26, 2020 — Chao Vang* and his wife appreciate ICC's assistance. 02/26/2020 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – Chao Vang* and his wife are ethnic Hmong who resided in Son La province...

Rights Group Urges EU to Highlight Religious Freedom in Vietnam Dialogue

February 21, 2020 — 02/21/2020 Vietnam (International Christian Concern) – On February 19, Human Rights Watch (HRW) submitted recommendations to the EU, asking the entity to focus on five priority areas regarding the dire...

Muslim Group Protests Against Church Gathering in Mall

February 20, 2020 — 02/20/2020 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – The Islamic Jihad Front (FJI) of Yogyakarta objects a Sunday service taking place at Hartono Mall, located in Depok Subdistrict, Sleman, Special Region of...

Indonesian Gov’t Denies Religious Intolerance Against Catholic Church in Karimun

February 19, 2020 — 02/19/2020 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Ministry has reiterated that there is no problem of religious intolerance behind the protest against construction work at St Joseph’s Catholic...

Missing Malaysian Pastor Joshua Hilmy Once Targeted by Religious Authorities

February 18, 2020 — 02/18/2020 Malaysia (International Christian Concern) – A public inquiry into the disappearance of Pastor Joshua Hilmy and Ruth Hilmy (née Sitepu) begins on Feb 18 in Kuala Lumpur, after the...

Manila Court Issues Warrants to Arrest Two Priests

February 16, 2020 — 02/16/2020 Philippines (International Christian Concern) – A court in Manila has issued warrants on Feb. 14 for the arrest of two Catholic priests, a former senator and eight others for...

You Could Be Flogged for Celebrating Valentine’s Day in Aceh

February 15, 2020 — 02/15/2020 Indonesia (International Christian Concern) – In Muslim-majority Indonesia, celebrating Valentine’s Day could get you into trouble. Perhaps even caned. In parts of the nation, Valentine's Day is controversial, with...