Asia

• 27 May 2015
  ASIA/PAKISTAN – Changes to the blasphemy law: the government's bill, Christians approve Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - The government of Pakistan is moving to stop the abuse of the blasphemy law: the executive has in fact developed a bill that will be presented and discussed in Parliament for approval. "It is a ...
• 27 May 2015
  ASIA/ISRAEL - Protest demonstration of Christian schools against discriminatory policies Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) - Christian schools of Israel staged an unprecedented demonstration to denounce the discriminatory policies. Nearly 700 among teachers, parents and children, and religious gathered at 11 am on W ...
• 27 May 2015
  ASIA/SYRIA - Assyrian hostages: jihadists release two women Hassaké (Agenzia Fides) - Two elderly women in the group of more than 230 Assyrian Christians taken hostage in February by the State Islamic jihadists in the Syrian north-western region of Jazira, have been released and ...
• 26 May 2015
  ASIA/NEPAL - A month ago the first earthquake in Nepal, and now the most current emergency is the arrival of the monsoon rains Katmandhu (Agenzia Fides) - One month after the earthquake struck Nepal, the most current emergency is the arrival of the monsoon rains expected in a few weeks. Once the rains begin, it will be harder to reach remote are ...
• 26 May 2015
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Christian lawyers: "The blasphemy law has to be abolished" Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - Tension remains high in the neighborhood of Sanda, in Lahore, the scene of anti-Christian violence carried out on Sunday 24 May. After a case of alleged blasphemy (of which a Christian is accused ...
• 26 May 2015
  ASIA/SYRIA - The jihadists retreat from the villages on the river Khabur, leaving destroyed crosses and vandalized churches Hassaké (Agenzia Fides) - The jihadi militias of the Islamic State (IS) retreated from the villages along the river Khabur, in the northeastern Syrian province of Jazira, which they had occupied on February 23, forcing ...
• 26 May 2015
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Bishops: "Laity and parishes have to act in order to combat modern slavery" Manila (Agenzia Fides) - The President of the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines, His Exc. Mgr. Socrates Villegas, Archbishop of Lingayen-Dagupan, called for "concrete actions" to fight against "modern slavery". "Pe ...
• 26 May 2015
  ASIA/CHINA - Pentecost of the Chinese community, on the Day of Prayer for China Shi Jia Zhuang (Agenzia Fides) - "Let us pray for the Church in China, that faces major challenges in the life of the Church and society. Let us pray so that the Holy Spirit guides us ... and may Our Lady Help of Christi ...
• 25 May 2015
  ASIA/MYANMAR – Cardinal Bo to the Burmese Government: "Compassion and mercy towards the boat people" Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - "An agony of immense poignancy unfolds on the seas of South East Asia: a new wave of boat people, ejected by excruciating poverty and conflict from both Myanmar and Bangladesh are adrift ...
• 25 May 2015
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Accusation of blasphemy: violence in a Christian area in Lahore, but "no alarmism" Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - The Christian area of Sanda, in the oldest area of Lahore, was the scene of new violence, yesterday afternoon, 24 May, following a case of blasphemy. "The police intervened promptly, and managed ...
• 25 May 2015
  ASIA/HOLY LAND - The Society of St. Yves is organizing a study day on the confiscation of land in the West Bank Jerusalem (Agenzia Fides) - The Society of St. Yves, an organization committed to the defense of human rights linked with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, puts the spotlight on the sensitive issue of the confiscation ...
• 25 May 2015
  ASIA/SYRIA - Syrian Catholic Patriarch Ignace Youssif III: prayer and fasting for father Murad and deacon Hanna’s release Homs (Agenzia Fides) - Yesterday, Sunday, May 24, in all the the Syro-Catholic churches in the world the faithful prayed for the release of Father Jacques Murad, the Syrian priest kidnapped by unknown persons on Friday 2 ...
• 22 May 2015
  ASIA/SYRIA – Fr. Jacques Murad kidnapped; he belonged to the same community of Father Paolo Dall'Oglio Homs (Agenzia Fides) - Priest Jacques Murad, Prior of the Monastery of Mar Elian, was abducted by two kidnappers at the Monastery under the threat of arms. According to some local sources, contacted by Agenzia Fides, the ...
• 22 May 2015
  ASIA/INDONESIA - It is no longer compulsory to indicate one's religion on identity cards Jakarta (Agenzia Fides) - It is no longer compulsory to indicate one's religion on identity cards in Indonesia. Indonesians, under the heading "religion", can leave a blank or indicate a faith outside of the six official ...
• 22 May 2015
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - 106 indicted for the murder of two Christians burned alive: "A step towards justice" Faisalabad (Agenzia Fides) - "It is a step towards justice. We hope that justice is done in a case that shocked the Christian community in Pakistan": is how father Waseem Walter, Director of the Pontifical Mission Societ ...