Edward Ross

Religious Freedom Correspondent

Articles by Edward Ross

26 Apr, 2024 14:21 EDT

Middle East Africa Religious Freedom

Coptic Christians are attacked in two villages in Egypt

By Edward Ross

Three days after Coptic Christians in southern Minya Governorate were attacked over “rumors” of plans for a new church, Muslim extremists upset over a permit to construct a church building on Friday (April 26) attacked Copts in another village.
24 Apr, 2024 15:02 EDT

Oceania Religious Freedom

Seven youths arrested after knifing of bishop in Australia

By Edward Ross

The 16-year-old boy who allegedly knifed Eastern Syriac Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel in Australia on April 15 was part of an extremist group of teenagers, and authorities arrested seven of them on Wednesday (April 24), news media reported.
15 Apr, 2024 13:57 EDT

Oceania Religious Freedom

Bishop in Australia, others stabbed during worship

By Edward Ross

An Eastern Syriac bishop and at least three others were stabbed as he presided over a worship service in a suburb of Sydney, Australia that was being livestreamed on Monday evening (April 15).
9 Apr, 2024 16:59 EDT

Asia Religious Freedom

Christians in China threatened after arrest for printing devotionals

By Edward Ross

Authorities in China issued threats of a long prison sentence and loss of property to Christians charged with “illegal business operations” for printing devotional materials intended only for their church, their attorney said.
23 Mar, 2024 05:03 EDT

Latin America Religious Freedom

Amid crackdown, Nicaragua again bans Holy Week processions

By Edward Ross

Nicaragua has banned the Catholic Church’s public Holy Week celebrations for a second straight year amid other repressive measures that have included Protestant organizations.
14 Mar, 2024 12:56 EDT

Africa Religious Freedom

Officials in Egypt abet kidnappers of Christian woman, father says

By Edward Ross

Authorities in Egypt have abetted the kidnapping and forcible conversion to Islam of a Coptic Christian woman, according to a widely published expert on the Middle East and Islam.
21 Feb, 2024 09:02 EST

Middle East Religious Freedom

Punishment of Christians in Iran extends beyond prison, report says

By Edward Ross

At least 17 of the more than 100 Christians arrested for their faith in a crackdown in Iran last summer received prison sentences of between three months and five years, or fines and floggings, by the end of 2023, advocacy group Article 18 reported.
2 Feb, 2024 09:18 EST

Africa Religious Freedom

Brownback, others support action against slaughters in Nigeria

By Edward Ross

Unchecked massacres and kidnappings in Nigeria, many of them targeting Christians, require more than the U.S. State Department designating it as a “Country of Particular Concern,” key leaders said at the International Religious Freedom Summit.
31 Jan, 2024 14:54 EST

Europe Religious Freedom

Russian religious persecution takes aim at Ukrainian identity, Summit told

By Edward Ross

Russian soldiers and occupation officials have committed at least 76 acts of religious persecution in Ukraine since the invasion of February 2022 as part of an attempt to destroy national identity, official and church sources said at the International Religious Freedom Summit.
29 Jan, 2024 11:10 EST

Middle East Religious Freedom

Man slain at Catholic church in Turkey was Muslim, official says

By Edward Ross

The Islamic State (ISIS) claimed responsibility for a shooting at a Catholic church service in Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday (Jan. 28) that killed a Muslim citizen, news agencies reported.
19 Jan, 2024 14:21 EST

Latin America Religious Freedom

Nicaragua jails pastors for alleged ‘money laundering’

By Edward Ross

Authorities in Nicaragua have jailed nine pastors for more than a month on charges that they formed part of a criminal operation along with three U.S. missionaries, according to the mission organization.
29 Dec, 2023 10:32 EST

Africa Religious Freedom

Mauritania releases Christians arrested after baptism video

By Edward Ross

Officials in Mauritania have released all Christians arrested after a video of a baptism ceremony in November prompted Muslims to call for their punishment, Christian leaders in the region said.

Edward Ross

Grupo de Marcas