Edward Ross

Religious Freedom Correspondent

Articles by Edward Ross

15 Jun, 2024 08:06 EDT

Middle East Religious Freedom

Iran upholds 10-year prison term for Armenian Christian

By Edward Ross

A court in Iran upheld a 10-year prison sentence of an Armenian Christian for “deviant proselytizing” even though evidence against him was so weak that the judge decided the case on only his “intuition,” an advocacy group reported.
5 Jun, 2024 13:47 EDT

Middle East Africa Religious Freedom

Christians in Egypt held without trial for more than two years

By Edward Ross

A Christian refugee in Egypt arrested for his faith and imprisoned alongside Islamist criminals has been denied medical care for heart and liver ailments despite complaining of chest pains as recently as April, sources said.
1 Jun, 2024 07:06 EDT

Africa Religious Freedom

Growing jihadist insurgence in Mozambique puts Christians at risk

By Edward Ross

Jihadist insurgents in Mozambique are targeting Christians as they ramp up attacks in the country’s northern-most province, just as neighboring countries are planning to withdraw troops helping government forces to fight them.
23 May, 2024 06:05 EDT

Africa Religious Freedom

Pastors imprisoned 20 years without trial in Eritrea, "the North Korea of Africa"

By Edward Ross

On May 23, 2004, authorities in Eritrea arrested Kiflu Gebremeskel, a church pastor who had earned his Ph.D. in mathematics in Chicago, along with another Eritrean pastor from his Full Gospel Church of Eritrea denomination, Haile Nayzgi.
3 May, 2024 11:59 EDT

Africa Religious Freedom

Prison sentenced upheld for pastor in Algeria for baseless "illegal worship" charges

By Edward Ross

A court in Algeria last week upheld a one-year prison sentence for a top church leader baselessly convicted of “illegal worshipping,” according to a legal advocacy group.
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.

Edward Ross

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