Jack Bethel

Religious Freedom Correspondent

Articles by Jack Bethel

24 Apr, 2026 12:02 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Baptist pastor faces expulsion from Russian-occupied Ukraine

By Jack Bethel

The Rev. Vladimir Rytikov faces expulsion from his birthplace in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine after authorities accused him of “illegal missionary activity” and cancelled his residence permit, a rights watchdog reports.
22 Dec, 2025 11:38 EST

Europe Religious Freedom

Priest in Russia beaten, convicted of ‘disrespecting society'

By Jack Bethel

A court in Russia on Thursday (Dec. 18) found a Russian priest guilty of “showing an overt disrespect for society” and imposed a 30,000 Ruble ($379) fine after authorities last month beat him, shaved his hair and beard and shocked him with a stun gun.
13 Nov, 2025 12:43 EST

Europe Religious Freedom

Bans on Baptist churches surge in Russia

By Jack Bethel

Russian courts intensified civil bans on Baptist churches for meeting without state permission in the past year, according to rights group Forum 18.
21 Oct, 2025 13:04 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Tortured Kyrgyzstan pastor suffers traumatic brain injury

By Jack Bethel

Amid allegations by U.N. special Rapporteurs of prison personnel torturing a church leader in Kyrgyzstan, the pastor has traumatic brain injuries that have left him cognitively impaired, according to rights group Forum 18.zstan
8 Sep, 2025 14:22 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Russian court imprisons pastor for statement on Ukraine war

By Jack Bethel

A Russian court last week jailed a church pastor for four years after he spoke out against the invasion of Ukraine in a sermon.
2 Aug, 2025 05:35 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Film shows effect of Russian invasion on Ukraine evangelicals

By Jack Bethel

A documentary about the suffering of evangelical Christians in Ukraine shows how one objective of the Russian invasion is to degrade Christianity, including allowing Chechen Muslims to partially Islamize occupied areas.
14 Jun, 2025 07:09 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Slain church leaders among abuses by Russian occupation forces in Ukraine

By Jack Bethel

Horrific human rights abuses of evangelical Christians by Russian authorities illegally occupying territories in Ukraine have been documented in a report released earlier this year.
23 May, 2025 12:24 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Pastor in Kyrgyzstan tortured, charged with ‘inciting enmity’

By Jack Bethel

A church pastor in Kyrgyzstan facing possible conviction on Thursday (May 29) of ‘inciting enmity’ was struck with an iron pipe, kicked and received blows to his head and chest after his arrest in November, according to rights group Forum 18.
20 May, 2025 14:05 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Islamist youth gang in France threatens Catholic priest

By Jack Bethel

A gang of Islamist youths in France shouting the jihadist slogan “Allah Akbar [God is greater]” this month threatened a Catholic priest and vowed to burn down his church building before fleeing.
12 May, 2025 16:45 EDT

Europe Religious Freedom

Belarusian secret police ban Christian rights group’s online presence

By Jack Bethel

Belarus has banned rights group Christian Vision and labeled it “extremist” for documenting religious freedom abuses by the Belarusian secret police, according to Forum 18.
4 Mar, 2025 10:58 EST

Europe Religious Freedom

Imprisoned Ukrainian priest transferred to labor camp in Russia

By Jack Bethel

An imprisoned Ukrainian Orthodox Church priest has been sent 600 miles (1,000 kilometers) from his parish in Russian-occupied Ukraine to a hard labor camp in Russia to serve his 14-year sentence on false espionage charges, according to rights group Forum 18.
25 Nov, 2024 12:24 EST

Europe Religious Freedom

Moscow pastor arrested for opposing invasion of Ukraine

By Jack Bethel

A pastor in Russia could face six years in jail or a fine of 1 million rubles ($9,583USD) for preaching “on the basis of Holy Scripture” that the invasion of Ukraine was wrong and Christians should not fight in it, a religious rights outlet reported.

Jack Bethel

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