Africa

By BosNewsLife Correspondents Eric Leijenaar with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos ASMARA, ERITREA (BosNewsLife)-- Authorities in Eritra have detained dozens of Christians during a church service as part of a major crackdown on Christian worship, shortly after news emerged that at least two believers died this month in a military concentration camp, rights investigators told BosNewsLife Thursday, January 29.

By BosNewsLife Senior Special Correspondent Eric Leijenaar CAIRO/AMSTERDAM (BosNewsLife)-- A Netherlands based advocacy group expressed concern Thursday, January 29, over a young Christian convert in Egypt after a judge allegedly threatened to kill her for abandoning Islam and trying to flee Egypt because of harassment by family and police.

By BosNewsLife Senior Special Correspondent Eric Leijenaar and BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos ASMARA, ERITREA (BosNewsLife)-- At least two detained Christians have died this month in Eritrea after a "long period of torture" in a notorious military prison camp, while the number of Christians jailed in the African nation because of their faith approaches 3,000, a well-informed Christian rights group said Wednesday, January 21.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife) -- An Egyptian convert to Christianity was looking forward Monday, January 18, to be recognized as a Christian by the state, after spending 31 years officially identified as a Muslim, but another convert was so far refused such an opportunity Christians said.

By Mary Priddy, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent BANJUL, THE GAMBIA (BosNewsLife) -- A British missionary couple sentenced to one year jail terms with hard labor for "sedition" in The Gambia, has "apologized" to the government of President Yahya Jammeh and asked him for clemency through a letter read on national television.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife with reporting from The Gambia BANJUL, THE GAMBIA (BosNewsLife) -- Two British missionaries spent New Year behind bars in The Gambia after being sentenced to one-year jail terms with hard labor for allegedly criticizing the government of President Yahya Jammeh, who critics say has led the tiny African nation with an iron fist.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife with reporting from The Gambia BANJUL, THE GAMBIA (BosNewsLife) -- Two British missionaries spent New Year behind bars in The Gambia after being sentenced to one-year jail terms with hard labor for allegedly criticizing the government of President Yahya Jammeh, who critics say has led the tiny African nation with an iron fist.

BosNewsLife Africa Service

ASMARA, ERITREA (BosNewsLife)-- Several churches in Eritrea were without their leaders and other believers Sunday, December 21, as a government-backed campaign of mass arrests reached the capital Asmara amid fears several detainees died of mistreatment, Christians said.

BosNewsLife Africa Service

BANJUL, THE GAMBIA (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian missionary couple from Britain remained behind bars in The Gambia Saturday, December 20, and was due in court on Christmas Eve, for allegedly undermining the government of autocratic President Yahya Jammeh.

By BosNewsLife Africa Service ABUJA, NIGERIA (BosNewsLife)-- Some 500 suspects remained detained Thursday, December 11, for their alleged involvement in rioting sparked by Muslim attacks on Christians, that left at least six pastors dead and some 500 others killed.