Asia/Pacific

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian rights official in Pakistan is demanding police protection for himself and family members after his brother was shot and injured following a series of threats and attacks.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service DHAKA, BANGLADESH (BosNewsLife)-- A tense calm has returned to a village in northern Bangladesh after an angry mob attacked a Christian couple because they were baptised, while a Christian who carried out the baptism was beaten and lost his job, BosNewsLife learned.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Correspondent   LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Less than twoweeks after suicide bombers murdered 18 worshippers at two churches in Lahore, Pakistan, the country’s Ecumenical Commission for Human Development has issued its initial report on the atrocity saying it underscores "growing intolerance" towards minority groups.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos. NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- A young widow who was jailed in India for her evangelistic activities has died of a heart attack, BosNewsLife learned Friday, March 27. Vani, 31, was reportedly detained early last year on what her supporters viewed as trumped up charges of "kidnapping a teenage girl" and "forcing" her to convert to Christianity.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife Columns)-- I suspect we are going to see more of this. After suicide bombers attacked two churches this month during Sunday worship, leaving at least 17 people dead and scores injured, Pakistani Christians went on a rampage through the streets of Lahore.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos LONDON/LAHORE (BosNewsLife)-- Influential South Asian Christians urged Britain on Tuesday, March 17, to pressure Pakistan's government to protect Christians after Sunday's bombings of two churches in Lahore left 17 people dead and more than 70 injured.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- A Vietnamese Christian rights lawyer and Protestant church leader has been attacked when he left his home in Hanoi following years of house arrest and imprisonment, activists have told BosNewsLife.

By Christopher R. Altieri with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos VATICAN CITY/LAHORE (BosNewsLife)-- Pope Francis on Sunday, March 15, appealed for peace and solidarity with Pakistan's "persecuted" Christian minority after bombings at two churches in Lahore left at least 14 people dead and scores of others wounded. He also accused the world of trying to hide the persecution of Christians.

(ADDS MORE DETAILS AND ROBBERY OF CHURCH) By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Bombings rocked two churches in a Christian area of Lahore, Pakistan's second largest city, killing 10 people and injuring dozens, several reports and officials said. Islamic militants linked to Pakistan's Taliban group claimed responsibility for Sunday's blasts in the Youhanabad neighbourhood.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist MELBOURNE/NAYPYIDAW (BosNewsLife Columns)-- On my blog some weeks ago I reprinted portions of a speech given in the Australian Parliament by a politician who had secretly travelled into a rebel-held region of Myanmar, also known as Burma.