Asia/Pacific

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos YANGON, BURMA (BosNewslife)-- Burma was under pressure Sunday, June 30, to halt violence against the predominantly Christian Kachin minority after at least two civilians were reportedly killed by government troops. Rights group Christian Solarity Worldwide (CSW) identified one of those killed as Zahkung Lum Hkawng, 45, who it said was "tortured, beaten and shot dead by the Burmese Army" in the Asian country's Northern Shan State on June 14.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Pakistani Christian rights lawyer who faces death threats from Islamic militants says local police refuse to protect him but that he will ask a court to force them to provide security and investigate the case.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent PATTOKI, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- The chief lawyer defending Christian women who were reportedly sexually abused by activists of Pakistan's ruling party said Monday, June 24, that Muslim militants have threatened to kill him if he and his legal team continue with this case or others, including attacks on a Christian neighborhood and rape.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Three impoverished Christian women were recovering Tuesday, June 18, after they were reportedly beaten and forced to parade naked in a Pakistani village due to their faith in Christ.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- A five-day tour by Australian Christian evangelist and motivational speaker Nick Vujicic in Vietnam has sparked discussion about faith among Vietnamese youth and could pressure the government to rethink the state’s tight control of religious activities, rights activists said in comments seen by BosNewsLife Monday, June 17.

By BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Hungary remained under pressure Wednesday, June 12, to explain its relations with China after expelling the vice-president of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) on "terrorism charges" and preventing a Budapest meeting dedicated to the religious and political rights of the Uyghur people.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- The family of a Vietnamese Hmong Christian believe he was killed while in police custody because of defending his church and standing up against "corrupt local officials", rights activists said Tuesday, June 11. The statement came after police claimed their investigation showed that the death of Hoang Van Ngai on March 17 was caused by “suicide by self-electrocution.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- A government official of India's remote Tripura state was trying to avoid prison Monday, June 10, after he allegedly beheaded his Christian son-in-law. Local police initially told local media that the 55-year-old Gobinda Jamatia killed Tapas Bin, 35, with the help of a tribal sorcerer for refusing to abandon Christianity and embrace Hinduism.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A 16-year-old Christian convert from Islam remained missing Saturday, June 8, some two weeks after he was kidnapped by Islamic militants in Pakistan's volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Christian said.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Twenty Baptist pastors have been attacked by suspected Hindu militants in southeastern India and several church leaders required hospital treatment for severe injuries, representatives said Friday, June 7.