Asia/Pacific

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent with BosNewsLife Asia Service LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Pakistani appeals court on Wednesday, April 3, overturned the conviction and death sentence of Younis Masih, a Christian man who spent nearly eight years behind bars on charges of 'blasphemy', a lawyer involved in the case told BosNewsLife. Masih, 32, was sentenced in May 2007 in the city of Lahore for making "derogatory remarks" about Islam's Prophet Mohammad.

Listen to BosNewsLife shorter report via Vatican Radio:  By BosNewsLife Asia Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos at BosNewsLife News Center PYONGYANG/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- North Korea's autocratic leader has announced the restart of all nuclear facilities for both military use and electricity, adding to concerns about hundreds of thousands of inmates, including many Christians, who remain trapped in prison camps.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Muslims in Pakistan's Punjab province have threatened to kill a young woman as well as her husband, child and in-laws because she abandoned Islam and converted to Christianity, BosNewsLife learned Monday, April 1. Maria and her Christian husband Emmanuel Masih said they are hiding with their "beautiful one-year-old daughter" Yarusha Emmanuel after receiving death threats.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- An evangelical Indian pastor who spent eight years in prison on "false charges of being a rebel" can celebrate Easter with his family Sunday, March 31, after he was unexpectedly released, missionaries said.Pastor Samuel, who uses only one name, is "finally free", explained his mission group Gospel for Asia.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in Vietnam's Central Highlands faced suffering on Good Friday as anti-Christian villagers and security forces killed at least one church leader and injured several families, local believers and rights activists said.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Pakistani authorities have reopened the trial against a mentally challenged Christian girl on charges of "blasphemy" while a Christian mother faces a possible death sentence for allegedly making "derogatory remarks" about Islam's prophet Mohammed, lawyers told BosNewsLife Saturday, March 23.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos NAYPYIDAW, BURMA (BosNewsLife)-- Rights groups urged the world Friday, March 22, to pressure Burma to end a crackdown on ethnic and religious minorities after government troops reportedly killed and raped dozens of mainly Christian civilians while burning hundreds of churches and homes.

By BosNewsLife Africa Service and BosNewsLife Asia Service TRIPOLI/JAKARTA (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in two heavily Islamic nations were struggling Thursday, March 21, as believers in Libya faced rebuilding their torched church while half-a-world away in Indonesia, Christians were ordered to dismantle their place of worship.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Christians demand a separate province in Pakistan after as many as 180 Christian-owned homes, shops and two churches were burned down by an angry Muslim mob in the city of Lahore. A Christian-ruled province could have avoided incidents such as last week's attacks against Lahore's Joseph Colony, a Christian neighborhood, said activists and politicians talking to BosNewsLife.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife with additional reporting by BosNewsLife's Xavier P. William in Lahore, Pakistan LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A rights group has defended its controversial decision to help police detain a Christian man whose alleged offensive remarks about Islam's Prophet Muhammad prompted angry Muslims to torch as many as 180 Christian-owned homes, shops and two churches in eastern Pakistan.