Asia/Pacific

(ADDS EXPLOSION ELSEWHERE IN PAKISTAN, MORE DETAILS) By Xavier P. William, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Lahore, Pakistan and Stefan J. Bos at BosNewsLife News Center LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Muslim mob attacked a Christian neighborhood in eastern Pakistan Saturday, March 9, torching up to 100 homes and injuring dozens, after hearing reports that a Christian man committed blasphemy against Islam.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian woman who was "tortured" by police and "falsely accused" of stealing ornaments from a wealthy Pakistani Muslim household has been reunited with her family, attorneys confirmed to BosNewsLife Sunday, March 3.

By Santosh Digal, BosNewsLife Asia Correspondent reporting from India CHHATTISGARH, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Devoted Christians in India's central state of Chhattisgarh urged the government on Sunday, March 3, to provide protection to churches after Hindu militants broke up evangelical meetings and local police detained four pastors.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A pastor, who had been languishing in a Pakistani jail since October for "blaspheming Islam", was free on bail Thursday, February 28, after the complainant admitted he had mistakenly charged him, Christians said.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian disabled man in Pakistan's Punjab province "cries out for justice" after he was shot and stabbed by influential Muslims, his supporters told BosNewsLife Wednesday, February 27.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- A key human rights official warned Tuesday, February 12, that corruption within the police and government of India's eastern state of Orissa has contributed to renewed violence against Christians in which at least five people were killed, while several "innocent" believers remain jailed.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Christian relief workers rushed to a volatile district in Pakistan's Punjab province Saturday, February 9, after security forces and Muslim hardliners allegedly abused Christian women and raped at least one Christian girl.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service VIENTIANE, LAOS (BosNewsLife)-- Three Christian pastors have been jailed in southern Laos for spreading Christianity, their supporters told BosNewsLife Thursday, February 7. The jailed Christians, who lead evangelical congregations in Savannakhet province, were identified as Pastor Bounma of Alowmai Village Church in Phin district, Pastor Somkaew of Kengsainoi Village Church in Phin district, and Pastor Bounmee of Savet Village Church, in Sepon district.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service DHAKA, BANGLADESH (BosNewsLife)-- Nineteen Christian children who were to be sold to Islamic boarding schools ('madrassas') in Bangladesh have been rescued, a religious rights group said Thursday, February 7.Traffickers lied to the children's parents saying they would take the children to Christian boarding schools in the capital Dhaka, when in fact, they were intending to sell the children to the various madrassas, explained International Christian Concern (ICC).

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos BAHAWALPUR, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- A Pakistani worker, who converted from Hinduism to Christianity, was expected to embrace his family later on Tuesday, January 29, after spending nearly 16 months in prison on "false charges" of "blasphemy", his defense team told BosNewsLife.