Asia/Pacific

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos MANILA, PHILIPPINES (BosNewsLife)-- An elderly Christian farmer who was abducted in the Philippines nearly a month ago has been beheaded by a group with links to the Al-Qaeda terror group, the latest in a series of attacks against Christians, rights investigators confirmed Tuesday, May 19.

BosNewsLife Asia Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- An elderly Indian pastor was beaten and abused by local police while serving 20 days in prison on "false" charges of "bribing Hindus to convert," according to Christian rights investigators.

By Jawad Mazhar, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Pakistan LAHORE , PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Pakistan's military on Thursday, May 14, continued pounding suspected positions of the militant Taliban group, which investigators say has created an atmosphere of hatred towards Christians and other religious minorities.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Indian court proceedings underway Monday, May 11, against men who were allegedly involved in gang raping a nun were overshadowed by indications that witnesses have been threatened not to accurately testify, trial observers said.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service NEW DELHI, INDIA (BosNewsLife)-- Evangelical Christians in India's eastern state of Andhra Pradesh faced the difficult task Sunday, May 10, of rebuilding their church after suspected anti-Christian militants torched the building, the latest in a series of attacks against churches in the area, investigators said.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service SWAT VALLEY, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Hundreds of thousands of people, including Christians, have fled Pakistan's Taliban-controlled Swat Valley and nearby areas as the Pakistani military on Saturday, May 9, continued to pound suspected militant positions.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service with BosNewsLife Asia Correspondent Santosh Digal reporting from Manila HANOI, VIETNAM (BosNewsLife)-- Amid protests against reported church destructions, the city of Hanoi has ordered one of its districts to stop construction work on land claimed by the Catholic church, BosNewsLife monitored Thursday, May 7.

By Jawad Mazhar, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Pakistan with additional reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos RAWALPINDI, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Pakistan's military and the militant Taliban group clashed in the country's strategic Swat Valley Wednesday, May 6, adding to fears among minority Christians and forcing thousands of civilians to flee the area.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- A group of Chinese house church Christians, including key leaders, remained detained in China's Henan province Tuesday May 5, after security forces raided a house church in Xinye city, rights investigators told BosNewsLife.

By BosNewsLife Asia Service MANILA, PHILIPPINES (BosNewsLife)-- A Protestant pastor who says he was tortured while being detained in the Philippines has warned of widespread killings and other attacks against church members in the Asian nation.