Asia/Pacific

Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife with reporting from China BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- Over 60 Christian leaders, including two South Korean pastors and an elderly well-known evangelical believer, were detained in Central China as part of a crackdown on unauthorized worship, a religious advocacy group said Wednesday, February 18.

Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- Chinese Christian activist Hua Zaichen, who became known for helping reportedly persecuted Christians, has died in a Beijing hospital, shortly after his wife was released from prison, his supporters confirmed to BosNewsLife Monday, February 16. Hua was 91 years old.

By Jawad Mazhar, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Pakistan DANDPUR KHARROLIAN, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- An impoverished Christian man in Pakistan was still searching for his wife and two small children on Valentine's Day Saturday, February 14, nearly one month after they were allegedly kidnapped by Muslim militants because he refused to abandon his faith in Jesus Christ.

Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife

WASHINGTON/SEOUL (BosNewsLife)-- An American mission group said Thursday, February 12, it has launched an 'Underground University' to help exiled North Koreans to return and evangelize in North Korea or to spread Christianity among North Koreans in other countries, including in China.

By Jawad Mazhar, BosNewsLife Special Correspondent reporting from Pakistan

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Pakistan's Minister of Minorities Affairs, Shahbaz Bhatti,has launched a public campaign aimed at annulling controversial blasphemy legislation amid concerns Thursday, February 12, over Islamic extremism against Christians and other minorities in the country.

BosNewsLife Asia Service RANGOON, BURMA (BosNewsLife)-- Dozens of British legislators expressed concern Tuesday, February 10, over reports of massive church closures in Burma, seen as "the most significant crackdown" on Christian activity in the military-ruled Asian nation in years, an advocacy group told BosNewsLife.

Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent, BosNewsLife BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- A Chinese Christian human rights lawyer, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize last year, has been detained by Chinese police but his whereabouts remain unknown, his friend said Monday, February 9.

By Jawad Mazhar, BosNewsLife News Special Correspondent reporting from Pakistan with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos reporting from BosNewsLife News Center in Budapest ISLAMABAD/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Poland confirmed Monday, February 9, the authenticity of video footage showing the beheading in Pakistan of a Polish engineer abducted over four months ago by Islamic militants linked to the groups Taliban and possibly Al-Qaeda.

Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife with BosNewsLife Asia Service. BEIJING, CHINA (BosNewsLife)-- Amid mounting international pressure the frail Christian activist Shuang Shuying, 79, was released Sunday, February 8, after spending two years in prison, and went immediately to see her dying husband, Hua Zaichen, 91, in a Beijing hospital, BosNewsLife learned.

By BosNewsLife News Center WASHINGTON DC, USA (BosNewsLife)-- An influential United States-based Christian rights groups has warned of increased persecution of Christians in "many Islamic countries" and said that even in India, often described as the world's "largest democracy", believers faced the worst violence in recent years.