Middle East

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (BosNewsLife Columns)-- I found myself in a mild Twitterstorm the other day, if Christians politely disagreeing with one another can be called a Twitterstorm on social networking service Twitter...

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)— One of Syria’s most respected church leaders has condemned the destruction of an ancient Catholic monastery by the Islamic State (IS) group and expressed concern that hundreds of kidnapped people, many of them Christians, may have been killed and Chaldean Bishop of Aleppo Antoine Audo spoke hours after news emerged that IS had destroyed the monastery in the Syrian town of Qaryatain dating back to the 5th century after Christ, and is located in central Homs province.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN (BosNewsLife)-- At least eight people remained missing Saturday, August 15, after Iranian security forces raided a gathering of new Christian converts in the city of Karaj as part of a wider crackdown on house churches in Iran, well-informed Christians told BosNewsLife.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- An Iranian Christian songwriter and member of the evangelical Church of Iran has been released from prison after serving three years, six months and ten days in prison, friends said. Alireza Seyyedian was released from Tehran's notorious Evin Prison, late last month but Christians only confirmed his release this week.

DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)—Dozens of Christian families remained missing Saturday, August 8, after Islamic State militants seized their town in central Syria this week, the Syrian Orthodox Church and activists said.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife Columns)-- An article in The Times newspaper alleging atrocities by Christian militia in Syria has sparked some “I told you so” posts on social media, from people claiming that Christianity is inherently just as violent as Islam.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- An Iraqi Franciscan priest abducted by Islamic militants in northwest Syria has been released, but Christian leaders cautioned that persecution of minority groups continues in the war-torn region.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent TEHRAN/VIENNA (BosNewsLife)- A jailed Iranian evangelical pastor has been told he will be released two years earlier than expected after international pressure, though fellow Christians expressed doubts whether Iran would keep the promise when wrapping up talks on a nuclear deal with the United States and other powers, BosNewsLife learned.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife Columns)-- Recently it might appear that conditions have not been too bad for the Coptic Christians of Egypt. But look more closely and a different picture emerges.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife Columns)-- It's disturbing to learn of a growing number of Islamist threats against Christians in the Biblical holy city of Jerusalem. The latest such incident, as reported by BosNewsLife, comes in the form of leaflets that were distributed there last week, purporting to be issued by "Islamic State, Jerusalem Emirate."