Middle East

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Eight members of Iran's largest evangelical house church movement have been sentenced to years imprisonment on charges that include "“action against the national security” and “propaganda against the order of the system,” Christian rights activists confirmed late Thursday, July 18.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- Egypt's new government faced pressure to end escalating sectarian clashes Wednesday, July 17, amid reports that minority Christians are fleeing their homes after at least nine believers were killed by Islamic supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service CAIRO/LONDON (BosNewsLife)-- The influential leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church in Britain announced three days of prayer as Egypt's minority Coptic Christians feared more violence in the aftermath of the mass killing of more than 50 Islamist protesters in clashes with Egyptian security forces.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Mourning Christians in Syria were still awaiting answers Monday, July 8, as to why Islamic militants with links to opposition rebels entered Christian villages more than a month ago killing several people, including children, in what locals called a "massacre".

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- A Coptic priest was shot dead by Islamic extremists in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula as sectarian clashes spread following the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi, Egyptian security sources said Saturday, July 6.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- Churches were anxiously awaiting Friday, July 5, whether Egypt's new president would be able to end massive kidnappings of Christians, many of them Coptic Christian girls, as well as wealthy believers.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- The pastor of Iran's largest Persian speaking Pentecostal church has been "conditionally released" from prison but his congregation in the capital Tehran remains closed, Iranian Christians told BosNewsLife Thursday, July 4.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with additional reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- A Catholic priest has been publicly beheaded by suspected Islamic militants in northern Syria after accusations of collaborating with President Bashar Assad's government, BosNewsLife established Tuesday, July 2.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- Minority Christians were among millions in Egypt demanding President Mohammed Morsi's resignation on Monday, July 1, amid concerns their nation was moving rapidly towards a hardline Islamic state after at least 16 people died in several days of massive nationwide protests.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BosNewsLife)-- Minority Christians in Iraq feared more violence Saturday, June 29, after several Assyrian Christian shops and one church were attacked, killing two people and injuring a dozen others, church representatives said.