Middle East

By Marshall Ramsey II, BosNewsLife International Correspondent with additional reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos HERAT PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Islamic militants in Afghanistan have beheaded what is believed to be a Christian convert and warned other Afghani Christians of "dire consequences" for leaving Islam, after American forces withdraw from Afghanistan, BosNewsLife learned Sunday, July 3.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran's Supreme Court has upheld a death sentence of an Iranian pastor for leaving Islam and he was under pressure Saturday, July 2, to recant his faith in Christ, trial observers told BosNewsLife.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has raised concerns with Hungary's government about legislative measures that critics claim limit press freedom and reduce powers of previously independent institutions. Clinton also expressed solidarity with pro-democracy activists in Egypt, where she says the U.S. will re-open talks with the controversial Muslim Brotherhood group.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- A hard-line Jewish ultra-Orthodox group in Israel has launched a campaign against Christian missionaries and Jewish Christians, known as Messianic Jews, who they view as a security threat.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service SANAA, YEMEN (BosNewsLife)-- Sunday, June 12, marked the second anniversary of the kidnappings of nine Christian foreigners in Yemen by suspected Muslim militants, but German and British investigators "were understood" to have ended "their active search" for those still missing, advocacy group Middle East Concern (MEC) said.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- The fate of an Iranian Christian prisoner remained unclear Friday, June 10, nearly nine months after he was detained by security forces as part of a reported government crackdown on devoted Christians in this strict Islamic nation.

By BosNewsLife Africa Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife)-- Hundreds of mainly Christian refugees from Eritrea are jailed or or held by kidnappers in Egypt, where they face torture, beatings and sexual assault, according to Christian aid workers who contacted BosNewsLife.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos JERUSALEM, ISRAEL (BosNewsLife)-- A Christian group said Tuesday, June 7, it would help organize "the return of the last 8,700 Ethiopian Jews to Israel" by sponsoring what are known as "Aliyah" flights, the coming months.  

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife BUDAPEST/TRIPOLI (BosNewsLife)-- Hungary says it has taken over the United States' diplomatic and consular interests in Libya, after Washington closed down its embassy in the turbulent North African nation.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service KIRKUK, IRAQ (BosNewsLife)-- Iraqi Christians and Muslims on Tuesday, May 31, prayed for an end to violence and released doves "for peace" in the northern city of Kirkuk, where police found the mutilated body of a kidnapped Iraqi Christian, catholic news agency AsiaNews reported.