Middle East

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Four Christians in Iran will stand trial for "spreading Christianity" in the strict Islamic nation, a well-informed advocacy official told BosNewsLife, charges that could lead to long prison terms and possible a death sentence.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA (BosNewsLife Columns)-- Aid and advocacy group Open Doors has just released its annual report – known as the World Watch List - of the 50 countries where it claims Christians face the most severe persecution for their faith, but it raises a depressing quiz question: Of the 22 countries that comprise the Arab League, only three are not on the 2016 List; name those three countries....

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service BAGHDAD, IRAQ (BosNewsLife)-- Iraq's oldest Christian monastery has been reduced to rubble as part of the Islamic State group's crackdown on Christianity and relentless destruction of heritage sites it considers contrary to Islam, according to satellite images released Wednesday. January 20.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN/BERLIN (BosNewsLife)-- Iranian-born American Pastor Saeed Abedini was expected to receive medical attention in Germany on Sunday, January 17, after he was released by Iran following more than three years of imprisonment in what his wife said were harsh circumstances. Naghmeh Abedini told reporters that after she learned Saeed Abedini was released early Saturday, January 16, she woke their two children saying: "Daddy is coming home."

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN/VIENNA (BosNewsLife)-- Iran on Saturday, January 16, released Iranian-born American pastor Saeed Abedini along with Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian and two other Americans who had been held in Iranian prisons

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Suspected Islamic militants have freed Franciscan priest Dhiya Aziz, some two weeks after he was kidnapped in Syria, BosNewsLife learned early Tuesday, January 5.

By Martin Roth, BosNewsLife Senior Columnist CAIRO, EGYPT (BosNewsLife Columns)-- As 2015 drew to a close, church leaders were expressing grave concerns about the future of Christianity in the Middle East. But such fears might be exaggerated, claims a writer for a British Christian website.

By BosNewsLife Americas Service WASHINGTON, USA (BosNewsLife)-- Most Americans agree with the presidential candidates of both parties in calling Islamic State group atrocities against Christians in the Middle East "genocide," according to a poll by the Catholic Knights of Columbus (KofC) order and the Marist Institute for Public Opinion. Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee and Martin O'Malley have all called the situation genocide.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Syrian Christians fear that a prominent priest has become the latest victim of ongoing kidnappings by Islamic militants, though dozens of believers were reportedly released by the Islamic State group on Christmas Day.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife TEHRAN, IRAN (BosNewsLife)-- Iran has freed evangelical pastor Farshid Fathi after he spent five years in prison for his faith, fellow Christian workers said early Tuesday, December 22. "We are overjoyed and celebrating!" about Monday's release, said David Yeghnazar, executive director of Iranian mission group Elam Ministries.