Syria

By BosNewsLife News Center VATICAN CITY/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Pope Francis has called a Christian Syrian woman "a martyr" after hearing she was killed by Islamic militants for refusing to deny her faith in Jesus Christ. The leader of the world's one billion Catholics told the faithful in St. Peter's Square that he spoke with the young woman's widow during his visit Saturday, April 16, to the Greek island of Lesbos where he also visited refugees held in an overcrowded detention center.

By BosNewsLife News Center with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos BUDAPEST, HUNGARY (BosNewsLife)-- Hungary's foreign minister says his country has asked the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the "brutal actions" committed against Christians by the Islamic State group.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos DAMASCUS/BEIRUT (BosNewsLife)-- Thousands of Christians remained trapped in a besieged village in Syria late Friday, August 24, without food and regular electricity, a local leader and Catholic aid workers told BosNewsLife.

By BosNewsLife News Center with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos BEIRUT/BUDAPEST (BosNewsLife)-- Hungary's foreign minister has urged the international community to support Lebanon's stability and protect Christians in the region amid concerns about rising sectarian tensions.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos CAIRO/BRUSSELS (BosNewsLife)-- The European Parliament (EP) has condemned violence against Coptic Christians in Egypt, after at least 25 were killed and more than 300 wounded by security forces in Cairo during a peaceful protest earlier this month, a key legislator told BosNewsLife Friday, October 28.

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent BosNewsLife DAMASCUS/BEIRUT (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in Syria and Lebanon were mourning Saturday, October 20, the growing number of believers killed in anti-Christian violence, including children. Among the latest victims in Syria was missionary and house church leader Sami, his wife and their three children, who were murdered by "a marauding militia earlier this month," said the Christian Aid Mission (CAM) group.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service with reporting by BosNewsLife's Stefan J. Bos and local sources DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Christian aid workers have urged prayers after up to 200 Christians were reportedly killed in sustained bombardments of Syria's northern city of Aleppo, as the country's civil war enters its sixth year.

By BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Some 20 Christians kidnapped by fighters linked to terror group al-Qaida in Syria have been released but their priest remained under house arrest Monday, October 13, awaiting an Islamic court trial, church sources said.

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 BosNewsLife Middle East Service DAMASCUS, SYRIA (BosNewsLife)-- Christians in Syria face a difficult Easter after the feared Islamic State (IS) group launched attacks on several Christian villages along the Khabur river in north-eastern Syria, Christians told BosNewsLife.