Algeria Officially Designated a "Religious Freedoms Violator"

4-29-2020 - The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) added Algeria to its 2020 annual report of the world’s worst religious freedom violators. This is the first time in USCIRF’s 20-year history that Algeria has been included in the annual report, an important development that comes at a time when the Algerian Church is facing a severe wave of persecution.

The evangelical Church in Algeria, represented by the Eglise Protestante d’Algérie (EPA), has worshipped in relative peace for many decades but, after a series of challenges to its legal status in the early 2000s, the Church began to experience serious pressure from the government. Eighteen churches in the EPA network were closed between November 2017 and the end of 2019, including several incidents in which the authorities used violence to eject peaceful worshippers from their places of worship.

The USCIRF is one of the leading global voices on the topic of international religious freedom. Its annual report is used by key stakeholders in the United States and by governments all around the world to understand, on a country-by-country basis, the status of religious freedom around the world. “The [Algerian] government,” USCIRF reports, “systematically cracked down on the Evangelical Protestant community.”

The USCIRF's 2020 Annual Report recommends 14 countries to the State Department for designation as “countries of particular concern” because their governments engage in or tolerate “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations.” These countries are Burma, China, Eritrea, India, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam.

The 2020 Annual Report also recommends 15 countries for placement on the State Department’s Special Watch List for severe violations: Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Central African Republic, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nicaragua, Sudan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

Additionally, the USCIRF 2020 Annual Report recommends to the State Department six non-state actors for designation as “entities of particular concern” for systematic, ongoing, egregious violations. These consist of five groups that the State Department designated in December 2019—al-Shabaab in Somalia, Boko Haram in Nigeria, the Houthis in Yemen, Islamic State in Khorasan Province in Afghanistan, and the Taliban in Afghanistan—plus one other—Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham in Syria.

Sources: 1)  USCIRF 2020 Annual Report (link opens as .pdf); 2) International Christian Concern (ICC) press release dated 4-28-2020.

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Iran: Christian Sentenced to Flogging

The following is an unedited press release from International Christian Concern (ICC). Please check out their website at www.persecution.org for more on the persecution and genocide of Christians around the world.  

04/22/2020 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on April 21, 2020, Christian human rights activist Mary Fatima Mohammadi received a suspended prison sentence of three months by the Iranian government. The sentence included a directive ordering Mary to receive a flogging of 10 lashes.

Mary has come under significant pressure from the Iranian authorities over the years because of her Christian human rights activism. In the latest incident, she was arrested because she was present in the area of a protest where Iranians had rallied regarding the government’s downing of Ukrainian Airline Flight 752. The issue of the government’s complicity in targeting the passenger flight remains highly sensitive in Iran. Mary further explained this connection on Instagram, saying that her sentence is a consequence of “protesting against the slaughter of human beings; because of showing sympathy for the families of those who perished on the Ukraine airline crash; because of defending the rights of all humans.”

After her arrest, Mary disappeared for nearly a month before she was discovered in Qarchak Women’s Prison, a jail with a reputation for various types of gender abuse. While there, Mary reported that she was beaten and suffered other kinds of mistreatment at the hands of the officials, including being strip-searched twice. She was eventually released on a bail of 30 million tomans ($2,250 USD) and charged with “disrupting public order by participating in an illegal rally.”

Her court hearing was initially delayed because of COVID-19, but took place on April 17. Iran’s Human Rights Activist News Agency (HANA) reports that during the hearing, the judge repeatedly questioned Mary about her conversion to Christianity. Her case was heard in Branch 6 of the 33^rd District Court of Evin before being transferred to Branch 1167 of the Tehran Provincial Criminal Court (Quds Judicial Complex).

Following her sentencing, Mary tweeted: “There is no evidence against me, so I ought to have been acquitted. But instead I was sentenced not only to imprisonment, but also flogging. It should be mentioned that even before the verdict was handed down, I was forced to endure all kinds of torture, none of which was sanctioned by law, and which ought to be considered crimes in themselves. We have refrained from appealing against the verdict because the appeal courts have turned into confirmation courts! I am proud of sympathizing with human beings in the real harsh environment of the streets. This is my conviction and the cost.”

Iran has not publicly sentenced a Christian to a flogging for nearly two years, although persecution has increased during that interim. Because of COVID-19, Iran has evaluated the situation of its thousands of political prisoners. Many Christians were not included in this evaluation, although some were temporarily furloughed and three had their prison sentences canceled. Many political prisoners have complained that during this time of COVID-19, judges are absent, the authorities fail to provide health updates of prisoners to families, and officials have not clarified how furloughed prisoners will be reincorporated into the prison system following COVID-19.

Claire Evans, ICC’s Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “We must not let the number of political prisoners furloughed in Iran because of COVID-19 confuse the issue that Iran has always been one of the top human rights violators in the world. The authorities have made it clear, time and time again, that they do not value their citizens and that they will not tolerate freedom of conscience. The sentencing of Mary Mohammadi is alarming, but unfortunately, not surprising. Iran’s government does not want human rights activism, and they do not want Christians exercising their voice publicly. Mary Mohammadi is an example of courage and bravery to us all. We must continue calling on Iran to respect human rights and allow its citizens to voice their convictions of conscience.”

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China Continues to Attack Christianity

State-Vetted Chinese Church Demolished on Easter

4-17-2020 - The human rights organization, International Christian Concern (ICC), is reporting on April 12, Easter Sunday in the Western tradition,, a state-sanctioned church in China’s Qinghai province was demolished.

At 8:30 a.m. on April 12, a team from the Xining City Chengxi District Urban and Rural Construction Bureau began the two-hour long demolition process of Donghu Church, labelling the church as illegal while citing “safety concerns.”

The nearly 20-year-old church received approval in 2003 to become a Three-Self Church by meeting the official requirements. It is the oldest and largest church in the Chengxi district with more than 300 members.

According to IPK Media, the Xining City Government and Li Zhennan, the head of the local religious bureau, have been hard at work cracking down on religion. They have attempted to shut down Donghu Church many times. As early as December 2017, the fire department intended to close the church in the name of safety concerns. Thanks to a stand-off from dozens of church members, the order was suspended.

Following the suspension, the church purchased a new hall and informed the local religious bureau and fire department in 2018. Yet, when the church applied to move to the new location in April 2018, the religious bureau disapproved and prevented the church from renovating the hall, demanding that the church sell this property and purchase elsewhere instead.

In response, the church picked another location in 2019, but was again denied. The church has since been meeting in a hotel as a result, yet was told that it cannot hold “illegal gatherings” or else it would be banned.

China Aid also reports that last December, the local authorities cut off the church’s electricity after the fire department claimed that the church failed to meet fire safety requirements. The congregation worshipped in darkness for two weeks. The leader of the church, Li Xuejiao, said that her church was asked to shut down immediately and would be demolished in 2020.

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, said, “Easter is one of the most celebrated holidays for Christians, yet the Qinghai authorities deliberately picked this day to tear down Donghu Church. This malicious act shows how the Chinese government has no regard for religious freedom even though its constitution guarantees it. Under President Xi Jinping, even the Three-Self churches are no longer safe from the crackdown against churches. The government would like all churches to believe in the Chinese Communist Party, not God.”

Source: Press release from ICC dated 4-15-2020

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China: House Church Pastor Arrested for Refusing to Join State-Vetted Church

04/14/2020 –  A house church pastor in China’s Hunan province was arrested on April 2, after being criminally detained since March 14 for “inciting subversion of state power,” reports International Christian Concern (ICC).

On April 11, Bethel Church sent out an urgent prayer request for its pastor, Zhao Huaiguo, asking for nationwide prayers for its pastor who was arrested on April 2 on subversion charges. Zhao, the founder of Bethel Church in Cili county, has served at his church for 13 years, cultivating many leaders among the several hundred members. The church refused to join the state-vetted Three-Self church and was banned last year by the government. Bethel Church has "hundreds of members," according to a news report by China Aid.

According to China Aid, a local Christian shared that the authorities have been hostile toward Pastor Zhao since his church refused to join the state-sanctioned church and rejected government officials’ intervention. “He was accused of proselytizing and distributing Gospel tracts, which were considered illegal acts. After Lunar New Year last year, the religious bureau forced the church to disperse, to which it refused. The official ban arrived last April,” said the local Christian.

On April 10, 2019, nearly 50 people from the local authorities raided Bethel Church, damaging church property and confiscating Bibles, a piano, and hymn books. Pastor Zhao and other members were questioned and warned.

A Bethel Church member told China Aid that from March to December 2019, the public security police have repeatedly harassed the church, taking its preachers in for investigation and forcing them to sign an agreement that they would not preach or hold any more religious activities.

Following Zhao’s arrest, the authorities have been investigating the church’s offering and its sources, in an effort to find proof to accuse Pastor Zhao. Yet, since the church members refused to provide information, the police have made little progress thus far.

Gina Goh, ICC’s Regional Manager for Southeast Asia, said, “For the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to slap the charge of ‘inciting subversion of state power’ on Pastor Zhao, typically used against human rights lawyers and activists, it shows how the regime is fearful of anybody who is disobedient to the CCP. The laws in China now have become tools for the government to silence and weaken its citizens’ influence, even in a religious setting. The lack of rule of law in China should gravely concern the international community.”

Sources: 1) ICC press release dated 4-14-2020. 2) China Aid news report dated 4-12-2020.

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China: Church Members Detained During Easter Service

04/14/2020 -  International Christian Concern (ICC), a human rights organization focused on Christian persecution around the world,  is reporting that during an online worship session in China to celebrate Easter on April 12, several key members of the heavily persecuted Early Rain Covenant Church (ERCC) were taken away from their homes.

The Sichuan house church has not been able to gather in person since the government clamped down on the church on December 9, 2018 (long before the coronavirus pandemic) and arrested their pastor and other leaders. This Easter, the church was conducting an online worship session, when suddenly six leaders were taken by the Public Security Bureau from their homes.

A member of ERCC told ICC, “At that time I was also in the Zoom call, but there was a long period of time where I did not hear a thing. I thought it’s the network connection issue at first, but I soon heard a quarrel erupt. Our coworker Wang Jun was questioning some people, [saying], ‘Who are you to do this [to us]?’”

She added that, in addition to Wang, other leaders such as Guo Haigang, Wu Wuqing, Jia Xuewei, Zhang Jianqing and Zhang Xudong were also taken away. One member’s home had its electricity cut off, while others received phone calls that “police [were] coming to visit them soon.”

A supporter of ERCC also shared on Twitter, “Since 8:30 a.m., some security officials have entered these Christian families’ homes and pretended to be chatting with them casually. At 9:30 a.m., the worship began, and they were also invited to participate. Once they realized that the sermon was from ERCC’s imprisoned pastor Wang Yi, they immediately shut it down.”

Her account was echoed by Zhang Jiangqing, who was warned by the police at his house, saying, “Don’t participate in already banned [religious] activities anymore! Don’t listen to Pastor [Wang]’s sermons anymore! If you do this again, we will deal with it seriously and take you away!”

The six briefly detained Christians have since been released, and their electricity was restored in the afternoon.

It is not uncommon for the local authorities to take additional measures against ERCC during major Christian celebrations or anniversary events. However, the latest detention also took place after church member Chen Yan decided to file a lawsuit against the authorities for unlawful harassment and surveillance against her and her husband Xiao Luobiao for more than a year. Last week, she detailed her experience with the security officials and her intention to sue in a series of blog posts published online.

Source: ICC press release dated 4-13-2020.

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The following is a White House press release of President Donald Trump's message for Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020.

Presidential Message on Easter, 2020

Melania and I join millions of Christians celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the gift of eternal life this Easter.  Although this year’s observance of Easter comes during a somber time for our Nation, we hope all of you are filled with the joy, love, and hope that marks this holiest of days.

As our Nation has faced the unique challenges posed by the coronavirus during the past few weeks, we have turned to God for guidance, comfort, and hope.  Throughout this difficult period, we have witnessed the core tenets of Christianity—love, compassion, and kindness—reflected in the many acts of courage, generosity, and caring of the American people.  Our country’s citizens have taken to heart the words of 1 Peter 4:10: “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”  Countless Americans have selflessly answered the calls for help in their communities and have performed extraordinary acts to help their neighbors in times of need.  Healthcare workers and medical professionals have worked tirelessly to heal the sick, and thousands of volunteers, first responders, critical workers, and businesses have contributed their time and resources to help defeat this virus.

No matter the circumstances, we will always celebrate Easter as a time of rejuvenation, rebirth, and a renewed sense of purpose and faith.  The coronavirus will not stop Easter.  Even in the darkest hours, God’s abundant love and mercy are unwavering.  The light of Christ will always triumph over the trials and tribulations we face because He has defeated death.  Today, let us take a little extra time to pray for the strength of our country and our people, and ask that God hold all Americans in the palm of His hand.  Together, let us rejoice in knowing that Christ has risen.

We send our best wishes for a blessed and joyous Easter.

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Pakistan: More Christian Families Denied Food Aid Amid COVID-19 Crisis

4-11-2020 - A new instance of Christian families being denied food aid during Pakistan's Covid-19 lockdown has emerged (for the previous incidents, see the April 9 article).

International Christian Concern (ICC) is reporting the new incident in which Pakistani Christians were denied food aid amid the COVID-19 crisis. This marks the fourth incident ICC has documented since Pakistan was place on lockdown by authorities seeking to combat the pandemic.

According to a video post on Facebook, Christians were denied food aid on April 2 in a village situated on the Raiwind road, near Lahore. A local pastor, who wished to remained unnamed, confirmed the incident when contacted by ICC.

In the Facebook video, a young Christian man claims that a local mosque committee distributed foodstuffs on April 2 to deserving families. However, the management asked the village’s Christians to leave the mosque compound because the food aid was meant for only Muslims.

“If this is the situation, then what are the arrangements for Christians?” the Christian asked in the Facebook video. “Who is going to feed them? Are we not citizens of the same country?”

“Denying food aid and discriminating among citizens is a crime,” Aftab Hayat, a Pakistani NGO leader, told ICC. “Christians often face discrimination and are victims of religious hatred. However, the situation for Christians in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis is alarming and becoming worse. Therefore, the authorities must take note of the developing situation.”

Since March 21, most of Pakistan has been placed on lockdown as authorities seek to slow the spread of COVID-19. However, this national lockdown has significantly affected the country’s poor and vulnerable communities. This includes Pakistan’s religious minorities.

Approximately 45% of Pakistan’s total population live below the poverty line, earning most of their income through daily labor jobs. The national lockdown has cut off many of these laborers from earning daily wages and reports of starvation are already circulating.

Source: International Christian Concern press release dated 4-9-2020.

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Pakistan: Christian Families Denied Food Aid Amid COVID-19 Crisis

4-9-2020 -Muslim officials in Pakistan are using the Covid-19 crisis to further persecute Christians. Since Pakistan's national lockdown began on March 21, numerous cases of Christians being denied food aid and other assistance have been documented by International Christian Concern (ICC) and other human rights organizations. The latest incident occurred on Sunday, April 5, in which more than 100 Christian families from Sandha Kalan village, located in Punjab province, were excluded from a distribution of food aid by local Muslim officials.

The aid, collected by a village management committee and mostly made up of food, was intended to be distributed among all needy families of the village. However, when the aid was distributed, Sheikh Abdul Haleem Hamid, a cleric at the local mosque, decided that the food aid would be given to only Muslim families. Not a single Christian family received any aid.

Pakistan is overwhelmingly Islamic, with 96% of the population being Muslim. However, there is a small minority of Christians, making up about 1.6% of the population. The Christian minority faces severe discrimination and persecution.

Source: Press release dated 4-7-2020 by International Christian Concern (ICC).

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Georgia: Muslim Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Attack the White House with Explosives

The following is an unedited press release (#20-354) from the United States Department of Justice, dated April 1, 2020.

4-1-2020 -Today Hasher Jallal Taheb, 23, of Cumming, Georgia, has pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to destroy, by fire or an explosive, a building owned by or leased to the United States. Taleb had planned an attack on the White House using weapons and explosives.  As part of the plea agreement, the defendant and the government agreed that the defendant should receive a 15-year sentence of imprisonment.

“Taheb planned to conduct a terrorist attack on the White House as part of what he claimed was his obligation to engage in jihad,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.  “And that was just one of the iconic American landmarks he wanted to target.  Thanks to a tip from a member of the community and the work of the agents, analysts, and prosecutors responsible for this case, the threat posed by the defendant was neutralized and the defendant has admitted his guilt and will now be held accountable for his crime.”

“Taheb hatched a dangerous plan that would have resulted in unimaginable injury,” said Byung J. “BJay” Pak, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.  “We are grateful to community members who noticed his dangerous evolution and alerted law enforcement.  Along with our federal, state and local partners, we will remain vigilant in order to disrupt these types of attacks before they happen.”

“This plea is the result of a more than year-long intensive investigation by FBI Atlanta’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which was because of a tip from the community,” said Chris Hacker, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta.  “Our citizens are our most important weapons in fighting terrorism, our eyes and ears in our communities, and why we say to please contact law enforcement if you see or hear something suspicious.”

According to U.S. Attorney Pak, the charges and other information presented in court: In March 2018, a member of the Atlanta community reported concerns about Taheb to a local law enforcement agency, which then contacted the FBI.  The community member specifically alerted law enforcement that Taheb had become radicalized and was making plans to travel abroad.

During an undercover operation conducted by the FBI, federal investigators learned in October 2018 that Taheb planned to travel overseas and that he had applied for a United States passport in July 2018.  The FBI also learned that Taheb had begun planning domestic attacks in the United States as part of his desire to engage in “jihad.”  His targets initially included the White House and the Statue of Liberty.  Later, in December 2018, Taheb broadened his prospective targets in the Washington, D.C. area, to include the Washington Monument, the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, and a synagogue.

During undercover meetings with Taheb in January 2019, he produced sketches of the White House and described the types of weapons and explosives he wished to use in the attack, including semi-automatic weapons, improvised explosive devices, an anti-tank weapon, and hand grenades.  FBI special agents arrested Taheb on Jan. 16, 2019, after he arrived at a pre-arranged location where he expected to obtain semi-automatic assault rifles, explosive devices, and an anti-tank weapon. 

Sentencing for Taheb is scheduled for June 23, 2020, at 9:30 a.m. before U.S. District Judge Mark H. Cohen.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, which includes the U.S. Secret Service, investigated this case.  The Forsyth County Sheriff Office and Gwinnett County Police Department also provided assistance.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ryan K. Buchanan and Matthew Carrico and Trial Attorneys Danielle Rosborough and B. Celeste Corlett of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

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Nigeria: Christian Village Suffers Eighth Attack in Three Years from Muslim Militants

The following is an unedited press release from International Christian Concern (ICC). Please check out their website at www.persecution.org for more on the persecution and genocide of Christians around the world.

Fulani Militants Kill 10 Christians in Two Villages

04/03/2020 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that on Tuesday evening, March 31, despite serious concerns and restrictive measures to stall the COVID-19 pandemic, Fulani militants continued to move freely and attacked two Christian villages in Miango District, Nigeria. This is the eighth time in the last three years that Ancha village has suffered at the hands of these militants.

Narrating the heartbreaking incident, Ishaya, a member of the village’s Baptist church, said, “They came at about 11:00 p.m. (on March 31), firing gunshots and burning houses! It was so dreadful! They killed three persons and also burnt four cars (in Ancha).” Ishaya further disclosed that the militants proceeded to launch an attack on Hukke, the neighboring village, on Wednesday, April 1. During this attack, seven people were killed and approximately 30 homes were burned down over a span of two days.

“We are in great distress here,” Ishaya lamented. Those killed in Ancha village were a pregnant member of the Baptist church named Tina Musa (33), another member of the Baptist church, Gado Bhata (57), and a member of the Methodist church, William Rivi (65).

An injured victim of the Ancha village attack, Danlami Gado, who was admitted to Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos, recalled, “I was in the house. When we heard gunshots, we came out, not knowing that the attackers were already in the village. They fired shots at me and three bullets hit me on my left leg, shattering the bones.  After they disappeared, I kept yelling out for help. Some persons eventually heard and came. They picked me up on a motorbike, riding through the bush until we got to a hospital in Miango.” Danlami’s injury was complicated, so he was referred to a hospital with the appropriate specialists. He has been scheduled for immediate surgery.

A local pastor, Yakubu Kpasa of ECWA Church, grieved over the murder of three of his church members, “They came on Wednesday, April 1, at about 8:00 p.m., and returned the next day, April 2, at about 5:00 p.m. They killed three by gunshots and destroyed our church building. They also burnt several houses.” Pastor Yakubu said the gunmen came in large numbers. The entire village has been deserted and he and his family are taking refuge in another village.

In a 2017 attack on Ancha village, the militants killed 20 people, all but one of whom were members of the Baptist church. During an attack on nearby Nkiedonwro village, 28 people ran to hide in a primary school classroom while military personnel engaged the attackers. The villagers were then killed by the militants when the military was overpowered.

Nathan Johnson, ICC’s Regional Manager for Africa said, “I have personally prayed with this village over the mass grave of the 20 killed in 2017. To see attacks continuing almost three years later in the same village is infuriating. The government’s complete incompetency is causing many Christians to lose their lives needlessly. It is time that this administration begins to take the deaths of thousands seriously and stop claiming that there are no issues. They are now responsible for every death that takes place in Ancha village.”

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Nepal: Christian Pastor Arrested for Praying Against Coronavirus

The following is an unedited press release from International Christian Concern (ICC). Please check out their website at www.persecution.org for more on the persecution and genocide of Christians around the world. 

Pastor in Nepal Arrested for Praying Against COVID-19 Virus

03/29/2020 Nepal (International Christian Concern) – According to Morning Star News, a Christian pastor in Nepal has been arrested for praying against the COVID-19 virus on a video that has circulated on social media. The pastor, who was taken into custody on March 23, could face up to six months in prison after being wrongly accused of giving false information about COVID-19.

In a video translated by Morning Star News, Pastor Keshab Acharya prayed in front of his church congregation, saying, “Hey, corona – you go and die. May all your deeds be destroyed by the power of the Lord Jesus. I rebuke you, corona, in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. By the power or the ruler of this Creation, I rebuke you… By the power in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, corona, go away and die.”

According to Junu Acharya, Pastor Acharya’s wife, her husband received a call on March 23 at about 8 p.m. from an unknown man requesting prayer for his sick wife. Pastor Acharya invited the man to come to their house for prayer. However, when there was a knock at the door, four police officers entered the home, surrounded Pastor Acharya, arrested him, and took him to the police station.

Christian leaders in Nepal have spoken out against the arrest of Pastor Acharya. Pastor Mukunda Sharma, Executive Secretary of the Nepal Christian Society, told Morning Star News that he had urged the District Superintendent of Police to act fairly and not implicate Pastor Acharya in any criminal charges.

“I told [the District Superintendent] that the police cannot prosecute the pastor for exercising his faith and that it is a gross violation of human rights,” Pastor Sharma told Morning Star News. “He assured me that the pastor was taken into custody only for an inquiry.”

Despite this assurance, Pastor Acharya was presented before a judge and remanded to judicial custody for seven days. With Nepal now on lock down in response to the spread of COVID-19, Pastor Acharya remains in police custody.

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