Asia

• 
  16 September 2017
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Marawi crisis: “amidst suffering we continue to hope”, Bishop says Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “The situation in Marawi continues to be critical, but we hope for a positive outcome. News is encouraging, we know our hostage Catholics are alive and that the army has guaranteed they will ...
• 
  15 September 2017
  ASIA/LEBANON - Appeal by Maronite Bishop Matar to stop installation of high tension cables ignored Beirut (Agenzia Fides) – So far public requests by Maronite Archbishop Boulos Matar of Beirut addressed to the highest institutional charges in Lebanon to reconsider a project for the installation of high tension ...
• 
  15 September 2017
  ASIA/TURKEY - New deadlock in process to elect Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople Istanbul (Agenzia Fides) – The process to elect a new Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople is again at a stage of stalemate, due to episodes of silent boycotting on the part of Turkish institutions as well as pers ...
• 
  15 September 2017
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Blasphemy on WhatsApp: Christian youth condemned to death Lahore (Agenzia Fides) – A Christian youth accused of blasphemy has been condemned to death by a high court in Gujarat, Pakistani Punjab. Nadeem James, aged 24, living in the Christian community of Yaqoobabad, was ac ...
• 
  14 September 2017
  ASIA/IRAQ - Christians divided on the Kurdish independence referendum. The Chaldean Patriarchate: there is a risk of armed conflict Baghdad (Agenzia Fides) - While September 25th approaches, date of the referendum announced by the government of the autonomous Region of Iraqi Kurdistan to sanction its independence from Baghdad, there are contrasting s ...
• 
  14 September 2017
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - In Parliament the case of the Christian student killed in school Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - "The case of Sharon Masih is tragic and a shame for the country. It is necessary to act urgently. That is why I have asked all members of the National Assembly to reconsider the issue of the s ...
• 
  13 September 2017
  ASIA/INDIA - A Jesuit: "India must be united in the defense of pluralism, against emerging violent forces" Bangalore (Agenzia Fides) - "The premeditated murder of Gauri Lankesh is an unprecedented offense to the nation and causes rage, shock, and sadness. Gauri represented the best of a free and fearless India that respects t ...
• 
  13 September 2017
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - The Bishops: "Stop intolerance at school; justice for Sharon Masih’s family" Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - "The government of Pakistan seems more interested in school infrastructure and security of buildings than in the quality aspect of the education system. We live in a society where students spread ...
• 
  13 September 2017
  ASIA/SYRIA - Archbishop Marayati: "War is fought through forgiveness" Munster (Agenzia Fides) - "War is not fought with war, but through dialogue, forgiveness, reconciliation, and the will to start a new life and follow new paths of peace": said Armenian Catholic Archbishop of Aleppo, Butr ...
• 
  12 September 2017
  ASIA/PAKISTAN - Churches in Pakistan: solidarity with Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and immediate truce Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - Strong condemnation of the attacks suffered by the people of Rohingya in Myanmar, and full solidarity and closeness to the Muslim population: this is a declaration signed by the President of the ...
• 
  12 September 2017
  ASIA/INDIA - Protection of abused girls: the experience of the NGO Suraksha Belagavi (Agenzia Fides) - Rescuing girls sold for the sex market, trafficking, prostitution, child marriage: it is with this spirit that the NGO Suraksha organization, is committed to the recovery, rehabilitation, devel ...
• 
  12 September 2017
  ASIA/INDIA - Abducted Salesian priest released: "We thank God and Pope Francis' commitment" New Dehli (Agenzia Fides) - "First of all, we express our deep gratitude to God for the happy conclusion of this incident. We must then thank the Indian government, which put into place every effort for the release of Fr ...
• 
  11 September 2017
  ASIA/INDIA - An open letter to Christian leaders: "You cannot keep silent in the face of the spread of Hindu extremism" New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - "We, as Indian Christians, are concerned about the change that we see in our country that, from a pluralist democracy, is almost turning into a sort of reign dominated by a Hindu ideology. The ...
• 
  11 September 2017
  ASIA/PHILIPPINES - Catholic leaders: you cannot rule the country with murders Manila (Agenzia Fides) - "In the so-called crusade against drugs launched by President Duterte, extrajudicial killings continue at a pace of about a thousand per month. The poor are those most affected. To understand the ...
• 
  9 September 2017
  ASIA/INDIA - An alliance based on faith to combat violence against children Ranchi (Agenzia Fides) - A "National action plan against violence on children" was born in the Indian state of Jharkhand. The organization is part of a network already present in several South Asian countries (Afghanista ...