Edward Ross

Religious Freedom Correspondent

Articles by Edward Ross

4 months ago

Latin America 4 months ago

Mountain Gateway pastors among 135 prisoners released in Nicaragua

By Edward Ross

The 13 members of Texas-based Mountain Gateway ministry imprisoned in Nicaragua earlier this year were among 135 “unjustly detained political prisoners” released today (Sept. 5) in a deal arranged by the U.S. government, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in a press statement.
4 months ago

Asia Middle East 4 months ago

Leaked documents show how Iran targets Christian converts

By Edward Ross

Leaked cases of more than 300 Christians in Iran charged with crimes related to their faith show how the vast majority, converts from Islam, are targeted, a rights watchdog reports.
4 months ago

Latin America 4 months ago

Christians in Mexico face expulsion after losing property, church building

By Edward Ross

After destroying lands and burning the church building of Protestant Christians in a village in Mexico’s Oaxaca state earlier this month, local tribal leaders notified the government that they will expel them, according to the state secretary of government.
4 months ago

Latin America 4 months ago

Nicaragua detains more priests, shuts down more ministries

By Edward Ross

Authorities in Nicaragua detained two priests over the weekend of Aug. 10-11 after arresting 11 others a few weeks before, and on Monday (Aug. 12) the government closed a chapter of the Caritas charity, Catholic and evangelical sources reported.
5 months ago

Asia 5 months ago

Officials in China intensify ‘Sinicization’ of religion

By Edward Ross

Religious leaders in China were instructed to put President Xi Jinping and his doctrines at the center of their teaching and preaching at a recent high-level seminar of top faith representatives and bureaucrats.
6 months ago

Asia 6 months ago

Pastor, five other Christians arrested in Laos

By Edward Ross

Village officials in central Laos on Saturday (June 22) arrested a pastor and five other Christians as they prayed in preparation for worship services the next day, according to a rights watchdog.
6 months ago

Middle East 6 months ago

Attacks on Christians and properties in Israel surged in 2023

By Edward Ross

A heightened sense of impunity and nationalism contributed to a surge in attacks on Christians and church properties in Israel in 2023, according to a Jerusalem-based inter-religious organization report.
6 months ago

Middle East 6 months ago

Iran upholds 10-year prison term for Armenian Christian

By Edward Ross

A court in Iran upheld a 10-year prison sentence of an Armenian Christian for “deviant proselytizing” even though evidence against him was so weak that the judge decided the case on only his “intuition,” an advocacy group reported.
7 months ago

Africa Middle East 7 months ago

Christians in Egypt held without trial for more than two years

By Edward Ross

A Christian refugee in Egypt arrested for his faith and imprisoned alongside Islamist criminals has been denied medical care for heart and liver ailments despite complaining of chest pains as recently as April, sources said.
7 months ago

Africa 7 months ago

Growing jihadist insurgence in Mozambique puts Christians at risk

By Edward Ross

Jihadist insurgents in Mozambique are targeting Christians as they ramp up attacks in the country’s northern-most province, just as neighboring countries are planning to withdraw troops helping government forces to fight them.
7 months ago

Africa 7 months ago

Pastors imprisoned 20 years without trial in Eritrea, "the North Korea of Africa"

By Edward Ross

On May 23, 2004, authorities in Eritrea arrested Kiflu Gebremeskel, a church pastor who had earned his Ph.D. in mathematics in Chicago, along with another Eritrean pastor from his Full Gospel Church of Eritrea denomination, Haile Nayzgi.
8 months ago

Africa 8 months ago

Prison sentenced upheld for pastor in Algeria for baseless "illegal worship" charges

By Edward Ross

A court in Algeria last week upheld a one-year prison sentence for a top church leader baselessly convicted of “illegal worshipping,” according to a legal advocacy group.