Nigeria — Christians in northern Nigeria continue to face increasing violence over accusations of blasphemy, often leading to mob attacks, destruction of property, and forced displacement.

While Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, the application of Sharia law in 12 northern states has created a parallel legal system where blasphemy charges frequently lead to vigilante justice rather than formal prosecution.

The case of Sadiq Mani Abubakar, a 45-year-old Hausa Christian and lecturer at the Federal University Dutsin-Ma in Katsina state, illustrates the growing trend. On Jan. 30, a mob set his home and vehicles on fire, forcing him and his family to flee. The attack stemmed from a decade-old Facebook post in which Abubakar questioned the origins of the Quran. While some Islamic scholars consider the post blasphemous, accusations spread, and a mob responded with violence.

“I fled for my life, yet the federal government acted swiftly against me,” Abubakar told an International Christian Concern (ICC) staffer, referring to the suspension of his salary following his escape. “I feel utterly abandoned by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). I can’t even seek legal help because I fear for my family’s safety back in Katsina.”

Similar incidents have occurred across northern Nigeria. In May 2022, a mob in Sokoto state killed and burned the body of Deborah Emmanuel, a Christian college student, over allegations of blasphemy in a WhatsApp group. In June 2023, a man in Bauchi state was beaten to death after being accused of insulting Islam. Law enforcement has rarely prosecuted those responsible for these killings.

A 2020 report by the United Nations Commission on International Religious Freedom documented an increase in blasphemy-related violence in Nigeria, particularly in states governed by Sharia law. The report noted that such accusations often target religious minorities and that perpetrators of mob violence frequently evade prosecution.

Abubakar expressed frustration over the lack of accountability. “The authorities, the commissioner of police, who is supposed to bring to book the perpetrators, didn’t arrest anybody,” he said. “So, every Muslim is an authority. They take the law into their own hands and go scot-free.”

Christian communities in northern Nigeria have long raised concerns about inadequate protection from security forces. Human rights organizations, including Open Doors and Human Rights Watch, have reported that police often hesitate to intervene in mob violence cases, either due to fear of backlash or lack of political will.

Victims of blasphemy accusations often suffer economic consequences. Many lose their homes and livelihoods after fleeing violence. Abubakar, unable to return to Katsina, is struggling financially after he lost his income. Other displaced Christians face similar hardships, relying on support from religious organizations and humanitarian groups.

Nigeria’s dual legal system, which operates both secular and Sharia law, complicates efforts to address religious violence. While the constitution protects freedom of speech and religion, blasphemy laws under Sharia often conflict with these rights.

The Nigerian Supreme Court has not ruled decisively on the matter, leaving room for varying interpretations at the state level.

In some cases, individuals accused of blasphemy have faced formal prosecution. In August 2020, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, a musician from Kano state, was sentenced to death for allegedly insulting the Prophet Muhammad in a song. He said, “I prefer my prophet to Prophet Mohammed.” His conviction was later overturned on appeal, but he remains in legal limbo. In contrast, those who carry out mob attacks based on similar accusations often face no legal consequences.

Abubakar called for international awareness and intervention. “I want the Nigerian government, human rights organizations, and the international community to be aware of what has happened to me and is still happening,” he said. “They can put a stop to it and impose the rule of law and order and the restoration of fundamental human rights.”

The pattern of blasphemy-related violence continues. Also, in January 2025, three people were killed in Bauchi state following an accusation against a Christian trader. With limited legal protections and growing religious tensions, many Christians in northern Nigeria remain at risk. Abubakar is one of them, hiding to protect his life, not to be killed like others.
Sources:persecution

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ടെഹ്റാന്‍: ഏറ്റവും അധികം പേര്‍ ഇസ്ലാം മതം ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് ക്രൈസ്തവ വിശ്വാസം സ്വീകരിക്കുന്ന രാജ്യമെന്ന നിലയില്‍ പേരുകേട്ട ഇറാനില്‍ ഭരണകൂട അടിച്ചമര്‍ത്തല്‍ വീണ്ടും. വടക്കൻ ഇറാനിൽ ക്രൈസ്തവ വിശ്വാസം സ്വീകരിച്ച എണ്‍പതോളം പേരുടെ സമ്മേളനത്തിൽ ഇറാനിയൻ അധികാരികൾ റെയ്ഡ് നടത്തി. ഇസ്‌ലാമിക് റെവല്യൂഷണറി ഗാർഡ് കോർപ്‌സിൻ്റെ (ഐആർജിസി) ഏജൻ്റുമാർ ഗാറ്റാബിൽ നടന്ന കൂട്ടായ്മയിലേക്ക് ഇരച്ചുകയറുകയും ബൈബിളുകളും കുരിശുകളും ഫോണുകളും സംഗീതോപകരണങ്ങളും പിടിച്ചെടുക്കുകയും ചെയ്തുവെന്ന് ഇറാനിയന്‍ ക്രിസ്ത്യന്‍ മാധ്യമമായ ‘മൊഹാബത്ത് ന്യൂസ്’ റിപ്പോർട്ട് ചെയ്യുന്നു.

സംഘത്തില്‍ ഉണ്ടായിരിന്നവര്‍ വിശ്വാസികളുടെ കഴുത്തിൽ നിന്ന് കുരിശുകൾ പറിച്ചെടുക്കുകയും അവരുടെ ഇലക്ട്രോണിക് ഉപകരണങ്ങളുടെ പാസ്‌വേഡുകൾ വെളിപ്പെടുത്താൻ നിർബന്ധിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. സോമയെ റജാബി എന്ന ക്രൈസ്തവ യുവതിയെ അറസ്റ്റ് ചെയ്തുവെന്നും റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ടില്‍ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തലുണ്ട്. ഇറാനിയൻ ഗവൺമെൻ്റ് ഇസ്ലാമിക് റിപ്പബ്ലിക്കാണ്. രാജ്യത്തെ എല്ലാ നിയമനിർമ്മാണങ്ങളും ഇസ്ലാമിന് അനുസൃതമായിട്ടാണ് രൂപകല്പന ചെയ്തിരിക്കുന്നത്. നിയമത്തിനു കീഴിൽ, മുഹമ്മദ് നബിയെ അപമാനിച്ചാല്‍ വധശിക്ഷയാണ് കണക്കാക്കിയിരിക്കുന്നത്.

ഇറാൻ്റെ നീതിന്യായ മന്ത്രാലയം ദേശീയ സുരക്ഷാ ആരോപണങ്ങള്‍ ഉന്നയിച്ച് ക്രൈസ്തവരെ വിചാരണയ്ക്കു വിധേയമാക്കുന്നത് പതിവാണെന്ന് ഇന്‍റര്‍നാഷ്ണൽ ക്രിസ്ത്യൻ കൺസേണ്‍ (ഐസിസി) റിപ്പോര്‍ട്ട് ചെയ്യുന്നു. ക്രൈസ്തവ വിശ്വാസം അതിവേഗം വ്യാപിക്കുന്ന ഏഷ്യന്‍ രാജ്യമാണ് ഇറാന്‍. ക്രൈസ്തവ വിശ്വാസം അതിവേഗം വളർന്നു കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുമ്പോഴും, രാജ്യം ഭരിക്കുന്ന ഇസ്ലാമിക ഭരണകൂടം ക്രൈസ്തവര്‍ക്കും മറ്റ് മതന്യൂനപക്ഷങ്ങൾക്കുമെതിരായ രക്തരൂക്ഷിതമായ പ്രചാരണം നടത്തിവരികയാണ്. അമേരിക്ക ആസ്ഥാനമായ ക്രൈസ്തവ മനുഷ്യാവകാശ സംഘടനയായ ഓപ്പണ്‍ ഡോഴ്സിന്റെ കണക്കുകള്‍ പ്രകാരം ലോകത്ത് ക്രൈസ്തവ പീഡനം രൂക്ഷമായ രാജ്യങ്ങളുടെ പട്ടികയില്‍ ഒന്‍പതാം സ്ഥാനത്താണ് ഇറാന്‍.
കടപ്പാട് :പ്രവാചക ശബ്ദം

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Christians are still in the crosshairs of the Iranian authorities: according to a report by Article18, a website specialised in documenting abuses and limitations in the area of worship in the Islamic Republic, plainclothes officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) raided a gathering of about 80 worshippers in the north of the country.

The Pasdaran raid took place earlier this month, although the news has only just emerged, and led to the arrest of one of the participants, as well as the confiscation of numerous copies of the Bible and musical instruments.

Christian Somayeh Rajabi , a convert from Islam, ended up in prison on 6 February.The raid by plainclothes agents in the province of Mazandaran dates back to the beginning of the month but only came to light in recent days. Somayeh Rajabi, who was taking part in a gathering of 80 believers in northern Iran was jailed.

Body searches were conducted, crosses and necklaces forcibly torn off. Activist groups denounce a “frightening escalation” of executions, with numbers underestimated. She was taking part in a gathering of believers organised in Gatab, a town in the province of Mazandaran.

According to witnesses, at least 20 members of the security forces took part in the operation carried out late in the evening, which was also attended by Christians from nearby towns including Gorgan and Babol.

Bibles, musical instruments and communication devices were confiscated, while plainclothes officers demanded access to personal data and mobile phone passwords.

The Pasdaran also allegedly conducted body searches, identifying those wearing cross necklaces and forcibly ripping them off and striking several people. In addition, medical personnel who had intervened to assist the wounded were detained by the officers.

The day after the arrest, Somayeh was able to make a brief phone call to his family, informing them that he had been transferred to a prison in Sari, the provincial capital of Mazandaran.

Although as of today there are still no official charges against the Christian woman, she is still in prison more than two weeks after her arrest.

Moreover, the Iranian authorities are in the habit of raiding the homes of Christian converts and domestic churches, confiscating religious books, crosses and other Christian symbols, as well as personal belongings. And this is not the first time that religious – and musical – instruments have been specifically targeted.

At the launch of Article18 ‘s latest annual report in Geneva last month, former prisoner of conscience Amin Afshar-Naderi said that a songbook used to lead worship ‘was cited in my court verdict as evidence of illegal Christian activities’.

The book was also allegedly used ‘as justification for the accusation of my role as a leader in a house church. In reports about me, even music was described as a tool to deceive others, despite the fact that it is universally recognised in Christian worship as a means to glorify God’.

Like Somayeh, Amin’s arrest occurred while he was gathering with other Christians in a private garden; on that occasion, only for a picnic.

Finally, the leadership of the Islamic Republic continues to make extensive use of the death penalty with figures for 2024 revealing a ‘frightening escalation’ of 975 executions. Most of the cases in which the executioner was used involved drug-related crimes, murders or rapes, but also more vague charges targeting dissidents, opponents or critical voices.

This is the highest figure since the census began in 2008 but, according to Norway-based Iran Human Rights (Ihr) and the French NGO Together Against the Death Penalty , it is far underestimated because almost 90% of executions are not made public.

Among the 975 people hanged last year – an increase of 17% over 2023 – 31 were women and four were hanged in public, with no shortage of minors at the time of the crime. No
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Thailand — More than 60 Montagnard Christian refugees from Vietnam — including men, women, children, and pregnant women — were arrested on Feb. 23 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Reports have emerged that the Montagnard believers were involved in a memorial service that included prayer and worship and allegedly caused a disturbance.

Footage has emerged on social media from some of those detained describing their situation. International Christian Concern (ICC) workers said those detained faced a judge in the last few days, and most of them chose to stay in jail because they were unable to pay the fines or bail money imposed by Thai officials.

This incident illustrates the tenuous and risky situation of Vietnamese Christian refugees in Thailand seeking asylum face daily. There are more than 4,000 Vietnamese refugees in Thailand, most of them having fled Vietnam because of persecution and harassment for their Christian or political beliefs. Most of these Christian refugees wait several years for refugee status and asylum in a safer country as they flee religious persecution in Vietnam.
Sources:persecution

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