This week’s Belief Brief highlights both persecution and perseverance. From crackdowns to brave stands for conscience, believers worldwide face hate and surveillance—yet answer with courage, forgiveness, and the insistence that faith cannot be silenced.
1
US lawmakers push to hold Nigeria accountable for religious persecution
New bill would demand action against killers of Christians and other minorities
US Senator Ted Cruz has introduced the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, aiming to pressure Nigeria’s government to end widespread, unchecked violence against Christians and other faith minorities. The bill would require the State Department to formally designate Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) for severe violations of religious freedom and consider targeted sanctions against officials complicit in attacks or negligent in protecting vulnerable communities. Nigeria has faced mounting global criticism as extremist groups and armed militias continue to massacre Christians, burn villages, and displace thousands. Despite years of bloodshed, the country was controversially removed from the CPC list in 2021. Cruz’s bill seeks to restore that designation and force meaningful diplomatic and economic consequences if Nigeria fails to act.
2
Sweeping penalties raise fears of abuse against minorities and curbs on religious freedom
The Rajasthan Assembly has passed the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025, introducing some of India’s toughest penalties against religious conversion. The law prescribes prison terms ranging from 7 years to life, fines up to 25 lakh rupees, and even the demolition of properties where mass conversions are alleged. Even voluntary conversions now require 90 days’ advance notice to district authorities, who may publicize the request and entertain objections, exposing converts to harassment. Conversions linked to marriage—branded by some as “love jihad”—can be declared void, and all conversion-related offenses are non-bailable. Critics warn the law will be misused to harass minorities and suppress legitimate religious choice. Opposition legislators staged protests during the debate, while some BJP members called for converts to “return to their original religion.” Supporters argue the bill protects “civilization and culture” and vulnerable groups from coercion.
3
New bans target evangelism among youth as surveillance tightens
Authorities in China have intensified their crackdown on Christian pastors and congregations, imposing harsh restrictions that strike at the heart of religious freedom. A new wave of measures bans pastors from evangelizing youth under 18 and pressures churches to align with the state-controlled Three-Self Patriotic Movement. Pastors who resist face detention, raids, and heavy surveillance. In related news, a recent report revealed that DeepSeek, a powerful Chinese AI model, is being integrated into the state’s security apparatus — allowing authorities to monitor, censor, and preempt dissent with unprecedented precision. For religious communities, this means sermons, online Bible studies, and even private conversations are increasingly vulnerable to state scrutiny. Observers warn this campaign marks one of the most aggressive pushes in recent years to suffocate independent Christian communities. By criminalizing outreach to the next generation, Beijing aims to weaken the future of the church and tighten ideological control.
https://www.christianpost.com/news/china-cracks-down-on-pastors-bans-evangelizing-youth
4
Government report warns of increasing anti-Muslim hate and calls for urgent action
Australia’s first Special Envoy for Islamophobia, Aftab Malik, has delivered a landmark report to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, warning that anti-Muslim hate is becoming entrenched across the country. The report documents growing instances of abuse, discrimination, and hate speech directed at Muslims, especially women, and calls for sweeping measures to address the issue. Malik recommended stronger hate-crime laws, better protections for religious freedom, and the appointment of a permanent commissioner to combat Islamophobia—paralleling existing efforts to address antisemitism and racism. He stressed that unchecked Islamophobia threatens not only Muslim communities but also Australia’s broader democratic and social fabric. Muslim leaders have welcomed the report, saying it validates long-standing concerns about safety and equal rights, while critics warn the government must act quickly before rhetoric translates into further violence.
5
Afghan girls face a grim future as secular learning is stripped away
The Taliban have barred Afghan girls from nearly all forms of formal education and are now pressuring families to send daughters to madrasas (religious schools) as their sole remaining option. A new Guardian report reveals that many of these madrasas lack accredited teachers, provide only basic religious instruction, and leave girls without paths to higher education or employment. Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have shuttered secondary schools and universities to women, banned most work outside the home, and dismantled protections for women’s rights. Families interviewed described despair and fear: sending girls to madrasas is often the only way to avoid scrutiny or punishment. International rights groups urge the global community to pressure the Taliban to restore access to secular education for girls, warning of a lost generation.
Good News
Charlie Kirk’s Memorial Reaffirms America’s Core Commitment to Religious Freedom
In a stunning display of religion in the public square, millions of people — including religious and high-level political leaders — gathered to memorialize Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated for speaking his religious convictions on gender identity. The highlight of the event was Erika Kirk’s breathtaking demonstration of her Christian faith when she forgave the young man who killed her husband and the father of her children. Other speakers chose instead to express hatred for the shooter and to call for censorship against those who celebrated the assassination. To paraphrase Charlie Kirk himself: “There was beautiful speech. There was ugly speech. And all of it was protected by the First Amendment.” May the bullet that silenced Charlie never silence our freedom to believe and to speak according to our convictions.
Courage is contagious
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