Missiles make headlines; machetes rarely do. We’re shining a light on five under-reported attacks on religious freedom
plus one Kenyan candle of hope. #FirstFreedomFive
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Nigeria: 200 Christians Massacred in Overnight Attack
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USA: 12 Injured in Firebomb Attack on Jewish Festival in Colorado
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Pakistan: Blasphemy Laws Used to Steal Land, Jail Innocents, and Silence Minorities
When a single word can steal your home: the business of blasphemy.
A new report from Human Rights Watch reveals how Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are being weaponized not to protect religion—but to seize property, settle grudges, and persecute minorities.
In dozens of documented cases, people have used false blasphemy accusations to:
– Take land from Christians, Hindus, and Shia Muslims
– Target human rights defenders and journalists
– Intimidate neighbors, business rivals, and even relatives
Those accused are often arrested without evidence, denied bail, and left in prison for years. Some are lynched before reaching trial.
Since 1987, over 2,000 blasphemy cases have been filed—and the numbers are rising.
4
Cuba: Afro-Cuban Religious Leader Returned to Prison
She went to bring her husband home. Instead, they locked her up again
On June 11, Donaida Pérez Paseiro, an Afro-Cuban religious leader recently released in a mass amnesty, was re-imprisoned after visiting her still-detained husband. Authorities warned her to stop speaking out. She refused. Hours later, she was behind bars again.
Both she and her husband, Loreto Hernández García, are leaders of the Association of Free Yorubas —a faith community repeatedly targeted by the Cuban government. While imprisoned, Pérez Paseiro was denied religious items and mocked for her beliefs. Hernández has been beaten and denied medical care for diabetes.
This is not isolated. It is state persecution of Cuba’s religious communities—and it is accelerating.
5
DRC: Over 150 Christians Killed by Islamist Militants in North Kivu
The ADF is erasing a faith community. Few are watching.
Since early June, the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)—an ISIS-affiliated Islamist group—have killed over 150 people in a brutal campaign across Lubero territory in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The militants targeted Christian villages, attacking homes, churches, and markets. Survivors describe men with machetes and guns, executing civilians and torching entire communities.
ADF’s aim, say local leaders, is to drive Christians out and establish control through fear.
The violence is part of a long-running campaign of terror in eastern DRC that has already displaced thousands and left hundreds dead— a crisis that rarely makes international headlines.
Image Source: @OpenDoorsUK
Good News Bonus
Kenya Hosts Africa’s First-Ever International Religious Freedom Summit
A new chapter begins for religious freedom in Africa.
This week, Kenya hosted the first International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit on the African continent, bringing together more than 200 leaders, including religious advocates, policymakers, and civil society from across Africa.
Held in Nairobi, the summit focused on protecting belief across all faiths, addressing religious persecution, and creating frameworks to defend freedom of conscience for all.
President William Ruto opened the summit with a powerful message, “Religious freedom is a foundational pillar for peace and development.”
Africa is not just responding to repression—it is stepping forward to lead.
