North Korea – Ten college students, mostly from Chung Jin College, were arrested recently in Ham Kyung Book Do Chung for reading a Bible and watching a video about the Bible. 200 Life Bibles and several hundred Bible CDs were smuggled into the nation in March 2006. The Bible smuggling case was headed by Gum Rung Company employees influenced by Christianity in China and underground Christians in Nasum City. All the leaders have been arrested and are being tortured severely.
India – The governing party in Rajasthan state, the Bharatiya Janata Party, passed a new “anti-conversion” bill on March 20 that has provisions which are much stricter than the previous bills passed in 2006. The new bill states a society or trust found to be “contemplating” the use of finances for converting people can have its registration canceled. Christians fear this stipulation provides the pretext for complaints against Christian organizations. The bill also stipulates any person who intends to convert to another religion must notify the government at least 30 days in advance or else face a fine up to 1,000 rupees ($25).
West Bank – The teenage son of Messianic pastor David Ortiz, Amiel, was seriously injured on March 20. A bomb, delivered in a gift basket for the Purim holiday to the family’s home, exploded in his hands. Ariel is in serious condition, unconscious and breathing on a respirator. Christians in the area believe the Ortiz family was targeted by those angered for their evangelistic work. Christians face frequent opposition from local authorities, Jews and Muslims for their evangelistic efforts.
