Activist raided by Indian authorities
On 2 February, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation conducted raids on the office and residence of prominent activist and author, Dr Harsh Mander. Dr Mander is known for openly criticising India’s ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), for fuelling communal disharmony.
The raids and investigations are clearly a response to Dr Mander’s continued human rights advocacy. They reflect the sort of tactics used by the BJP to silence their critics, especially ahead of India’s 2024 general election. Over 250 activists and scholars issued a joint statement condemning the raids, labelling them a 'vindictive witch hunt'.
Mass detentions in China
Police in Sichuan Province have detained more than 1,000 Tibetans since 22 February. Among them were monks and local residents who had been peacefully protesting the construction of a hydroelectric dam, which would destroy six monasteries and force two villages to relocate.
As well as being home to hundreds of Buddhist monks, these monasteries have huge religious and historical significance. Wonto Monastery, for example, is famous for its ancient architecture and murals dating back to the 13th century.
Montagnard Christians targeted in Vietnam
On 26 January, Nay Y Blang was unjustly sentenced to over four years in prison after holding prayer meetings in his home. He was accused of using the prayer meetings to ‘gather forces’, divide national unity, and incite secession.
The 48-year-old is a Montagnard Christian and a member of the Central Highlands Evangelical Church of Christ, which is not recognised or approved by the Vietnamese government. Another member of the church, Y Krec Bya, was arrested while celebrating Easter last year.
Hundreds of Nigerian schoolchildren abducted
‘When I turned, we discovered that the school premises was surrounded by bandits. We became confused; we didn’t know where to go…’
A schoolteacher describes the moment when armed terrorists descended on the government school in Kuriga, Kaduna State, on 7 March. Some escaped, but tragically 287 primary and secondary school children were abducted.
This was the second mass abduction in a week, marking a concerning resurgence in central and northern Nigeria.
On 4 March, around 200 women and children were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists while gathering firewood in Borno State. Those taken had been living in camps for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), having been forced to flee their homes due to violence.
And the tragedy continued the following week, when around 61 people were abducted on 11 March from Buda in Kajuru, southern Kaduna State.
Good news: Three acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan
We welcome the acquittal of two Christian brothers, Rocky and Raja Masih, who were cleared of blasphemy charges on 1 March. A court ruled that the brothers had been framed by two people who held a grudge against them.
When Rocky and Raja were falsely accused in August 2023, hundreds stormed the Christian colony in Jaranwala, seeking to execute the two men themselves. Over 21 churches and several homes were set on fire, and many people are still living in difficult conditions. Some, including children, developed skin diseases due to the chemicals used to set the fires.
On the same day as Rocky and Raja’s acquittal, a Hindu man’s 25-year sentence was overturned after a successful appeal. Notan Lal, a headteacher, was accused of blasphemy by a student in 2019. This accusation sparked an outbreak of violence in Ghotki District. Mr Lal’s school was ransacked; a Hindu temple was attacked; and shops owned by the Hindu community were looted.
Both cases highlight the dangerous impact of Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws – on individuals, and on entire communities. We continue to call for their repeal.