Japan already learned the hard lesson of pursuing a policy of intolerance and hate. The nation lost over 3 million of its people waging World War II over it. Japan learned its lesson so well, in fact, that after the war, it agreed to a new system of government under an American-drafted “Peace Constitution,” guaranteeing freedom … Continue reading Japanese Court Defies Its Own Constitution, Orders Dissolution of Unification Church
European Parliament urges the unconditional release of Baha’i prisoner of conscience Mahvash Sabet
The European Parliament has passed an urgency resolution on Iran, expressing its concern about the worsening human rights situation in the country. The resolution specifically calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Mahvash Sabet. This is the third urgency resolution of the European Parliament in five months condemning the escalating persecution of Baha’is in Iran, who have … Continue reading European Parliament urges the unconditional release of Baha’i prisoner of conscience Mahvash Sabet
UKRAINE: 11 children rescued from the territories occupied by Russia despite Trump
HRWF (03.04.2025) – Ukraine successfully brought back 11 children who had been forcibly taken to Russia as well as Russian-occupied territory, Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak announced on April 2. The children have been returned home under the President of Ukraine’s initiative, Bring Kids Back UA, according to Yermak. Since February 2022, at least 20,000 Ukrainian children have … Continue reading UKRAINE: 11 children rescued from the territories occupied by Russia despite Trump
Report: Attacks on Catholics increasingly common and tolerated in Europe and Latin America
Attacks against Christians, especially Catholics, are on the rise in both Europe and Latin America, according to various reports from specialized organizations. During 2023, the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe documented 2,444 anti-Christian hate crimes in 35 European countries. This figure includes 232 personal attacks ranging from harassment and threats to physical violence. … Continue reading Report: Attacks on Catholics increasingly common and tolerated in Europe and Latin America
Humanists International calls for more space for Civil Society at UN
In a statement made to the 58th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Humanists International has called for more space to be given to representatives from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to make statements at the UN in the context of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and ensure their safety. Read full article … Continue reading Humanists International calls for more space for Civil Society at UN
Hui Christian pastor sentenced to nine months in prison in China
Hui Christian Pastor Ma Yan was sentenced to nine months in prison for ‘organising illegal gatherings’ by the Yinchuan Railway Transportation Court in China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region on 24 March. Ma was charged and tried on 10 February 2025 for organising a gathering of no more than ten Christians in Jinfeng District, Yinchuan, Ningxia, which was raided … Continue reading Hui Christian pastor sentenced to nine months in prison in China
USCIRF 2025 report: Hungary and Russia’s Growing Religious Intolerance Under the Spotlight
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its 2025 annual report, painting a grim picture of religious repression and discrimination worldwide. From state-controlled religious policies in China to the persecution of Christian and Muslim minorities across various regions, the report underscores ongoing threats to religious freedom. Among the European nations analysed, Hungary … Continue reading USCIRF 2025 report: Hungary and Russia’s Growing Religious Intolerance Under the Spotlight
Mass Desecration of Ahmadi Muslim Graves in Kotli, Azad Kashmir
On the early morning of 21 March, an Ahmadi Muslim cemetery in Kotli, Azad Kashmir, was targeted by unidentified individuals who defaced or destroyed 76 gravestones. The attack occurred during a reported power outage, making it easier for the perpetrators to operate undetected. The cemetery, established prior to the 1984 anti-Ahmadi laws, is enclosed by a … Continue reading Mass Desecration of Ahmadi Muslim Graves in Kotli, Azad Kashmir
Social Media Still the Hub for Islamophobia and Outright Hate
On March 15, 2019, an armed man entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, opened fire and slaughtered 51 worshippers, injuring another 89, while live-streaming the massacre. Six years later, social media is the go-to hub for anti-Muslim rhetoric—the kind that inspired the murder of six-year-old Wadea al-Fayoume in Illinois in 2023, and that led a Texas … Continue reading Social Media Still the Hub for Islamophobia and Outright Hate
Shahida Bibi was forced to convert to Islam and married against her will. Now she’s free
Shahida Bibi was abducted, forced to convert from Christianity to Islam and sexually exploited. Tragically, she is only one of many girls who endure this fate. Her restored freedom is a sign of hope, but the fight against forced conversion and child marriage is far from over, says Tehmina Arora Shahida Bibi, a Christian girl, … Continue reading Shahida Bibi was forced to convert to Islam and married against her will. Now she’s free