Digital persecution is on the rise, the WWL 2020 shows. Asia Bibi’s release was one of the the good news.

Growing pressure on Christians in China, Algeria, Burkina Faso, according to the 2020 Open Doors World Watch List. Christians face severe persecution in 73 countries.

Pastor Wang Yi is accused of “subversion and illegal trade”. He will be deprived of his political rights and his personal assets will be seized. Another elder of his church has been sentenced to 4 years.

Around 1,000 people joined silent protests on the same evening. “The fate of those persecuted for their faith should not leave us cold”.

Persecution rising toward levels under Chairman Mao. “The days are coming when whole Christian families will find themselves unable to access not merely transport, but schools, hospitals, bank loans and jobs”, a source says.

After the elections, 17 of the 18 district councils are now controlled by pro-democracy councillors."The results show people's displeasure over the government”, Christians say.

China celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Republic as the violence escalates in Hong Kong. “The role of Christians is to be peacemakers”, a Hong Kong Christian leader says.

“The government has passed laws that blatantly violate religious freedom”, Swiss Christian NGO HMK says. Christian natives and foreigners have been arrested because of their faith.

In a major speech in 2016, President Xi Jinping called for the ‘sinicization of religion’. For the Chinese Communist Party, the rise of religion, especially Christianity and Islam, represents an existential threat to its political health.

The US President presents a plan that includes the creation of “a coalition of businesses for the protection of religious freedom”.

Protests in Hong Kong are “more and more violent”. “Pro-Beijing and pro-democracy sides taking communion together is a declaration to the world”, a pastor says.

Bibles made in China will not face the 10% tariff hike on Chinese goods. Christian publishers celebrate the decision.

Christians from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and North America, from different ethnic backgronds, came together to pray for unity as the body of Christ.

The Vice President of the United States met with specialists of Open Doors, China Aid and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Pastor John Cao was accused and imprisoned in 2017, for “organizing illegal border crossings”, while providing humanitarian aid to the Wa people in Myanmar .

Hundreds of thousands took the streets again. “We urge the Chief Executive to respond to the strong demands of the public to withdraw the Bill”, Hong Kong Christian Council said.

Publishers warn that the proposed increase of tariffs to China could result in a Bible shortage in the United States. There are “no substantial domestic manufacturing alternatives” to respond to the demand.

Uighurs in Western China are targeted in what could be a deliberate policy to “raise a new generation that has been cut off from original roots and religious beliefs”, according to an in-depth journalistic investigation.

After protesters stormed Hong Kong’s legislative building, Christian leaders wrote a letter asking to “boycott any act that harms peace, and to express their views in a rational and peaceful manner”.

Another massive demonstration is expected for Friday. “We seek God's justice and mercy to fill our land”, says Fellowship of Evangelical Students representative.

Many Christians have joined the anti-extradition bill demonstrations. The song has become a sign of the peaceful protests.

Several universities has launched the study ‘Understanding Unbelief’.“Atheists and agnostics endorse the realities of objective moral values at similar rates to the general populations”.

The resolution, approved by consensus, hopes to “help combat hate crimes and acts of violence related to religion or belief, and further strengthen inter-religious dialogue”.

After three decades of loosening Communist Party control and expanding freedoms, Xi Jinping is systematically trying to reassert Party control over all sectors of society.

Baptist minister Rev Chu Yiu-ming, along with the other two founders of the pro-democracy ‘Occupy Central’ movement could be jailed for up to seven years. 200 supporters gathered to pray and sing songs.