A Syrian-Catholic monk kidnapped and held hostage for nearly five months by Islamic State militants believes he is still alive because of the humanitarian work he did among Muslims displaced during the war in Syria in the years before he was abducted.
Violent unrest has erupted across India over a contentious new citizenship law that offers immunity to undocumented immigrants from half a dozen religious faiths but excludes Muslims.
The release of Asia Bibi on May 8, 2019, has brought hope to the international religious community for greater tolerance of religious minorities in Pakistan.
A special report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom focuses on anti-conversion laws in South Asia.
Some 10,000 men and women belonging to indigenous faiths joined forces April 24 in the town of Gumla in Jharkhand to demand recognition of their traditional religions.
