The Voice of the suffering in Asia

On the occasion of the first anniversary of the Myanmar earthquake, which struck on March 28, 2025, Archbishop Marco Tin Win of Mandalay — one of the most affected areas —has, in a letter to the benefactors of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), recalled the suffering endured by his people and expressed gratitude for the help received. “In recent years, the people of Myanmar have endured a series of crises: the COVID-19 pandemic; political upheaval, conflict, and displacement; ...

The Christian community has refused the official account that Marqas Masih committed suicide, and claim instead that he was murdered. Two men have been arrested. Church leaders are demanding justice after a Christian laborer in Pakistan was found hanged at a farm outbuilding, amid growing suspicions that he was tortured to death. The body of Catholic man Marqas Masih, 22, was reportedly discovered at the farm outside the city of Sargodha, in Punjab. Marqas Masih‘s family say the farm owner ...

The legal outcome shows a “positive and rare” development, since local courts are often reluctant to acquit those accused of blasphemy, due to social pressure. Two Christian nurses in Pakistan have been acquitted of blasphemy in a landmark court ruling, which brings an end to an ordeal of more than four and a half years. Mariam Lal and Newosh Arooj’s legal defense was conducted by the National (Catholic) Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP), which is supported by Aid to ...

The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is repeating its annual “24 Hours of Prayer for Peace in Myanmar” initiative on February 1. On this date, which marks the fifth anniversary of the beginning of an increasingly violent conflict in the country, ACN invites people around the world to join in prayer as a sign of solidarity with the local Church and with all those who continue to suffer. “Once again, we want to come together ...

Shagufta Kausar was sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy and spent over eight years in prison. She recently shared her story at the launch of the Religious Freedom in the World Report in Rome. In the summer of 2013, a mob broke into the simple house where Shagufta Kausar lived with her paralyzed husband, Shafqat Emanuel, and their four children. Civilians and police were calling for her, accusing her of blasphemy. She and her husband were beaten and taken to ...

Two years after an atrocity described as the worst outbreak of violence against Christians in Pakistan’s 78-year history, the local bishop of the district has said not one of the thousands of suspects has been brought to justice. He and his people are furious.    Bishop Indrias Rehmat said Christians in the Punjab’s Jaranwala district want to “shout and scream” in outrage at the apparent failure to deliver justice following the August 16, 2023, violence, with damage done to 26 churches, ...