Demonstrations are being planned on Thursday at Iranian embassies around the world for imprisoned Pastor Saeed Abedini and other victims of the Islamic country's human rights abuses, with hopes that they will get the attention of many world leaders.

"The timing of these events aimed at highlighting human rights and Pastor Saeed's case directly to Iranian officials comes as Iran prepares for its own elections next week. It sends a powerful message at a time when Iran is listening," says Jordan Sekulow, the executive director for the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).

The event, called "Standing together for Human Rights in Iran," promises to be a day of "peaceful demonstrations," scheduled to take place at noon time in every country that decides to hold a demonstration. more >>

HOUSTON – The torch for defending biblical truth and practice represented by the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has been passed from its leader of 25 years, Richard Land, to evangelical theologian Russell Moore. The occasion was marked with a special tribute to Land and an address by Moore to more than 4,400 members attending the SBC's annual meeting this week in Houston.

On Wednesday, the day after the ERLC gave its report, Land told The Christian Post that the advocacy group should now focus on the same theme as this year's SBC meeting: revival.

"Our problems in America are only God-sized problems and only God can solve them," said Land, who is retiring from the ERLC president position. "2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us that 'if my people, which are called by my name (Christians), shall humble themselves and pray and seek my (Jesus') face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.' more >>

Craig Fletcher, the mayor of Vero Beach, Fla., has issued an apology for recent comments he made regarding Humanist Recognition Week, which he refused to approve because humanists do not worship Jesus Christ.

Fletcher said in a recent statement that after consulting with his wife and pastor, he has realized that his statements were "way out of line."

"I want to offer my sincerest apologies to anyone whom I may have offended by my remarks last Tuesday at the City Council meeting. It was a horrific statement and on reflection was way out of place for an elected official to take such a strident stance. I hope everyone will find it in their heart to forgive me," Fletcher told WPBF West Palm Beach. more >>

Texas Christian University, the largest university affiliated with the Disciples of Christ denomination, recently said that it chose to officially recognize an atheist student group because the college promotes diversity and open dialogue.

The university also has Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim student groups on its campus in Fort Worth, Texas.

"The university culture allows for diversity of thought and open dialogue," TCU spokeswoman Lisa Albert told the Christian News Network in a recent interview regarding the university's decision earlier this year to allow the Freethinking Frogs, a student-run atheist organization, to receive official university recognition. more >>

An Egyptian Christian teacher has been convicted of insulting Islam, receiving a large fine instead of being sentenced to jail time.

Dimiana Abdel-Nour, a 24-year-old history and geography teacher of the Sheikh Sultan Primary School in Luxor, was not present in court on Tuesday to hear her verdict, which found her guilty of insulting Islam in an incident back in May and sentenced her to pay a fine of 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($14,000).

In May, Abdel-Nour was accused by three students in her fourth grade classroom of insulting the prophet Muhammad by saying the late Coptic Pope Shenouda performed more miracles than the prophet, and reportedly feigned nausea while talking about the prophet Muhammad. more >>

The Alliance Defending Freedom posted on Monday audio files of a March 2012 phone conversation where an agent from the Internal Revenue Service tells a client from a pro-life group that they cannot apply for tax-exempt status if they "force" their religious beliefs on others.

"The IRS is a tax collector; it shouldn't be allowed to be the speech and belief police," said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Erik Stanley. "The current scandal isn't new but has merely exposed the abuse of power that characterizes this agency and threatens our fundamental freedoms."

The IRS has been under intense scrutiny after a series of scandals emerged in the past few weeks, first with the revelation that the government agency had intentionally targeted conservative groups for further scrutiny, and then at a hearing last week where lawmakers grilled the IRS on spending close to $50 million of taxpayer money on conferences and gifts over a two-year period. more >>