Samuel Smith and World Watch Monitor

Latest

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  Feb 12, 2020

  Trump appointee rules against Christian school expelled from state voucher program

  A federal judge has ruled against a private Christian school that was booted out of Maryland’s school voucher program for low-income students over the institution’s nondiscrimination policy. 

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  Feb 11, 2020

  Pakistani court allows marriage of kidnapped Christian girl because she had first period

  A court in Pakistan has ruled against the family of a kidnapped Christian teenager who was forced into Islamic marriage, reportedly contending that girls can be married so long as they have had their first period. 

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  Feb 11, 2020

  New Netflix series shows how Christian pharmacist took down deadly opioid 'pill mill'

  A new four-episode Netflix docuseries highlights the story of a Christian pharmacist in New Orleans suburb who turned the grief from his son’s death into a determination to shut down a doctor he believed was fraudulently prescribing painkillers to thousands in his community.

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  Feb 11, 2020

  Air Force removes commander's name from prayer breakfast invitation after secular group complains

  A U.S. Air Force base in Illinois has removed a commander’s name from a prayer breakfast invitation in response to a complaint from one of the nation’s leading secular legal organizations. 

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  Feb 11, 2020

  Egypt extends detention of Coptic Christian activist, delays court hearing

  Authorities in Egypt have again delayed the court hearing for a Coptic Christian activist jailed last November on “preposterous charges,” according to a persecution watchdog group. 

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  Feb 9, 2020

  Planned Texas border wall would cut off congregants from their church, 'burden' religious practice

  Plans to build part of President Donald Trump’s border wall near a levee in Donna, Texas, are being challenged on claims that it will “burden” churchgoers by cutting them off from easily accessing their church building.

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  Feb 8, 2020

  UN stepping up response in Burkina Faso as displacement rose by 1,200% in 2019

  The United Nations will step up relief efforts in Burkina Faso amid a 1,200 percent increase in forced displacement while some are concerned that the Trump administration could reduce U.S. troops in violence-ridden West Africa despite the president’s vows to defeat the Islamic State. 

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  Feb 7, 2020

  Iranian Christian convert granted early release from prison; 2 others expected to be freed

  One Iranian Christian convert imprisoned for his faith has been released early from prison and it is expected that two more converts will also be granted an early release.

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  Feb 7, 2020

  Judge reverses convictions of aid workers who left food, water for immigrants in desert

  Four aid volunteers who left food and water for immigrants who illegally entered the country through the Arizona desert in 2017 had their criminal convictions overturned Monday by a federal judge who ruled that the government’s prosecution violated their religious freedom rights.  

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  Feb 7, 2020

  'Dirty baker's dozen': 13 companies facilitating sexual exploitation

  Major corporations and one state were listed on the National Center on Sexual Exploitation’s 2020 “Dirty Dozen List” of entities that are complicit in “perpetuating” sexual exploitation in any form.