Sectarian violence in southern Syria

THIRTY people have been killed as a result of the attack by Sunni tribes on Druze neighbourhoods and villages in the Suwayda province in Syria, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports. The attack started last Sunday evening, and clashes continued overnight. Hostages were taken on both sides. A Druze community leader in Suwayda told CSW: “We don’t trust the central government in Damascus and the national army and police; they are driven by an extremist agenda, and we fear the worst is still to come.”

New allegations against Abbé Pierre

TWELVE new abuse allegations have been made against the late French Roman Catholic priest Abbé Pierre, the Bishops’ Conference in France revealed last week. In a statement, the Bishops expressed their shock “to receive the testimony of the victims”, which includes “seven minors at the time of the events”. Abbé Pierre was once celebrated for his charity work, and for founding the the Emmaus Movement; allegations of abuse came to light last July (News, 26 July 2024). In February, the Paris public prosecutor’s office announced that it would not pursue an investigation because Abbé Pierre had died in 2007.

Armenian Church prepares prayer resources

THE Inter-Church Relations Department of the Armenian Apostolic Church has prepared prayers and reflections for next year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Published by the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the World Council of Churches, the resources “draw upon historic traditions of prayer and petitions used by the Armenian people, along with hymns that originated in the ancient monasteries and churches of Armenia”.

Delhi college evacuated after bomb threat

STUDENTS at St Stephen’s College of the University of Delhi had to leave the premises after a bomb threat was received by email on Tuesday, Dailyhunt reports. The email said that four IED and two RDX bombs had been planted at the university’s premises, and would explode by 2 p.m. St Thomas’s School, Dwarka, also received a similar threat, and it, too, was evacuated. Specialist emergency services, including the Delhi police bomb squad, dog squad, and the fire department were deployed at both locations.

Report urges action on anti-Christian hate crime

THE religious-freedom organisation Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians (OIDAC) has recommended that the European Commission appoint a co-ordinator to combat anti-Christian hate crimes. The recommendation comes at the end of its Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe Report 2024, which says that there have been 2444 incidents, including threats, harassment, and physical assaults, targeting Christians in 35 countries (News, 22 November 2024). www.intoleranceagainstchristians.eu