Two thatched-grass structures belonged to evangelist who received threats.

Violence erupted in many of Nigeria’s northern cities on Saturday, April 16, after a presidential election that appears to have given a sweeping victory to incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. Goodluck, a Christian from the south and representative of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), took 57 percent of the vote. He received about 22.5 million votes compared with 12.2 million for his opponent, General Muhammadu Buhari.

In an amazing turn of events in Pakistan, a Muslim man has received the death penalty for murdering two Christian brothers who were being accused of blasphemy.

Today, April 20, 2011 is a special day of prayer for our sister Asia Bibi and other Christians who are suffering for their faith and living under oppressive blasphemy laws in Pakistan.

The following day, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of 20 million pesos, or $1.8 million, from the pastor’s family. Even if the family could pay the enormous sum, it would not necessarily guarantee the pastor’s safety.

USA (MNN) ? The position of the nation's top diplomat for religious freedom had remained vacant since President Barak Obama's inauguration in January 2009. Lindsay Vessey, advocacy coordinator for Open Doors USA, says last Thursday, "Dr. Suzan Johnson Cook, who'd been nominated and failed to get a confirmation in the last session of Congress, was just confirmed as the Ambassador-at-Large for international religious freedom."

Pakistan (MNN) ? Since the murders of two prominent government figures and a Qur'an burning in Florida, persecution has taken a turn for the worse in Pakistan.