Christians in some parts of the Middle East have three options: move elsewhere, become Muslim, or pay the expensive Christian tax known as jizya.

As Nina Shea, a religious freedom expert with the Hudson Institute explained, the cost of not complying is high. 

“A family fleeing Nineveh, they couldn’t pay, and [the militants] took their 3-year-old daughter,” Shea said.

In response to the persecution, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention is establishing its first freedom office in the region.

WASHINGTON—With the passing of several state laws protecting religious liberty and the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision on gay marriage, three Republican presidential candidates had one central theme at a Thursday conference organized by the Faith and Freedom Coalition.

“Religious liberty has never been more threatened in America,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, amid assertive hums from the audience. “I believe 2016 will be the religious liberty election.”

WASHINGTON—As the Obama administration continues to deliberate its nuclear agreement with Iran, some lawmakers from the House Committee on Foreign Affairs expressed concern about whether the Islamic nation’s leaders will abide by the provisions. 

The agreement set up in April stipulates Iran will get rid of about 98 percent of its stockpile of uranium, retaining only 300 kilograms. In return, the country will receive substantial sanctions relief.

Wasila Tasi’u, 15, appeared Monday in a Nigerian court wearing a full-face veil. The case against her: murdering her husband with rat poison.

Tasi’u’s family married her to a 35-year-old man when she was 13. A year later, she allegedly poisoned a meal she prepared for her husband and three of his friends. Though she faced charges of culpable homicide and a possible death sentence, the court discharged Tasi’u’s case two days ago. Her lawyer, Hussaina Aliyu Ibrahim, said the prosecution failed to establish Tasi’u’s intent to kill and how she did it.

In 2010, Tunisia sparked the Arab Spring that led to the resignation of political leaders around the Arab world. But it proved to be a lot harder to organize a miniskirt protest.

Former Tunisian President Habib Bourguiba banned miniskirts shortly after the country’s independence in 1966. Recently, an online campaign urged Arabic men to oppose immodest female dressing: The campaign set up a Facebook page called “Be a man and don’t let your woman out in revealing clothes.” Organizers argued the hijab and other modest clothing protect women from unwanted attention.

As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) prepares for its upcoming elections, the battle against the incumbent president’s run for a third term rages on.

Street vendors and cars crowd the streets of Harare, capital of Zimbabwe. The vendors’ daily job is to sell clothing, food, and cosmetics, but Zimbabwe’s government yesterday issued an ultimatum: Starting on Sunday, no street-selling allowed.

Tendai Mahachi, a Harare city council clerk, said a designated selling area has space for 6,000 vendors, but 20,000 are operating in the area. The army warns it will use military force if the sellers fail to comply.