next to it in the hope of expanding the current church or building another.

Iran: Authorities from the Islamic Republic are trying to convert the Assyrian Christian church in Tehran into a mosque. The church was illegally confiscated two years ago, when church leaders were told that an Islamic prayer hall would be built there.

Indonesia: Authorities in the Sharia-governed province of Aceh plan to remove tents built by Christians in which to worship after their churches were torn down late last year by authorities in response to Muslim violence against churches. The attacks left one dead and thousands of Christians displaced. The government claims that the removals were agreed to, as the tents were built only for Christmas services -- a claim that Christian leaders reject. When Sharia policeand other officials arrived in early January to remove the tents, the congregation resisted. "Mothers, children, and youths blockaded them. They made their objections clear," said a pastor. Two church tents were torn down.

Turkey: A Syriac Orthodox Church in Diyarbakir, considered to be a "unique heritage site," is believed to have been destroyed during fighting between the Turkish army and the Kurdish PKK. According to the last Christian family to flee the area, Fr. Yusuf and his wife: "My wife and I managed to escape the Church just moments ago with great difficulty... A few days ago, we already sent our children away in order to put them in safety. My wife and I, however, could not leave this ancient-old Church," which symbolizes the last living presence of