At Large
Religious Persecution Update
The freedom to worship freely remains under assault worldwide, for any and every reason.
Freedom to worship freely is something Americans take for granted. But scores of nations persecute religious minorities. Some penalize most every faith, while others promote the dominant or establishment religions. A few aid favored groups while leaving people largely free to practice their own.
In its latest annual report on religious liberty, the State Department highlights 30 nations as particularly egregious offenders. There are a number of reasons countries persecute. But most nations fall into two categories.
The first are Muslim nations that seek to reinforce the Muslim faith — often the particular branch, Shia or Sunni, that controls the state. The second are authoritarian states that either are still communist or have only recently escaped communism. Their authoritarian impulses typically cover civil and political liberties as well as religious freedom.
Then there are the handful of miscellaneous others. Just five of the 30 fall outside the two main categories. But they remain important nonetheless, including the world’s second most populous nation as well as a couple of the most repressive states.
Burma. The brutal military junta ruling this nation is one of the leading contenders for “worst regime on earth.” The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom notes that the regime “has one of the world’s worst human rights records.” In general, the generals do not interfere with religious worship per se, but they do promote Theravada Buddhism, making adherence a prerequisite for serious career advancement.
Moreover, the junta’s fear of opposition leads to harsh restrictions on most people of faith. USCIRF notes that “In the past year, religious freedom conditions deteriorated, particularly following the violent suppression of peacefully demonstrating Buddhist monks in September 2007.”
State reports the same vicious abuses: “Religious activities and organizations were subject to restrictions on freedom of expression, association, and assembly. The government continued to monitor meetings and activities of virtually all organizations, including religious organizations. The government continued to systematically restrict efforts by Buddhist clergy to promote human rights and political freedom.”
The lengthy and brutal war against groups seeking self-determination has fallen particularly heavily on the largely Christian Karen and Karenni. Tens of thousands of refugees have been forced over the border into neighboring countries, including Thailand and China, and millions of Burmese have been displaced within their own country. State calls Burma a Country of Particular Concern, a designation backed by the USCIRF.
Eritrea. This small nation recently won its independence from Ethiopia after a lengthy struggle. Divided roughly equally between Muslim and Christian, Ethiopia hosts a repressive government whose “record on religious freedom remained poor,” explains State. The State Department designated Eritrea as a Country of Particular Concern for its flagrant violations; the USCIRF agreed. Similarly, International Christian Concern (ICC) rates Eritrea as a member of its Hall of Shame.
The Commission reports: “The government of Eritrea continues to engage in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.” ICC figures that “Currently over 2,000 Christians are imprisoned in metal shipping containers, military barracks and prison cells.” Jehovah’s Witnesses and Pentecostals suffer the most, but persecution is more widespread.
Notes the State Department: “The government continued to harass and detain thousands of members of unapproved religious groups and retained substantial control over the four approved religious groups. The government failed to approve religious groups that fulfilled the registration requirements and arrested persons during religious gatherings. The government held religious prisoners in harsh conditions for long periods and without due process. There continued to be reports of forced recantations of faith and torture of religious detainees.” The USCIRF even warns of “the deaths of certain religious prisoners due to ill treatment, denial of medical care, or torture.”
India. The world’s second most populous nation contains a mix of religious faiths, though with a large Hindu majority. Although the national government generally respects religious freedom, “some state and local governments imposed limits on this freedom,” says State. In particular, “Some state governments enacted and amended ‘anticonversion’ laws, and police and enforcement agencies often did not act swiftly to counter communal attacks effectively, including attacks against religious minorities.”
ICC also made India a member of its annual Hall of Shame, reporting that “A growing Hindu nationalist movement…is threatening this nation-wide policy of tolerance and making deep inroads in several state governments.” Last year was particularly bad, notes ICC, with “wave after wave of highly coordinated Hindu raids” that resulted in “the worst outbreak of anti-Christian violence in its recent history.” Adds ICC: “In all, more than 100 Christians are confirmed dead, 4,000 homes have burned down, and over 50,000 Christians have fled their homes.”
The government’s response at all levels was inadequate, which encouraged further assaults. Explains State, “Some extremists continued to view ineffective investigation and prosecution of attacks as a signal that they could commit such violence with impunity.” Still, the democratic and open nature of Indian society generates pressure for more effective public action. And the new national government gives some reason for hope. Notes ICC: “With a Hindu president, a Muslim vice president, a Sikh prime minister, and a Christian heading the most powerful political party, the Indian government is committed to a policy of tolerance and diversity on a national level.”
Fiji. In a very different category but still of concern to the State Department is this small South Pacific island. The majority Christian nation has lost its freedom to a coup, under which the constitution has been abrogated. Religious liberty continues to be generally respected, but State points to “a decline in the status of respect for religious freedom by the government,” which mandated that all police officers, even Hindus and Muslims, attend rallies organized by a Methodist organization. The Police Commissioner rejected criticism of this practice and said that the policy would continue.
About the Author
Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. A former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is the author and editor of several books, including The Politics of Plunder: Misgovernment in Washington (Transaction).
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Ken (Old Texican)| 12.11.09 @ 10:13AM
Doug,
Your article leads me to a very serious question, and I do not ask it lightly.
Here in the States, how do we deal with "congregations/mullahs" who teach as part of their religion..."Death To Infidels"?
Alan Brooks| 12.11.09 @ 1:23PM
If we can explain to those secularists who aren't pigheaded that since social progress is dead-- it died in this decade-- religion that isn't mushy on one hand or too fundamentalist (we need SOME fundamentalism) on the other is necessary.
Any religion outside of satanism and even 'white' magic is worthy. The older the religion the better. Hinduism, Buddhism are fine. But Christianity is tops, as Jesus was the greatest of the greats. King of kings.
And who else is there anymore?
Alan Brooks| 12.11.09 @ 1:27PM
We can reason with Islamics in America. But it will take decades.
As the hood in American Graffiti said, Rome wasn't burned in a day.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.11.09 @ 2:56PM
Alan,
Jesus offerred us a "son/daughter" relationship with our Creator.
Yes Sir...King of Kings!
ccc| 12.11.09 @ 4:06PM
Necessary for what?
Alan Brooks| 12.11.09 @ 6:19PM
if you have to ask, mr. civilian conservation corps, you are at the wrong blog.
go to NAMBLA, boy.
reform uscirf | 12.15.09 @ 9:28PM
"uscirf.blogspot.com" is a blog advocating reforms and self-policing at USCIRF, It raises following questions in a constructive fashion:-
* Legal:
* USCIRFs compliance with International Religious Freedom Act 1998?
* USCIRF overlooking potential violations of Article 9 of The Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
* Conflict of Interest and bias at USCIRF.
* Failure to champion "Freedom of ALL Religions"?
* Lending voice to those who want to curtail "Freedom of worship"?
* Contradictions and Inconsistencies between various reports?
* Lack of transparency and disclosure. Problems with quality of content?
drainthe swamp| 12.11.09 @ 11:26AM
In the States, UK and Canada so-called "hate speech" laws are purposefully designed to inhibit or suppress Christian (and secular) freedom of expression of un-PC views
Margie| 12.11.09 @ 2:04PM
Go here for more information on the persecuted around the world, and the Christians who provide help and comfort to them, along with the Gospel of Jesus Christ~
http://www.persecution.com/
Road Kill| 12.11.09 @ 2:56PM
"The first are Muslim nations that seek to reinforce the Muslim faith -"
Diversity to the PC crowd? Freedom of religion is a Constitution right, but it may one day bite the hand that feeds it. Can we really just get along?
Ret. Marine| 12.12.09 @ 9:31PM
"Can we really just get along?" No my friend, the muslims are not here to "just get along", they are here to dominate and secure this Nation to the ummah. If you don't believe that get the recent book out there by P. David Gaubatz, titled Muslim Mafia. The "Ikhwan" or brotherhood seem to have a different plan for the USA. Their intentions are not to get along, but, to divide and conquer.
Postbus| 12.11.09 @ 3:59PM
I find the similarities of Jesus's story with Isis/Osiris (and Eyptian/Sumerian myths) to be uncanny. I think this type of legendary story is something people have been able to identify with for a a long time.
Pingback| 12.12.09 @ 2:54AM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Religious Persecution Update [specta links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Danny Haszard | 12.12.09 @ 4:49AM
Jehovah's Witnesses and freedom of speech.
They will extol and preach *God's Kingdom* and this sounds attractive,what they hide from you is their Watchtower society version that Jesus has already had his second coming in 1914 and is working *invisibly* through them.
They have won 37 of their 46 US Supreme court cases assuring us all of freedom of speech and assembly and equal protection under the law.
The sad irony is that the Watchtower Society *daily* abuses the human rights of thousands of its members. It denies current members the right of free speech by forbidding them to speak to former members, even close family members.
And it denies former members their right of freedom of worship by refusing to allow them to leave the religion with dignity, should they come to disagree with Watchtower's practices or doctrines.
The religion of Jehovah's Witnesses is an oppressive cult that controls every aspect of its members' lives.
--
Danny Haszard dissident born JW 3rd generation
ChuckD| 12.12.09 @ 9:36AM
Danny, I believe what you say about JW and agree they are a dangerous cult. But the Muslim religion has already implemented Dhimmitude on the Western World thanks to the liberal elitists who rule us. The name of Jesus can be used as a curse word, but the slightest criticism of Mohammad sets off riots against embassies and vicious attacks against Christians world wide.
Fears of fatwas from mullahs have caused movie directors, writers, and TV scripts to avoid criticism of a code that allows for honor killings and the devaluation of women.
The neo-liberals, lost in their fantasist world view, will of course counter that Christian fundamentalists do the same -which is a bald face lie. They always show as evidence the most backward of Christian examples where people have twisted the Scripture to fit their own agenda, a la David Koresh. Or they cherry pick quotes from the Bible that say things like "Women submit to your husbands..." as proof that Christians are the same as Muslims when it comes to the way they treat women.
The above quote is taken out of context and the true meaning of Paul's command is lost. But even if their interpretation was true, it doesn't matter. The problem with Islam is not what they believe, it is how they go about enforcing what they believe.
No one is afraid of Christian retaliation from criticism except at the voting booth or the cashier's counter. No one is afraid of portraying Pastors as womanizing or Priests as child molesters in movies or on TV. All the movie and TV terrorists are right wing tea baggers who go to church and believe in abstinence.
It's open season on Christian conservatives, and the question authority crowd is eager to show how brave they are by slamming and demeaning the established Church.
But they all cower and run at any suggestion of doing the same when comes to Islam.
Our own government, encouraged by the Christian hating left, sponsors the depiction of the most graphic anti-Christian images imaginable, like the Piss Christ.
We don't have to wait for the Muslims to take over, they already have.
Ret. Marine| 12.12.09 @ 10:19PM
I tend to disagree with this statement, "we don't have to wait for the muslims to take over, they already have"
Not likely. There are a lot of lies over the muslim's intentions here. There are the liberals who think in such manner without understanding they are the ones who have been fooled by the words and actions of the mouth peices of CAIR just for one example, peaceful religion, we are patriotic americans. Nothing could be further from the truth. They may claim to have millions in their numbers, (CAIR claims to have over 6+million) but, in truth the numbers according to the US Census puts these numbers at around 3.5 million at the most. They may claim to have political clout, but recent revelations about this muslim clout was made clear when the FBI recently cut ties to CAIR because of ongoing investigations and their connection to terrorist funding and support. Virtually all ties from and leading to CAIR are connected to the muslim brotherhood, a known terrorist organization recently exposed through the Holy Land Foundation Trial last year.
Mr. klinton was fooled, most of the Democratic Black Caucus members and I might add a few Republican's as well, have in the past taken dirty money from this Org. We now have a sitting US Senator who is the Chairperson of CAIR, two members of the Black Caucus were sponsored and elected by financial support from terrorist tied groups.
But more to your point. The dhimmi attitude seems to be coming from the liberal media, of course if one rely's upon talking points, rather than say, educating yourself on this so-called religion of peace, it becomes quite apparent that the liberal lamestream media has been sucked up into the many false statements coming from organizations affilliated to the brotherhood, and repeat, repeat and repeat more of the same lies obviously become truth to many of casual observers.
Yes, you are correct to mention the obsurdity that some how the religion of peace is some thing special and should and demands to be treated as such. They are special only in the manner that they are the only religion known to man to command and demand their soldiers, sunni, salfi, shia muslims to kill the infidels, or kifir's as they claim the "People of the Book "(Christians) and pigs (Jews) are the unfaithful to allah. They are correct in saying we are unfaithful to allah, but we as a Christian Nation are obiedent to God. Hugh difference between a moon-god (allah) and God, the creator of the heavens and of the earth.
Don't be fooled in their propaganda, it was designed to do just that. One day they may find that the Christian's have decided that too many casualities are a direct result of their "man made disasters" , and a second Crusade may just be the answer to the problem that is muslims.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.12.09 @ 2:00PM
Take heart, Chuck D.
The militant muslims will shoot their own foot off....over and over again, until we run out of patience.
We shall win this war...believe it.
sam| 12.13.09 @ 3:02PM
Problem being most people are no longer devout Christians, and every generation less of us in the US are anything but generically "Christian". This will the world's lone Fascist religion without opposition as the ACLU and useful idiots on the Left all but hand the country over to them through the court system.
ChuckD| 12.13.09 @ 10:52PM
Exactly.
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Sam| 12.13.09 @ 12:27PM
Why does this chat board always break down into anti-Muslim attitudes and praise and encouragement for all things Christian. Here's a news flash for you happy clappers: This is why so many people don't like you!
Why do you think there are so many assaults on Christmas? On Christian teaching? I agree- the left has taken it too far in trying to suppress Christmas, a wonderful holiday that is rooted in American tradition.
But do you know why the left gets away with it? Because people are just sick and tired of Christians like you insisting that we live in a Christian country and that your religion is always allowed to subvert the constitution just because of your tradition.
Plus, younger people like myself are annoyed by your constant squealing about how we're bending over backward for the Muslims and how they're all militant and out to get us. For adults, you people are some of the most fearful people I have encountered. Afraid that your religion is under attack. Afraid that our country is being destroyed.
You're bickering like petulant children who have had your toys taken away by Mommie. Start acting like adults. Otherwise, it will only get worse for you.
Different sam| 12.13.09 @ 3:07PM
Uh, "younger people" like yourself should take a look at the rest of the world - any place where Muslims move in and infect an existing society. The stated purpose of this Fascisistic religion is to make the world over to Muhammad's stated order.
Also, "younger people" like yourself should educutate yourselves about what exactly the religion Islam teaches with respect to those aren't of the "religion of peace" - for instance Islam means "obedience", not love.
Perhaps then "younger people" like yourself wouldn't be so sad to the rest of us.
Margie| 12.13.09 @ 1:50PM
Hello Sam,
I heard a marvelous book reading the other day. It was a book about the discovering of America, and the Christians who came here, including Christopher Columbus. There were included in that book some of his writings that had not been published before. It turns out that he was a true Christian man who was guided and prompted by God to come here. There is no mistaking it.
Sam, if only you knew how this country truly was part of God's plan for a country based on honoring and serving Him. That is indeed, our beginnings. But contrary to what you have probably learned in school, there is no "separation of church and state" in the Constitution. What the Founders wrote was to make sure that the government did not infringe upon the peoples freedom to worship, and that the government did not create a "state" religion. Christians were never about forcing a religion upon anyone, but are about the freedom to worship however you see fit.
The reason our country is falling apart has to do with the removal of God from our schools, from our society and sadly, our own lives. The Left in this country are mostly against all that is good and right and true, and that includes our media. They are lockstep "goons" along with the Democrat party and are hugely contributing to our demise. It's the truth.
The Light and the Glory by Peter J. Marshall is the book I mentioned. It would be a wonderful book for anyone to read.
God bless.
ladisney| 12.13.09 @ 2:54PM
Christianity has undergone the reformation. The separation of church and state, while not absolute, has been a strong tradition for centuries. Islam recognizes no such separation. Government, Law, inter-personal relations and relations with non-Moslem nations are all dictated by the Koran and the Hadeeth. Mohammed is the great example and all Moslem's should emulate him. That includes bringing all the world under the control of Moslems. Any Moslem who takes the words of the Koran and Hadeeth seriously knows this. It's time the rest of us realized it too.
Margie| 12.13.09 @ 3:56PM
The Constitution of the United States of America is our law. It is based on freedom, (as is Christianity), from Government having any control of individuals lives, and serves as a protection against any Government involvement in the forming of any Religion over us.
Muslims come here because they know they will be free to practice their Religion. But they are not entitled to take over our free country by force. That isn't going to happen.
Brad| 12.14.09 @ 12:52AM
Something is fishy about the comparison of Israel to the territories administered by the Palestinian authority: Christians have been emigrating from the PA areas to such an extent that in towns like Bethlehem, which have been predominantly Christian for nearly 2,000 years, Christians are now a dwindling minority.
Pingback| 12.14.09 @ 12:45PM
Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : Religious Persecution Update [specta links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Tony in Central PA | 12.14.09 @ 4:39PM
What's the over / under on how many months before Britain makes the list ?
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