Last week 23 of the 47-member United Nations Human Rights Council approved a resolution urging member states to provide “protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred in general.” The act, primarily promoted by Muslim nations, is designed to shield religion, primarily Islam, from criticism in the…
Category: International
Religious Persecution on the Horn of Africa (American Spectator)
Somalia continues to implode, as Islamists gain increasing control over what remains of the impoverished, conflict-ridden nation. But it is not the only human tragedy in the region. Eritrea, which won its independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after decades of war, has earned a reputation as one of the world’s youngest tyrannies. It also is one of the world’s worst religious persecutors.
Economics, Faith, and Politics – European Churches call on EU Parliament to adopt ‘work-free Sunday’ declaration
The Protestant Church in Germany (EKD), COMECE (the Bishops Conference of the European Community), and the Church of England are calling upon the European Union Parliament to approve a Written Declaration on “on the protection of a work-free Sunday as an essential pillar of the European Social Model and as part of the European cultural heritage.”
US Says Kyrgyz Law Would Restrict Religious Freedom (VOA News)
U.S. lawmakers are urging Kyrgyzstan’s president not to sign legislation they say will severely restrict religious freedom in the Central Asian country.
Burma launches new crackdown on religious groups
EXCERPT: Burma’s military junta has begun a new round of anti-Christian campaigning, pro-democracy activists have claimed. On Jan 13 the Democratic Voice of Burma reported the Ministry of Religious Affairs had ordered the closure of the city’s house churches.
Human Rights Nightmare: Indian mafia gangs are deliberately crippling children for profit (DailyMail.co.uk)
EXCERPT: Now in hiding after being rescued from the hospital by a charity, Aamir is one of hundreds of Indian children deliberately crippled by gangs so they can earn extra money begging. He still struggles to talk about his experience.
Workplace Religious Accommodation: Man Refuses to Drive ‘No God’ Bus (BBC)
A Christian bus driver has refused to drive a bus with an atheist slogan proclaiming “There’s probably no God”.
Barack Obama on Religious Tolerance and Persecution
Obama: Over time, what we are doing is setting up new norms and creating a universal principle that people’s faith and people’s beliefs have to be protected.
RITSEMA: Tracking Pat Robertson’s Shift to the Left
OPINION – Pat Robertson, one of those Christian spokesmen that makes Christians cringe every time he opens his mouth, has struck again. At least he’s not calling for violence…this time.
New law in Russia ends jury trials for ‘crimes against state’ (LA Times)
Reporting from Moscow — Russian President Dmitry Medvedev paused in the last, quiet hours of a dying year to sign into law a controversial bill that eliminates jury trials for “crimes against the state,” a move that lawyers and human rights groups fear will be the start of a dangerous exertion of Kremlin control over government critics.