Religious persecution growing worldwide, watchdogs say

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Washington D.C., Jan 18, 2007 / 01:57 pm (CNA).- Religious rights group have underlined that religious persecution is on the rise worldwide and especially in Islamic countries.

On Religious Freedom Day, Jan. 16, the Institute on Religion and Democracy issued a statement, indicating that "millions are discriminated against, beaten and tortured, imprisoned, and killed because they follow Jesus Christ or are members of other minority religions.”

Last week, President George Bush declared Jan. 16 to be Religious Freedom Day, reported CNSNews. He urged Americans to "continue to promote the importance of religious freedom at home and abroad." The date was chosen to commemorate the day in 1786 when Thomas Jefferson's Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom became law.

According to a recent report by Release International, an estimated 250 million Christians will be persecuted in 2007. The U.K.-based group said most persecution takes place in parts of the world under Islam, Communism, Hinduism and Buddhism, but that "persecution is growing fastest of all in the Islamic world."

"Governments in even moderate Muslim countries often fail to safeguard the rights of their Christian minorities," Release International said. "Abuses suffered by Christians include kidnapping, forced conversion, imprisonment, church destruction, torture, rape and execution."

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was established under the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act. The independent panel compiles a list of countries that violate religious freedom. Those designated as "Countries of Particular Concern" are eligible for U.S. government sanctions or other action.

Currently, the list includes Saudi Arabia, China, Iran, Burma, North Korea, Sudan, Eritrea and Uzbekistan.

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Subscriber comments:

Published by: Robert Vervana
Portland OR 02/28/2007 11:34 AM EST

Islam must be eradicated in Europe and the West in general. I do not agree with Pope Benedict on the question of dialogue.
There is noting to talk about! Islam is the anti-Christ.

Published by: George Angel
Canada 01/28/2007 12:51 PM EST

While Religious persecutions in these countries is a very serious issue and problem to contend with for the entire world community. Let us not forget the problems of loss of Relgious freedoms that are becoming a very serious issue and threat right across the entire western world. The rights of religious freedoms of the majorities in a number of countries are being compromised in the name of tolerance towards the views of the few. Just Friday news reports in Canada suggested that a group calling itself Secular Ontario says, "that Ontario municipal councils risk being taken to court if they continue to start their meetings with the Lord's Prayer." This is just one example and case on how the right to freedom of religious expression is being compromised in Canada. There have been a number of cases where people of faith have been taken to courts or human rights commissions over their views on life and family issues. Usually punative financial judgements result and are incurred by people of faith in these types of cases. When people from western countries asked Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta how they could help the poor, her reply was always to help the poor among you in your own cities and countries. In the case of religious freedoms and persecution, let us all start addressing this issue in our very own countries while we still can to stem the ever growing tide that if left unchecked will one day overwhelm us right in our very own backyards. Pray, Pray, Pray!

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