Tag: Ahmed Shaheed

Uzbek Christians report continued state pressure, despite recent UN criticism

March 26, 2018 Uzbekistan Ahmed Shaheed, Religious freedom, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

State harassment against Baptists in Uzbekistan has continued despite the UN’s recent criticism of the country’s religious rights records. UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom or Religion or Belief, Ahmed Shaheed, said: “Law changes and a strong political will are needed if Uzbeks are to freely practise their faith” when he . . . Read More

‘Vietnam targeting religious followers, whose sole wish is to live their faith in peace’

March 22, 2018 Ahmed Shaheed, Central Highlands, Hmong, Vietnam

The Paris-based Vietnam Committee on Human Rights (VCHR) has expressed “deep concern” over an attack earlier this month on 24 Christians from the Hmong people group, who had recently converted to the Christian faith. The group had been warned by local leaders to renounce their faith or be forced to . . . Read More

Religious freedom learning platform launched at UN

March 7, 2018 Global News -- No Particular Country Ahmed Shaheed, Human rights, Jan Figel, Religious freedom, Switzerland, UN

A new website to help promote understanding of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) was launched yesterday in Geneva, Switzerland, at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council. The Sweden-based FoRB Learning Platform provides downloadable resources in 13 different languages, including quick guides to religious rights, movie clips, theological . . . Read More

In Uzbekistan, religious freedoms ‘not recognised in law and practice’ – UN Special Rapporteur

March 5, 2018 Uzbekistan Ahmed Shaheed, Shavkat Mirziyoev, Tohar Haydarov, UN, Uzbekistan

Law changes and a strong political will are needed if Uzbeks are to freely practise their faith, according to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom or Religion or Belief. Ahmed Shaheed presented his findings on 2 March to the Human Rights Council as it meets for its 37th session in . . . Read More

Uzbekistan should ‘protect religious freedom, not see religion as a threat’ – UN Special Rapporteur

October 25, 2017 Uzbekistan Ahmed Shaheed, Bukhara, Censorship, Central Asia, Fergana Valley, Human rights, Khorezm, Soviet Union, Tashkent, USA, Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan should invest more time in protecting religious freedom in its ongoing reforms rather than see religion as a threat, a UN expert has concluded after an official visit to the country. “Resilience against religious extremism can be built on strengthening diversity as well as freedom of religion or belief,” . . . Read More

UK calls for action to secure freedom of religion for 80% of world’s population

October 25, 2017 Global News -- No Particular Country Ahmed Shaheed, Human rights, Islamic State, Nepal, Religious freedom, Rohingya, UK, UN

A new report urges the UK and other governments to take practical measures to turn the rhetoric of ‘freedom of religion or belief’ into reality, to protect the millions who are vulnerable to violence, discrimination and disadvantage as a result of its abuse. The report, presented in the UK Parliament today . . . Read More

Maldives told to retract criticism of UN Special Rapporteur

July 25, 2017 Maldives Ahmed Shaheed, Maldives, Progressive Party of Maldives, Religious freedom, UN, USA

UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Dr Ahmed Shaheed, has been accused by the Maldives' government of spreading "evil deeds" and of "irreligious activities". (Photo: Getty Images)

The Maldives should retract its accusations against the UN’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) – its former Foreign Minister, Ahmed Shaheed – and condemn the calls for his beheading, says the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). USCIRF “strongly condemn[ed]” the accusations from the ruling . . . Read More

Iran jails another 18 converts

May 22, 2015 Iran Ahmed Shaheed, Converts, Hassan Rouhani, House churches, Human rights, Iran

Another 18 Iranian converts to Christianity have been jailed during the past two months for “evangelism and establishing house churches”, reports Mohabat News. Between them, their sentences amount to 23 years and nine months in jail. Mansour Borji, spokesman for rights group Article 18, told Mohabat News that, although the . . . Read More

Iranian Christians face ‘systematic persecution and prosecution’

May 20, 2013 Iran Ahmed Shaheed, Armenians, Assyrians, Behnam Irani, Converts, Farshid Fathi, Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Youcef Nadarkhani

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani greets his wife Fatemah after his release from prison in September 2012.Nadarkhani family for World Watch Monitor Iran’s treatment of its Christian minority has come under fresh scrutiny in recent months with some damning verdicts on the country’s human rights record. Reports from the UK’s Foreign . . . Read More

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