Tag: Minorities

Sudan’s treatment of minorities ‘woeful’

June 24, 2015 Sudan Khartoum, Minorities, Peter Yen, South Sudan, Sudan, Yat Michael

In highlighting the case of two South Sudanese pastors on trial in neighbouring Sudan to the north, Yat Michael and Peter Yen, the BBC’s former correspondent there, James Copnall, throws light on Sudan’s treatment of its minorities (3%). He takes a close look at the reasons behind historical conflict before . . . Read More

Iran pastor Fathi’s appeal fails, against extra year in prison and 74 lashes

June 2, 2015 Iran Ayatollah Khamenei, Christmas, Church of Iran, Converts, Ebrahim Firouzi, Evin Prison, Farshid Fathi, Hassan Rouhani, Minorities, Prisons, Tehran

An Iranian pastor serving a six-year prison term has failed in his appeal against a further sentence of 74 lashes and an additional year in jail – for the alleged possession in his cell of two litres of alcohol. This latest news about Farshid Fathi was first reported by Iran-focused . . . Read More

Businessman building Pakistan’s largest cross

May 19, 2015 Pakistan Crosses, Karachi, Minorities, Pakistan

A Pakistani businessman is building the tallest cross in the country hoping it will be an inspiration to his country’s approximately three per cent Christian minority. Parvez Henry Gill, 58, has spent a year building one of the world’s largest crosses at the entrance to a Christian cemetery in Karachi, . . . Read More

Vietnam’s Religion Law

May 8, 2015 Vietnam Catholics, Central Highlands, Churches, Communism, Human rights, Minorities, Religion Law, Religious freedom, UN, Vietnam

The Socialist Republic of Vietnam is drafting a “Law on Belief and Religion,” for passage in the National Assembly in 2016, and possibly this year. It is almost inevitable the new law will disappoint proponents of universal human rights.1 Diverse religions and religious practices flourish in communist Vietnam. Religious believers far . . . Read More

‘Greater collaboration’ will help ME Christians

May 1, 2015 Bishop Angaelos, Copts, Italy, Middle East, Minorities, UK

Bishop Angaelos, leader of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the UK, told an international conference this week that there is much to lose if the international community doesn’t take ownership of the suffering of Christians in the Middle East. Speaking at ‘Christians in the Middle East: What Future?’ in Bari, . . . Read More

No future in Pakistan as minority woman

April 10, 2015 Pakistan Blasphemy, Easter, Islamic extremism, Lahore, Minorities, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan, Women

Pakistan’s prime minister promised to provide equal rights for people of all religions in a speech over the Easter weekend. Nawaz Sharif said: “My government is committed to safeguarding the fundamental rights, safety, honour, life and property of all minority communities”. He added that minorities were granted “equal rights and . . . Read More

Pakistan’s first female Christian footballer

March 31, 2015 Pakistan Balochistan, Caste, Football, Karachi, Minorities, Pakistan, Women

Al Jazeera reports on the growing popularity of a young woman from Karachi who, as Pakistan’s first Christian women to play football for her country, is emerging as a voice against religious intolerance. Joyann Geraldine Thomas made her international debut in November 2014 at the age of 17, but the match barely . . . Read More

Vietnam still violates religious freedom

March 12, 2015 Vietnam Cambodia, Minorities, Montagnards, Religious freedom, UN, Vietnam

The message at the annual UN Human Rights Council in Geneva this week was clear: Vietnam still struggles to ensure religious freedom for its citizens. ‘Whereas religious life and religious diversity are a reality in Vietnam today, autonomy and activities of independent religious or belief communities – that is, unrecognised . . . Read More

Mid East Christians on UN Security Council agenda?

March 10, 2015 Global News -- No Particular Country France, Middle East, Minorities, Morocco, Rabat, UN

France, whose turn it is to preside over the next UN Security Council meeting on March 27th, says that it plans to discuss the situation of Christians and other minorities in the Middle East. The French Foreign Minister, Laurent Fabius, told a news conference in Rabat, Morocco on 9 March that . . . Read More

Fixing Pakistan’s ‘broken’ blasphemy laws

March 8, 2015 Pakistan Asia Bibi, Blasphemy, Minorities, Pakistan, Pakistan Ulema Council, Rimsha Masih

Al-Jazeera at Pakistan’s volatile religious politics through the eyes of two Muslims trying to reform the country’s notorious anti-blasphemy laws. Attorney Saif-ul-Malook, for whom Aasiya Noreen (also known as Asia Bibi) is the latest of several clients he has defended against charges of offending Islam, lives in daily fear of an . . . Read More

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