Tag: Religious freedom

Egyptian bishop advocates for convert rights

December 11, 2014 Egypt Churches, Constitution, Converts, Egypt, Religious freedom

Bishop Mounir Hanna Anis of the Episcopal Diocese of Egypt has declared that Egyptian Muslims who become Christians should be issued identity cards and other official documents, just as they are granted to citizens who convert to Islam from other religions. “The Egyptian Constitution guarantees freedom of belief. However, not all . . . Read More

‘Freedom of Religion’: comprehensive report launch

November 4, 2014 Global News -- No Particular Country Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Central African Republic, China, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Maldives, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Qatar, Religious freedom, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Yemen, Zimbabwe

A report showing that religious freedom is compromised in nearly 60 percent of countries worldwide is expected to send a signal to governments and religious leaders that this is an issue that can no longer be ignored. The international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need’s Religious Freedom in . . . Read More

Cuba’s religious freedom violations on the rise

August 12, 2014 Cuba Cuba, Religious freedom

Christian Solidarity Worldwide has released a report documenting a dramatic increase in the abuse of religious freedom in Cuba. According to CSW some of the violations include: severe harassment and violent beatings of Protestant pastors and lay workers; scores of women violently dragged away from Sunday morning services by state . . . Read More

Indonesia presidential elections ‘vote for Jokowi’

July 7, 2014 Indonesia Indonesia, Joko Widodo, Religious freedom, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

Religious freedom and human rights liberties are at stake in Indonesia’s Presidential elections tomorrow, July 9, as its two leading contenders are at polar opposites when it comes to their reputations regarding human rights. Joko “Jokowi” Widodo is well known for his stance against corruption, being pro religious pluralism and . . . Read More

A test of freedoms in Brazil

June 4, 2014 Africa, Brazil, Censorship, Religious freedom

Brazil, a county that by some measures has the most religious freedom in the world, is grappling with a court case pitting religious intolerance against freedom of speech. The controversy began with 16 videos on You Tube that public prosecutors claim encourage discrimination toward Africa-based religions. It grew in May . . . Read More

Indonesia’s religious freedom ‘in peril’

February 26, 2014 Indonesia Aceh, Java, Religious freedom, Sumatra, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

The Batak Protestant Church near Jakarta was torn down in March 2013, just after being built.World Watch Monitor A new report paints a bleak picture of religious freedom in Indonesia. Indonesia: Pluralism in Peril, which was launched at the UK Parliament yesterday (Feb. 25), says that in the world’s most . . . Read More

Freedom of religion an issue ‘whose time has come’

February 13, 2014 Global News -- No Particular Country Arab Spring, Barack Obama, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Europe, India, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Mali, Middle East, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Religious freedom, Saudi Arabia, Sharia, Sudan, Syria, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, UN, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam

Freedom of religion and belief is an issue “whose time has come”, the vice chairwoman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom said yesterday. During the presentation of two reports on religious freedom at the European Parliament in Brussels on Feb. 12, commission Vice Chairwoman Katrina Lantos Swett said . . . Read More

Pressure on Christians grew in 2013

January 8, 2014 Global News -- No Particular Country Afghanistan, African Union, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, BJP, Buddhist nationalism, Central African Republic, Colombia, Eritrea, FARC, Hindu nationalism, India, Iraq, Islamic extremism, Kyrgyzstan, Middle East, Nigeria, North Africa, North Korea, Pakistan, Peshawar, Religious freedom, Sadad, Sharia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sub-Saharan Africa, Sudan, Syria, Uganda, UN, Yemen

More than ever, some of the hardest places for Christians to live are fragile or failed states where militant Islamist movements flourish, according to an annual report on Christian religious freedom. Pressure on Christians intensified worldwide in 2013, according to Open Doors International, a charity that provides support to Christians . . . Read More

Christian deaths double in 2014 World Watch List

January 8, 2014 Global News -- No Particular Country Africa, Angola, Central African Republic, Churches, Egypt, India, Kidnapping, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Rape, Religious freedom, Syria

Nearly twice as many Christians died for their faith in the past year than in 2012, according to Open Doors International’s 2014 World Watch List. Open Doors International, a charity that supports Christians under pressure for their faith, said 2,123 Christians were reported to have been killed during the 12 . . . Read More

Sudan ‘tramples’ on its people’s rights

November 27, 2013 Sudan Human rights, Islamic extremism, Religious freedom, Sharia, Sudan

The chairman of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, Robert George, says Sudan is continuing to fail to adhere to international religious freedom standards. Through the imposition of sharia (Islamic law), George writes in the Washington Times that Sudan is a particularly difficult place for non-Muslims and for women. . . . Read More

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