Tag: UN

Kazakhstan Baptist convicted for refusing to pay state ‘expert’ to analyse his Christian books

November 6, 2017 Kazakhstan Akmola, Astana, Baptists, Censorship, Jehovah's Witnesses, Kazakhstan, Religious freedom, UN

Handing out Christian literature in Kazakhstan comes at a price. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

A court in northern Kazakhstan has given a Baptist man a one-year suspended prison sentence for refusing to pay fines for the state to give its “expert analysis” of Christian books he had with him at the time of his arrest. Yuri Bekker had also failed to pay outstanding fines . . . Read More

Central African Republic IDPs angry at UN failure to protect them

October 31, 2017 Central African Republic Bangassou, Bocaranga, Bozoum, Central African Republic, Gambo, UN

When armed men attacked the north-western town of Bocaranga in the Central African Republic in September, thousands fled, including women and children. Madeleine, nine, was among them. She didn’t think of taking a toy; instead, she strapped her 15-month-old baby sister Cesare on her back and ran. With others, she . . . Read More

Indonesia: Jakarta’s new governor urged to protect rights of religious minorities

October 27, 2017 Indonesia Ahok, Blasphemy, Indonesia, Islamic Defenders Front, Jakarta, Nahdlatul Ulama, Religious freedom, UN

New Governor of Jakarta, Anies Baswedan and his running mate, the new Vice Governor of Jakarta, Sandiaga Salahudin Uno arrived at Jakarta City Hal for the inauguration ceremony on 16 October 2017. (Photo: Getty Images)

As Jakarta’s new governor, Anies Baswedan, starts his new job, he should use his role “to protect and promote human rights in the Indonesian capital”, writes Human Rights Watch in a letter addressed to him. The rights group urges him to ”use the powers at your disposal to defend the . . . Read More

UN Special Rapporteur: ‘repeal blasphemy laws that invite hatred’

October 27, 2017 Global News -- No Particular Country ASEAN, Blasphemy, New York, Pakistan, Religious freedom, UN, Uzbekistan

Banner protesting against changes to the blasphemy laws, Peshawar 2017 (World Watch Monitor)

The UN’s Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), Ahmed Shaheed, has said that states that have blasphemy laws “should repeal them because of their stifling impact on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief, and on the ability to engage in a healthy . . . 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

Central African Republic: where government rule only runs in the capital

October 24, 2017 Central African Republic Anti-balaka, Bangui, Bocaranga, Bozoum, Central African Republic, Dieudonné Nzapalainga, Faustin-Archange Touadéra, Gambo, Kaga Bandoro, Nicolas Guérékoyamé-Gbangou, PK5, Seleka, UN, Zemio

I’m just back from a visit to the Central African Republic (CAR) – where there is a sense of emergency again. Security has dramatically deteriorated across the country: President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has failed to establish his authority beyond the capital, Bangui, 18 months after his election. To my surprise, I . . . Read More

New UNHRC members criticised for ‘dismal rights record’

October 23, 2017 Afghanistan, Human rights, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Religious freedom, UN

Afghanistan and Pakistan were among the 15 States elected last week (16 October) to serve on the UN Human Rights Council, with human rights groups calling it a “crisis in the UN and its intergovernmental system”. Maliha Lodhi, Pakistan’s permanent representative to the UN, called it an “endorsement of Pakistan’s strong . . . Read More

UN ‘overlooked’ IS crime of forced displacement

October 17, 2017 Global News -- No Particular Country Genocide, Iraq, Islamic State, Middle East, Rex Tillerson, Syria, UN, Yazidis

Iraqi Christians ask the international community for help as they are facing annihilation by Islamic State. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Campaigners for Christian and Yazidi victims of the Islamic State group welcomed the UN’s decision last month to recognise the Islamic State group’s crimes as “genocide”, but human rights advocate Ewelina Ochab questions why “forced displacement” wasn’t included. The UN Security Council voted unanimously to create an investigative team to . . . Read More

Turkmenistan says religious communities that don’t re-register don’t exist

October 10, 2017 Turkmenistan Jehovah's Witnesses, Turkmenistan, UN

Eighteen months after Turkmenistan introduced a law requiring religious communities to re-register with the authorities, only two have done so – other applications have been rejected by the government because of “errors”, reports regional news agency Forum 18. The two groups – both Protestant – were part of 131 religious . . . Read More

US to lift Sudan sanctions despite human rights concerns

October 9, 2017 Sudan Darfur, Human rights, North Korea, Religious freedom, Sanctions, Sudan, UN, USA

Teenage girls carry water in a refugee camp for people from the Nuba Mountains in Sudan. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

The US has announced it will lift economic sanctions on Sudan “in recognition of [its] positive actions” in fighting terrorism, expanding humanitarian access and reinforcing a cease-fire in conflict areas, but rights groups say the decision is premature as there has been little progress on human rights. The decision, which . . . Read More

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