Tag: Religious freedom

Azerbaijan: ‘no fair trial’ for house-church leader appealing against fine

October 19, 2017 Azerbaijan Aliabad, Azerbaijan, Baku, Hamid Shabanov, House churches, Religious freedom

Hamid Shabanov in 2007. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

An Azerbaijani man fined for leading a “house church” without state permission has not been treated fairly during his appeal against the fine, a local source has told World Watch Monitor. The source, who wishes to remain anonymous, said there have been “multiple violations of law and process” against Hamid . . . Read More

‘Uncontrolled’ growth of Christianity in China ‘makes government nervous’

October 11, 2017 China China, Churches, Communism, Donald Trump, House churches, Religious freedom, Sinicisation, Xi Jinping

Group of Christians are praying together in Beijing. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

China’s Communist Party is threatened by the “uncontrolled growth of Christianity” in the country –estimated by some to reach 247 million by 2030, “making it the world’s largest congregation” – and China’s thriving underground churches can therefore expect a backlash, writes Eugene K. Chow for The Diplomat. Chow describes how . . . Read More

Cuba drops criminal charges against religious freedom activist

October 10, 2017 Cuba Cuba, Havana, Religious freedom

Cuba might have dropped criminal charges against a religious freedom activist, it still actively limits, controls and monitors religious practice through detention, demolition and threats, a report says. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

Cuba has dropped criminal charges against the religious freedom activist Fếlix Yuniel Llerena López, reports advocacy group Christian Solidarity Worldwide. López, the Central Region Coordinator for the Patmos Institute, an independent civil society organisation that promotes freedom of religion or belief and inter-religious dialogue, was told on 2 October the . . . Read More

Egypt Cabinet committee starts work on legalisation of unlicensed churches

October 10, 2017 Egypt Andrea Zaki, Churches, Copts, Egypt, Religious freedom

Church building in village in the southern part of Egypt. (Photo: World Watch Monitor)

A cabinet committee met on Monday 8 October to start work on the legalisation of unlicensed churches, following the approval by Egypt’s parliament of a law relating to the building and renovating of churches, reports the Egypt Independent. Andrea Zaki, President of the Protestant Community of Egypt, said there was . . . 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

Turkmenistan repressing religious freedom through ‘fines, raids and torture’

October 4, 2017 Turkmenistan Central Asia, Jehovah's Witnesses, Protestants, Religious freedom, Turkmenabad, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan

Hero statues at Ashgabat Independence Monument. City of Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

Fines, raids and police brutality are some of the trademarks of Turkmenistan’s repeated violations of religious freedom, according to the latest report by regional news agency Forum 18. Protestant Christians, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Muslims have all been repeatedly repressed, according to the report, despite the UN reiterating its concerns. “Turkmen . . . Read More

ASEAN nations told to ‘end blasphemy laws that inspire violence’

October 4, 2017 ASEAN, Blasphemy, Borneo, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Islamic extremism, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Religious freedom, Sharia, Singapore, Southeast Asia, Sunni, Thailand, USA, Vietnam

A right for all - USCIRF report on ASEAN nations

On its 50th anniversary, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) should repeal blasphemy laws, release prisoners of conscience and strengthen interfaith relationships, says the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). In a new report, USCIRF highlights regional “arrests, detentions, and imprisonments based on religious belief, practice, or activities, . . . Read More

Georgia set to pass Constitutional amendments that ‘violate’ religious freedom

September 25, 2017 Constitution, Georgia, Human rights, Religious freedom

Georgia’s parliament is tomorrow (26 September) set to sign into law changes to the country’s Constitution, including restrictions to freedom of religion or belief, which, human rights defenders say, will be used to “legitimise” violations. The proposed amendments would restrict religious freedom on the basis of “state [national] security or . . . Read More

Bahraini king positions as promoter of interfaith tolerance

September 21, 2017 Bahrain Bahrain, Converts, Islamic extremism, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Religious freedom

The King of Bahrain has sought to promote his country as a global champion of religious tolerance, with a declaration that advocates freedom of religion for all and rejects extremism. In the Bahrain Declaration, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa “unequivocally reject[s] compelled observance”. The one-page pledge, which was co-sponsored . . . Read More

EU urged to make religious freedom envoy permanent

September 18, 2017 Global News -- No Particular Country Europe, Jan Figel, Middle East, Religious freedom

Ján Figeľ, the European Union’s Special Envoy for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) outside the EU, has had his 12-month mandate extended by another year, but it should be longer, reports EU news specialist Euractiv. According to Belgium-based Sophia Kuby, Director of European Union Advocacy for religious freedom campaigners . . . Read More

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