IRFN (Aug. 27 - Sept. 4): Serbia: No Child Custody for Jehovah's Witnesses

Sep 5, 2007

International Religious Freedom Archive
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1. Serbia: No Child Custody for Jehovah's Witnesses (Aug. 27)
2. Belgium: City Employees May Substitute Bandana for Banned Headscarf (Aug. 29)
3. Tibetan Man Arrested Amid Calls for Greater Religious Freedom in China (Aug. 29)
4. Uzbekistan: Police Hunt Pentecostal Christian for "Illegal Religious Activity" (Aug. 30)
5. Turkmenistan Continues to Try Conscientious Objectors (Aug. 31)
6. Algeria: Five Christians Sentenced for Proselytizing (Sept. 4)

Features:

China's ban on reincarnate lamas entered into force on September 1, as covered by Radio Free Asia, prompting international concern, as described by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

1. Serbia: No Child Custody for Jehovah's Witnesses
August 27
Velika Plana, Serbia
Radio Free Europe reports that a mother of an eight-month-old girl was denied custody of the baby after the father accused her of adopting the "practices and beliefs" of Jehovah's Witnesses, which included the possibility of refusing blood transfusions. The mother, Marija Arsenijevic, who in reality has no affiliation with the Jehovah's Witnesses, reported that the courts would no longer hear her side once they believed her husband's allegations about her religious beliefs.

2. Belgium: City Employees May Substitute Bandana for Banned Headscarf
August 29
Antwerp, Belgium
Reuters reports that the city of Antwerp, which enacted a ban on religious symbols earlier this year, would now permit certain Muslim employees to wear a bandana in place of a headscarf. The substitution will initially be permitted only for those working in childcare, though the city will debate whether or not to extend this option to those who work in other areas. Previously, anyone employed by local authorities was prohibited from wearing any expressions of their religious or philosophical beliefs, including headscarves and crucifixes.

3. Tibetan Man Arrested Amid Calls for Greater Religious Freedom in China
August 29
Sichuan Province, China
Reuters reports that Runggye Adak, a Tibetan villager, has been charged with "subversion" by Chinese authorities, for speaking out in support of the Dalai Lama and the need for religious freedom in the country. Adak was formally arrested after speaking in the village of Litang, and charged with incitement to subvert state power. According to witnesses, officers began to move through the assembled crowd shortly after Adak finished his speech, eventually deploying tear gas and grenades against those gathered.

4. Uzbekistan: Police Hunt Pentecostal Christian for "Illegal Religious Activity"
August 30
Nukus, Uzbekistan
Forum 18 reports that police in Uzbekistan are searching for Markset Djabbarbergenov, a Pentecostal Christian, who faces criminal charges for allowing "illegal religious activity" in his home. Police raided Djabbarbergenov's home on August 9, confiscating literature, computers, CDs, and Djabbarbergenov's passport. A criminal case was then opened under Article 216-2, "violation of the laws on religious organizations", and Article 229-2, "violation of the procedure for teaching religion".

5. Turkmenistan Continues to Try Conscientious Objectors
August 31
Ashgabad, Turkmenistan
Forum 18 reports that Turkmenistan is expected to try another conscientious objector for his refusal to serve in the military. Begench Shakhmuradov, a Jehovah's Witness, has already completed one prison term, for refusing to perform military service in accordance with his religious beliefs. Under Turkmenistan's Criminal Code, refusal to perform military service for any reason is punishable by up to two years in prison. Jehovah's Witnesses have repeatedly expressed their willingness to perform an alternative service, but currently the country does not have a non-combat alternative in place.

6. Algeria: Five Christians Sentenced for Proselytizing
September 4
Algeria
El Khabar, an Algerian independent weekly, reports that five Algerian Christians have been convicted of proselytizing, in accordance with a 2006 law on religious practice. The five received sentences ranging from one year in prison to fines of 5,000 Algerian Dinars ($72) and suspended sentences of one year. Members of the Christian community claimed that the five had been trapped by police officers, who came to them asking for information about Christianity and had requested a Bible.