Nov 20, 2007
International Religious Freedom Archive
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1. Russia Continues to Dissolve Religious Organizations (Nov. 15)
2. Indonesia Targets Groups That Deviate from Mainstream Islam (Nov. 15)
3. Persecution Continues for Pakistan's Ahmadi Muslim Minority (Nov. 15)
4. Mexican Lawmakers To Introduce Measure Outlawing Private Religious Education (Nov. 16)
5. Azerbaijan: Two More Baptists Threatened (Nov. 16)
Features: Becket Fund releases report on religious freedom in India for the Universal Periodic Review at U.N. To view the report in PDF format, click here.
On November 15, the European Parliament passed a resolution condemning the lack of religious freedom in China, Egypt, Iraq, Pakistan, Philippines, Turkey, Vietnam and Sudan. The text of the resolution can be read here.
AsiaNews reports that anti-Christian violence in India is at an all-time high, with about four cases a week reported since summer.
Updates: Asma Jahangir, the United Nations' Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, was released on November 16 after nearly two weeks of house arrest. Reuters covers the story.
Karim Amer, the Egyptian blogger sentenced to four years in prison for "vilifying religions" (and defaming the president) has allegedly been tortured and placed in solitary confinement, as reported by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.
1. Russia Continues to Dissolve Religious Organizations
November 15
Russia
Forum 18 reports that Russian police have recently dissolved a Pentecostal and a Muslim religious organization, following government checkups that are generally carried out every two years. Religious communities have reported a noticeable increase in bureaucracy and monitoring of organizations since Russia's Federal Registration Service obtained broader powers two years ago. A community may now lose legal status for reasons ranging from activities "incompatible with its charter" to the late submission of a tax return.
2. Indonesia Targets Groups That Deviate from Mainstream Islam
November 15
Jakarta, Indonesia
The International Herald Tribune reports that Indonesia has recently arrested and sentenced leaders of religious groups that deviated from mainstream Islam. The government has attracted condemnation for banning peaceful minority groups while ignoring radical groups thought to be linked to several of Indonesia's recent terrorist attacks. Last week, Indonesia's Supreme Court sentenced one man on blasphemy charges, while the government declared its intentions to prosecute another for similar charges, despite the latter man's public repudiation of his "misguided" teachings.
3. Persecution Continues for Pakistan's Ahmadi Muslim Minority
November 15
Pakistan
Ahmadiyya Persecution in Pakistan has published a recap of Pakistan's violations of Ahmadi religious freedom during the month of October. The report includes mentions of violence and police disturbances at Ahmadi places of worship, specific cases of the application of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, and discrimination against Ahmadis in areas of education and employment.
4. Mexican Lawmakers To Introduce Measure Outlawing Private Religious Education
November 16
Mexico City, Mexico
The Associated Press reports that members of several parties in Mexico have put together an initiative to reinforce separation of church and state in Mexico, by focusing on education and the actions of politicians. “Mexico's 1917 constitution guarantees religious freedom of speech and nonreligious public education,” but Rep. Maria Beatriz Pages Llergo, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, said it needs to be changed to guarantee that private education is also nonreligious.” The measure would also impose punishments for government employees who "fail to respect" the divide between church and state.
5. Azerbaijan: Two More Baptists Threatened
November 16
Neftechala, Azerbaijan
Forum 18 reports that following the imprisonment of Baptist pastor Zaur Balaev, Azerbaijani authorities continue to threaten religious leaders. In early November, police visited a Baptist pastor, Telman Aliev, and his assistant, Jabbar Musaev, in the town of Neftechala on the Caspian Sea, where police threatened the two men. Police promised the men the fate of Balaev, who is currently serving a two-year jail sentence, if they continued their involvement with their church. Pastor Aliev, unfazed, continued to lead services, but Musaev was forced not to attend church.