IRFN (June 25-July 1): Chinese Lawyers Arrested Before Meeting With U.S. CongressmenJul 2, 2008
Feature: The Iraq War has driven religious minorities from the country. The nation lacks of clear legal protections for religious freedom, since its constitution contains a clause guaranteeing no laws will be contrary to the established provisions of Islam. Read more in this op-ed in USA Today entitled " An Exodus from Iraq."
Update: BBC reports that, the government in Indian-administered Kashmir has formally revoked a plan to give a tract of forest land to a board that manages an important Hindu shrine. BBC has more.
Turkey's chief prosecutor, Mr. Yalcinkaya, has appeared before the nation’s Constitutional Court and has requested that it permanently ban the Justice and Development Party (AKP). BBC has more.
ALGIERS - On Wednesday the trial opened for two Christian converts accused of praying in a building without an official religious permit and proselytizing Muslims, AP reported on June 25. The two men Rachid Mohammed Seghir, 40, and Jammal Dahmani, 36 both converted from Islam. They had been convicted in absentia for the illegal practice of a non-Muslim religion in 2007 but asked for a new trial, as Algerian law allows, their lawyer said. Although Algeria's constitution does allow for freedom of worship, a 2006 law strictly regulates the practice of religions other than Islam.
2. Malaysia: Hindu Family in Court to Reclaim Relative Set to be Buried as Muslim
KUALA LUMPUR - A Hindu family is disputing the Local Islamic Religious Department's claim that their relative, Elangesvaran, converted to Islam shortly before he committed suicide, AP reported on June 26. The family has filed their case in the high court of Penang. This case is the latest in a series of religious conversion disputes that erupt regularly in Malaysia. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has recently pledged that the rights of Chinese and Indian minorities will not suffer because of their religious affiliations.
3. China: Dalai Lama Envoy in Formal Talks With Government
BEIJING - The Chinese government will meet the Dalai Lama's two envoys, Lodi Gyari and Kelsang Gyaltsen, in the intent to ease tensions following violent anti-China protests in March in Tibet, BBC reported on July 1. Chinese authorities have not confirmed the time, venue or the agenda for the meeting. China has accused the Dalai Lama of orchestrating the violent protests that erupted in Tibet in March. However, the Dalai Lama says he is only looking for greater autonomy and not independence for Tibet.
4. China: Lawyers Arrested Before Meeting With Congressmen
BEIJING - China has placed a number of human rights lawyers and a pastor under house arrest for attempting to attend a dinner hosted by the U.S. Congress on Sunday, the Washington Post reported on July 1. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Frank R. Wolf (R-VA) had invited several dissident lawyers to meet with them Sunday night. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao criticized the congressmen for not respecting China's laws and regulations saying that they "should not engage in activities incompatible with the objective of their visit and with their status." The congressmen decided to travel to Beijing now, giving China a chance to demonstrate its commitment to human rights before the upcomming Olympics. The congressmen presented a list of 734 political prisoners to Li Zhaoxing, China's former foreign minister who now chairs the foreign affairs committee of the National People's Congress, and appealed to him to work for their release.
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