Saudi Arabia- There Is Widespread Social, Economic and Political Discrimination Against
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CRY TASK #1--Results
Saudi Arabia- There is widespread social, economic and political discrimination against Saudi women. It is at the heart of calls for reform in Saudi Arabia. Professor at King Saud University in Riyadh said “the most important change that must take place here in this country is to allow for the freedom of expression, for the diversity of this society to express itself freely. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/23/60minutes/main682565.shtml
Latvia- The gays in Latvia are discriminated against because are gay. And because of them AIDS and HIV have gone up. There is a lot of tension with the church too. Gay men will be arrested if they overly state their orientation http://www.thebodypro.com/content/news/art52584.html
North Korea- North Korea oppresses the press in their country. In North Korea people are executed for communicating with people from the outside. It not only oppresses the press in its own country is oppresses the press form outside countries. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/02/116_19157.html
Somalia- Somalia oppresses the human rights in their country. The warlords intercept the food supply and starve their people. They also shot and killed many Americans and UN troops in fighting. http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2006/08/the_struggle_fo.html
Iraq-Iraq oppresses the women of their country they make them wear long robes and coverings. Because they are Islam they must wear those robes and coverings at all times. http://www.phmovement.org/pha2000/stories/iraq.html
. Syria -There is torture and oppression on the rise in Syria . many wormen children and elderly people are being tourtured and poorly treated. -http://www.antiwar.com/ips/suri.php?articleid=5142 -http://www.thenation.com/doc/20031201/cole 2. Africa, Asia and Europe areas -People are using sexual violence as a weapon in these areas, mainly toward women and girls. Some are unfortunate enough not to survive it though and can not tell their story. They are attacking large groups, usually by fires or when they gather for meals and such. -http://www.afrol.com/articles/33872 -http://www.africaaction.org/docs01/wom0103.htm 3.Bangladesh -People are fighting for their peace, security and good government. Especially women and children are the ones suffering, many women are getting raped. Communism is uprising in Bangladesh. These people are fighting for their freedom and trying to get away from gang rape, harassment, violence and robbery. -http://www.humanrightstoday.info/?p=899 -http://www.popline.org/docs/0550/265452.html 4. Zimbabwe, Africa – Many people have joined the Movement for Democratic Change to gain freedom. Many say that their current leader, Robert Mugabe, is leading the country into destruction. The economy is out of control with inflation, unemployment, and a cholera epidemic. Many say that Zimbabwe is in a complete collapse right now and that Mr. Mugabe needs to step down, but the leader will not surrender. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/643737.stm http://www.voanews.com/english/archive/2007-03/2007-03-19- voa36.cfm?moddate=2007-03- 19 5. Cuba, North America - Amnesty International has sent mass letters expressing their concern to the Cuban authorities about the recent serious escalation in the arrests and harassment of political opponents in Cuba. The number of people jailed for expression of freedom has increased. This demonstrates the level that the government will go to weaken the political opposition. Many activists accuse the delegation for not addressing civil rights. http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR250012001?open&of=ENG- CUB http://congress.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/05/06/cuba- democracy-activists-chide- cbc-members-for-castro-meeting/
1. Spain - oppression of women, Muslim father tries honor killing his daughter by stabbing her 20 times.
http://sheikyermami.com/2009/07/29/honor-killing-news/ Honor killing – an ancient tradition still sometimes observed; a male member of the family kills a female relative for tarnishing the family image.
2. Asia (Pakistan) – Woman was blinded and disfigured by having hydrochloric acid thrown at her face. For not marrying her deceased husband’s brother. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/health/jan- june09/pakistan_0406.html 3. North Korea After WW2 Korea was divided into 2 parts North Korea and south, the north is run by the United States and the south is communist and is run by a dictator Kim Jong-il. The government forces patriotism through its people’s security systems. If the government hear people talk negatively of them they reduced there already low rights, torture them, or execute them at any ten of there concentration camps. http://civilliberty.about.com/od/internationalhumanrights/p/northkorea101.h tm
4. Russia Thousands and thousands of children have been sent to detention centers because of the abuse and poverty there parents have given them. All the parental rights that the government put out do not help but hurts the Russian people. Most live in poverty and many lose there kids to these detention centers. http://www.oppression.org/europe/russia_children.html
Sudan- The Muslim north is practicing genocide in the south. Muslims control the government. The Christians are denied education, employment, and health, Many are displaced from there homes. In 1989 Bashir took over the government and coup de tet. Which is when a harsh brand of Islamic law was instituted. The UN estimates that over 1.2 million have been driven from there homes by the government. www.personal.gorgiasouthern.edu/~etmcmull./sudan.htm www.african-indigenous- peoples.suite101.com/article.cfm/huba_genocide_in_sudan North Korea- Oppresses the minority faiths also the decedents of possible enemies of North Korea. These people are not able to get a job and they starve. Meanwhile the “core group” they have the most wealth; they are most loyally to there Dear Leader. The ministry of peoples security it requires people to spy on each other, even there family members and North Korea has 10 concentration camps. They are subject to torture, murdered, or imprisonment. www.civilliberty.about.com/od/internationalhumanrights/p/northkorea101.htm http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_nkor.htm Mexico- Religious oppression, Catholism prevented Spaniards from killing all the natives because the priests believed they had souls too. When Catholism became the primary religion, the natives were forced to change there names, religion, and culture. The churches were built over the native temples. Everyone who weren’t Catholics lived in fear, even children, that they would be expelled from the properties and kicked out of there house. http://www.wwrn.org/article.php?idd=29670&sec=20&con=6 www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm? article_id=11001 Cuba- When people leave Cuba, the government keeps their kids hostage in order to insure their return. Cuba currently has 23 journalists in prison. The Cuban government restricts the usage of the internet. Cubans are jailed for exercising their rights of freedom to express themselves. http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR250012001?open&of=ENG- CUB http://www.hrw.org/legacy/englishwr2k7/docs/2007/01/11/cuba14886.htm China- China's government has been oppressing various religious groups since 1949, especially one's that are organized. It is especially harsh on Falun Dafa, after a 1989 student uprising. There' has been atleast 140 Tibetan people killed during protests against China's rule (China invaded and took over Tibet in 1950). China's goverment has repeatedly put down protests and large demonstrations, recognizing them as a threat. The Chinese goverment arrests anybody who leads demonstrations. http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_china.htm http://china.suite101.com/article.cfm/chinas_oppression_of_tibet
Cry the Beloved, Oppression Project 1) Countries a. Bangladesh: - Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world, if not the poorest. Also in Bangladesh people are fighting for the rights of women. Many women are raped and sexually abused everyday. In this country the oppression inflicted upon the women is from the men. This has been an ongoing problem for women in Bangladesh for many years. “At least 800 women were raped and 500 kidnapped last year. In addition, more than 180 women and girls were victims of acid- throwing attacks, and 'well over' 150 were subjected to oppression in dowry-related disputes.” http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2872/is_2_26/ai_62140832/ http://www.bangladeshihindu.com/why- minority-and- indigenous-repression-in-bangladesh-still-continuing/bangladesh- minority-oppression/ b. Indonesia: - Indonesia has been oppressed under Martial law for quite some time now. The military is in full force and has all the power in the country. Chinese Christians disappear everyday and are tortured for having a different religion and ethnicity. There are many arrests in Indonesia were people have been detained. Anyone involved with the GAM (activists group) are taken and oppressed by the military. Not just people from there but also people who are no harm to the government are taken and tortured as well. http://www.newsandletters.org/Issues/2004/March/Acheh_Marchb04.ht m http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5037/is_199802/ai_n18285703/ c. Darfur, Sudan http://www.heritage.org/research/africa/upload/70027_1.pdf http://www.hrw.org/reports/2004/sudan0504/2.htm In Darfur, a region of Sudan in Africa there has been a genocide going on for many years. The Arab government out of Khartoum has been trying to rid their country of the non-Arab people for about 6 years. There are many terrible things going on in Darfur everyday, like murder, rape, and over all terrorization. This African province has had systemic oppression to the highest level, and support from the rest of the world to end this crisis. d. Eritrea http://www.awate.com/portal/content/view/5223/5/ http://www.christiantoday.com/article/eritrea.denies.religious.oppressi on.accusations/2500.htm Eritrea is a country is Africa. It is the 3rd poorest country in the world. This country has been battling with a dictatorship for over 30 years. This country has suffered through systematic oppression and has seen no freedom in their religious beliefs. The dictator in Eritrea needs to be brought down from power so the country can be brought back to peace. e. Somalia: In Somalia there is religious oppression going on. The government there believes that the people have gone away from the religious teachings and are now punishing people who disobey the Muslim religion. Many people have been tortured for not praying or growing their beards out. Also the women are punished for not wearing veils or staying at home. Many people have had their hands cut off for playing the wrong music or watching the wrong shows. http://themorningsidepost.com/2006/10/oppression-trumps-chaos-in-somalia/ http://www.country-data.com/cgi- bin/query/r-11974.html
. Sri Lanka -The Sri Lankan army carries out many brutal massacres of the Tamil people. For example, On August 14, 2005, they bombed a Tamil orphanage killing over 50 children. -On August 4, 2005, seventeen aid workers were murdered by the Sri Lankan army. -They also threw grenades into a church where Tamil refugees were being sheltered. -When they became independent from Britain, they took away the Tamil plantation workers’ rights. http://www.greenleft.org.au/2006/685/8105 http://www.sangam.org/articles/view2/?uid=653 2. Burma/ Myanmar -The Burma army continues to use forced labor to transport supplies and expand military infrastructure. -There is ethnic cleansing of many different minority groups. -The Burma’s military regime attacks and kills protestors. -A political candidate was put under house arrest for 6 years for opposing the government. http://www.freeburmarangers.org http://www.petitiononline.com/bur_2007/petition.html 3. Iran -Oppresses of women by using them as sex slaves. -They have public hangings and stonings. In order for a killer to not get executed, he can pay “blood money” to the family of the victim. -Women are not allowed to work and widows often become beggars or prostitutes. -Many people were shot and killed in the streets for protesting a corrupt election. -Women are not allowed to own property. http://www.parapundit.com/archives/000527.html http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1708/context/archive 4. India -They have caste oppression against Shudras and Dalits. -Many Shudras and Dalits convert to Buddhism to avoid the discrimination of the Hindu religion. -These groups can be killed in certain areas for their shadow falling upon a member of a higher caste. -Sex slavery is rampant in India, especially in the lower castes. http://themustardseed.wordpress.com/2006/10/29/the-oppression-of- shudrasdalits-in-india-part-v-a-hindu-liberationist-perspective/ http://www.sundayherald.com/life/people/display.var.2459708.0.the_oppression _of_untouchables_is_modern_indias_shame.php 5. Tanzania -They kill albinos and use their organs for witchcraft. -There’s a lot of witch hunting. -Women are not allowed to own property. -There is a high rate of female genital mutilation. http://jezebel.com/5169615/fighting-misogyny--womens-opprestion-in-africa- one-country-at-a-time http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/essays/view/345 http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7518049.stm
Iraq- Iraq has few human rights because of all the violence that happens there. Many civilians are killed without thought by armed groups. Almost two million refugees have fled the country because of all the reports of torture. There is also a lack of the judicial process in Iraq. http://www.amnestyusa.org/all-countries/iraq/page.do?id=1011173 Iran- Iran hangs many people. Twenty- four people were hung in a prison west of Tehran on July 30. There are reports of people being hung almost every other day. Most of these hangings are in prison for crimes that Americans would not be given the death penalty for such as rape. http://iranhr.net/ Saudi Arabia- There is a great lack of Women’s rights in Saudi Arabia. There is widespread social, economic, and political discrimination. In recent years however, there have been people attending rallies for Women’s rights. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/23/60minutes/main682565.shtml Angola- Angola has been in the midst of a civil war that ended in 2002. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security forces. Angola has made strides towards human rights such as the right to elect officials at all levels. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2006/78718.htm Israel- There is terrible apartheid in Israel. Former President Jimmy Carter said that it is worse than South Africa’s. Israel is against the Palestinians and will not let them use many of the roads that they use. President Carter wrote a book about it which sparked lots of controversy amongst the Jewish community. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=799476&contrassID=1&su bContrassID=1
1) Israel -There is much oppression taking place in today’s Israel. Two major examples of oppression in Israel are Women and Palestinians. The laws and regulations in Israel openly favor the Jewish citizens while the Palestinian citizens are being systematically discriminated. Women are also being oppressed and they lack the same rights as men and are being openly beaten and harassed. http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Home/Donate/empo wering.htm http://www.straight.com/article-236587/sid-shniad- israels- oppression-palestinian-people-calls-boycott-divestment-and- sanctions 2) North Korea -separated by religion and faith, any minority faiths are disarded and denied employment and are starved. North korea forces loyalty and anyone perceived as unloyal or speaks out against the government in any way are socially downgraded or tortured, executed and/or imprisoned. If anyone reads or listen to or has any communication through foreign menas are persecuted. http://civilliberty.about.com/od/internationalhumanrights/p/north korea101.htm http://ics.leeds.ac.uk/papers/vp01.cfm?outfit=gdr&folder=22&paper =260 3) Burma -the Burmese people are being oppressed by their mainly militarian government. The gov is spending billions to create a luxurious capital building for themselves while the people are drowning in poverty. The miliraty has control over 25 percent of the seats in the parliament. Citizens are getting beaten in the streets for speaking against the government and suppoting pro- democracy http://laradamiani.com/2009/05/oppressed-burma/ http://crooksandliars.com/2007/10/04/more-oppression-in-burma- human-rights-watch-calls-out-business-interests 4) Kenya -Kenyan people are in state of apartheid. They are ruled by the British and the Dutch Reformed Church tried to restrict Kenyan births. Women were able to get jobs but at almost no pay. The women also had little rights and they had no rights to education and property. http://web.africa.ufl.edu/asq/v2/v2i3a2.htm http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/01443/fo_region_africa.html 5) Laos -Laos is labeling Christianity a foreign religion and is persecuting anybody who practices it. Some people have even been held at gunpoint and forced to renounce their belief. A preist and one of his followers were taken out in handcuffs and imprisoned for practicing their religion. http://www.christiantelegraph.com/issue3426.html http://www.chomsky.info/articles/19700723.htm
1. Kenya- In Kenya women are oppressed with genital mutilation. People of Kenya are oppressing the tobacco farmers. The police are also prejudice against blacks. Another example of oppression in this country is that teachers and students don’t go to school because there is too much violence. With all these things currently going on, Kenya is definitely affected by systematic oppression. 2. Israel- The women of Israel are being oppressed. They are being assaulted and mistreated. The Israeli army is also destroying houses and killing innocent people. They are abusing their power, and people including children, are paying the price. People of this country are trying to fight against oppression but not everyone is seeing eye to eye. 3. Cuba-The Cuban people are trying to get their government to ensure some of their rights as humans, but the government is rejecting them. The people are being oppressed from their freedom in general. They are jailing people just because they are trying to gain some of their rights back. Cuba has a very strict government and freedom is not common in this country. 4. Afghanistan- In Afghanistan women are completely segregated. More than 50 percent of women are abused by their husbands, and are forced to marry against their will. Women don’t have the health care they need and a result of that is that women die in labor every 30 minutes. Most women and girls are illiterate because there is a lack of girls schools. Afghanistan is an example that oppresses women severely. 5. Iraq- Iraqi women are the target of all the wars held in this country. During one war, 182,000 women and children disappeared. Things got worse when the international sanctions wouldn’t give them food, and they shut down hospitals. Clearly women amongst other people are being oppressed in this country. http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR25/006/2009/en http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/785096.html http://blogsofbainbridge.typepad.com/africa/2009/05/kenya-katoga-secretary- beaten-up-by-tobacco-buying-company- representative.html http://hub.witness.org/en/upload/female-genital-mutilation-and-oppression- women-rural-kenya http://www.newint.org/issue298/kenya.html http://civilliberty.about.com/b/2006/04/17/afghanistan-women-still-subject- to- widespread-oppression-discrimination.htm
1). Pakistan In Pakistan, women are subjected to follow the demands of their husbands, brothers and fathers. Women are viewed as foolish and incapable of deciding for themselves. They are protected in the name of modesty, protection and the fear of immoral actions. This can lead to women losing some of their rights to life because they have no say in anything, including marriage. The women are already outnumbered by the men, 105.7 to 100. http://www.socialistalternative.org/news/article16.php?id=180 http://www.marxist.com/women-pakistan-victims-of-desecration.htm 2). North Korea “North Korea is in all likelihood the most oppressive regime on Earth.” (Civil Liberties, About.com) The country divides its population into three groups: core, wavering, and hostile. The core is made up of wealthy citizens unlike the hostile whose group is made up of peasants who are usually descendants of enemies. Your rank is based on your loyalty to the government. Some of the hostile population is also made up of slaves. http://civilliberty.about.com/od/internationalhumanrights/p/northkorea101.ht m http://www.slate.com/id/2117846 3). India In India, there are groups known as the “untouchables.” These people are segregated from all public areas and have had to create their own structures to survive. About 90 percent of all the poor Indians and 95 percent of all the illiterate Indians are in the group of “untouchables.” 25,455 crimes and acts of violence have been committed against these people. Many of the people and village councils usually do nothing in fear of the police, so many crimes go unreported. http://themustardseed.wordpress.com/2006/09/14/the-oppression-of-shudras-in- india-part-iii-sections-4-6-of-problem-of-dalits/ http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/06/0602_030602_untouchables.htm l 4). Iran As Iran went into chaos on deciding government, democratic leaders lost to the Islamic fundamentalists. Islamic leaders are high on controlling society and the rights of women. They have put time and effort into the controlling, harassing and punishing of women and girls in the name of Islam. The Iranian leaders have enforced a harsh segregation system on the women, forcing them to a second class status. http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1708/context/archive http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/oxfordshire/7065414.stm 5). Sri Lanka As a new government came into power, they decided and enforced the abolishment of plantation workers citizenship rights. Even though these people are descendants and have lived in Sri Lanka for several generations, they have been demoted and categorized as “Indians.” The main groups of Tamils have been conducting peaceful protests but the discrimination by the government continues. Organizations have been formed but nothing has been done to end the oppression against national born citizens. http://www.greenleft.org.au/2006/685/8105 http://www.greenleft.org.au/2009/803/41315
1. Mexico In Mexico, the oppression against Christians is on the rise. Catholics, who are native to the country, not only believe that they have the right to express their own beliefs but they also believe that they have the right to forcibly conform others to the Catholic religion. So, as the number of Christian evangelizers is increasing in Mexico, so is the intense pressure and oppression against them. It has even gone to the extent that even in popular states such as Oaxaca, non-Catholics live with the fear of being expelled from their very own properties. And on top of that, officials are even threatening to cut of the water and electricity. http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php? page=news&lang=en&length=lo ng&idelement=5703 http://www.christianpersecution.info/news/mexico-oppression-of- christians-persists-in- various-parts-of-country-17222/ 2. Zambia In Zambia, homophobia is a growing, common mental state of mind. One interview with a gay Zambian man clearly shows his fear that his family might find out that he is in fact gay. He claims that his employers know, but the staffs is more ashamed than tolerant, and always try to “keep him in the closet.” This man, as well as many others like him, live in fear by the Zambia Penal code, which states, “Any male person who, whether in public or in private, commits any act of gross indecency with another male person, …. Is guilty of a felony and liable of imprisonment for five years.” So the oppression against gays in Zambia is clearly is a serious matter. http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,IRBC,,ZMB,456d621e2,474e8957c,0. html http://www.asylumlaw.org/docs/sexualminorities/ZambiaAfrcVeil05.pdf
China oppresses certain religious groups such as the Tibetan Buddhists and Protestants, as well as Catholics. Members of these groups have been known to be harassed, physically abused, and detained. China uses its anti- cult law to crack down on unsanctioned groups of many different faiths. China has also banned a religious group called the Falun Gong. Sources: http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_china.htm http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/world/asia/21iht-pelosi.4.11323562.html 2. North Korea In North Korea, religion is perceived as a security threat. Citizens are not granted human rights. Many North Koreans live in poverty. Kim Jong Il and his communist government have total control. Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/02/religious.freedom/index.html 3. Sudan Since its liberation from Britain as a colony on January 1st, 1956, Sudan has been run on unstable parliamentary government and military regimes. Omar Hassan al-Bashir constantly violates human rights and persecutes various religious groups. Also, there have been allegations that Sudan is a safe haven for terrorist groups. Sources: www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107996.html?pageno=4 4. Cuba Oppression runs rampant in Cuba. With no rights to free trials, people are imprisoned or executed often. The prisons are over crowded. Travel outside of the country is restricted to those without permission, and children of families are held hostage to ensure the people come back. Within the country, freedom of press and the freedom to buy many things is heavily restricted. The people are also forbidden to assemble. Sources: http://www.hrw.org/legacy/english/docs/2006/01/18/cuba12207.htm http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/04/26/raul.castro/ 5. Saudi Arabia In Saudi Arabia, there are also restrictions to human rights. Women are not allowed to walk the streets without the escort of their husband or a close, male relative without being suspected of prostitution. Freedom of speech and press is restricted so that the people cannot criticize the government or challenge the status quo. Public executions and torturing occurs for many non violent crimes including “witchcraft, “sexual offenses,” drug dealing, and “corruption of the Earth.” Sources: http://web.archive.org/web/20070202011603/http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intca m/saudi/
Systemic Oppression 1. Kenya: In 1999, the Kenyan Equality bill was proposed and has had much controversy, especially with women organizations. One major blow was when the President withdrew his support for it in 2000, claiming the constitution already provided that equality. The women organizations were mad that they are so poorly represented having only 8 women in parliament and none in cabinet. Kenya prevails at the bottom for representation in women’s government. http://www.afrol.com/News2001/ken001_equality_bill.htm http://www.glpinc.org/Classroom%20Activities/Kenya%20Articles/Struggle %20f or%20Independence.htm 2. Jamaica: Many people believe that Jamaica is the most hostile towards homosexuals in the Caribbean, being victims of frequent abuse. This may be partly because of their sodomy laws that ban sex between men. It is reported that the murder rate in Jamaica is high, especially in homosexual murders. The government and police officials refuse to address or recognize the amount of violence and the rights of homosexuals. http://www.impunitywatch.com/impunity_watch_north_amer/2009/07/jamaican- government-.html http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Torturer_s_Wife_Thomas_Glave/conte nt_476858060420 3. Iran: It is believed that the sex slave trade is one of the most profitable activities in Iran today and even the government takes part in this act. Many of the girls that are part of this come from impoverished areas and some of their parents even sold them for drug money. High unemployment rate for women is one of the things that are driving them to accept this work. It is a huge problem in this area. http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1708/context/archive http://www.iranfocus.com/en/women/irans-sex-slaves-suffer- hideously-under- mullahs-00006.html 4. Afghanistan: 2001: People in Afghanistan that converted from being Islam to any other religion were to be sentenced to death. Along with people who try to convince people to do so. The Taliban’s supreme leader thinks people are trying to convert people by criticizing on the strictness of Islamic law. The taliban, rules about 95% of Afghanistan and has harsh laws like, not allowing women to attend school or to work past the age of 8, making men have beards and attend prayer daily, and ruling out most electronics like television and music. http://www.angelfire.com/co/JeffersonBible/Oppression/roafghan.html http://www.islamfortoday.com/taleban8.htm 5. Sri Lanka: 2001: Christians are about 10% percent of the population in Sri Lanka. Buddhists have a population of about 20 million people. There have been many attacks to the Christian community by the Buddhists and they threatened to kill and rape their women if they did not leave the area. The Christians preaching their gospel, and the more people that convert to Christianity the angrier the Buddhists get and the more trouble it causes. http://www.angelfire.com/co/JeffersonBible/Oppression/rosrilanka.html http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/southafrica/98paslo.htm
Countries List: • Burma • China • N. Korea • Brazil • Russia Burma: Burma has a totalitarian government who oppresses all forms of free speech and religion. Burma doesn’t allow a free election and its government violently opposes protests, even peaceful ones. Recently, Buddhist monks silently marched and peacefully protested their oppressive government. They were dispersed violently and at least 31 were killed. http://www.unpo.org/content/view/8720/236/ http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1663397,00.html North Korea: North Korea has a totalitarian/communist government. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong il, is very oppressive in many ways. He controls the press/media. There is no “freedom of the press” North Korea also puts all of its political enemies in prison in order to prevent protest or new government ideas. http://www.foxnews.com/search- results/m/22473906/north-korea-prison- camps.htm http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/article.asp?parentid=87564 Iraq: A few years ago, Saddam Hussein led a very oppressive totalitarian government in Iraq. Saddam persecuted many Islamic religions in the Middle East. Saddam murdered and forced the relocation of many Iraqis throughout his reign. Saddam was removed from power after the invasion of Iraq by the United States in 2003. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/baghdad_04-09-03.html http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aasaddambio.htm China- the Chinese government is oppressing their people in many ways but the one that I decided to write about was how they oppress religion. The Chinese government made a long document that has stated that they have restrictions on their religions and have accused many of not doing the same. They have been cracking down on lots of religious communities and churches. Some of the things that they have cracked down on are Protestant and catholic churches. http://www.angelfire.com/co/Jeffhttp:/ www.religioustolerance.org/rt_china.htmersonBible/Oppression/rochina.html Brazil- the Brazilian government has been keeping African slaves for the past 400 years slaves. It’s been going on for a long time now and is still going on in Brazil not nearly as much but it still is. The slave population has increased a lot since the sugar cane plantation had been made in Brazil. That is the kind of oppression that’s going on in Brazil. http://www.articlemyriad.com/69.htm .
1. Afghanistan - In Afghanistan, women are the subjects of oppression. Women being stoned, lashed, or even being killed in the streets isn’t something that is uncommon in the news. Women have to wear covering clothes and have nowhere near the rights of men. Women in Shiite Muslim families have been given harsh restrictions, so much to the fact that the Shiite men have the ability legally to starve their wives if women refuse sexual requests. Citations: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/641szkys.a sp & http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/afghan-husbands-win-right- to-starve-wives/ 2. North Korea – North Korea may be known as the most oppressive country, yet the religion that they may be most oppressive to is Christianity. In 2007, more Christians were tortured or killed than ever before in North Korea. On July 24, 2009 a women was executed for handing out bibles, which are illegal in North Korea, because North Korea sees Christianity as a threat to their regime. It is unknown if the woman survived, but her husband is in prison, and her two children disappear. It is obvious that oppression against Christianity is high in North Korea. Citations: http://www.cnsnews.com/Public/Content/article.aspx?RsrcID=51526 & http://www.churchsolutionsmag.com/hotnews/north-korea-christian- oppression.html 3. India – Reports of dreadful persecutions of Christians in India have come out recently. Videos and photographs have shown disturbing images of the ransacking of Christian churches in eastern India. The images show terrified Christians running for shelter to avoid making the selection between Hinduism or death. Also, India wants to nationalize the churches, much like how it has been done in China. They want the churches to be under government control. Citations: www.thenation.com/doc/20081110/crossette & http://www.angelfire.com/co/JeffersonBible/Oppression/roindia.html Sudan The Muslim north has been using ways to destroy the Nuba in Sudan. The Nuba have been in Sudan since ancient Egypt times. They have enslaved people and burned villages, causing people to be on the run and without a house. The Muslim’s treated them as nothing and let the lucky ones get off with just harassing and attacked until they give up. The not so lucky ones, however, are murdered, arrested, imprisoned, or simply disappear. Nuba villages are bombed frequently. http://www.oppression.org/africa/sudan_endless_war.html http://african-indigenous- peoples.suite101.com/article.cfm/nuba_genocide_in_sudan China Religious oppression happens in China. The government has been suppressing religious groups. Other religious are said to “not obey the law and upset social order.” Persecution has been done to many religious such as Falun Gong. Oppression also happens to non-registered Christian groups. http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_china.htm http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/02/religious.freedom/index.html
Afghanistan: In Afghanistan women are treated very poorly even though there are laws stating that women have the same rights as men. About 50% of women in Afghanistan are beaten by their husbands or other males. Numerous women in Afghanistan, about 85%, are illiterate. These women have no respect and are looked down upon by men. Almost 40% of women are married against their will. Women also don’t get much medical care. Every 30 minutes a woman dies in childbirth in Afghanistan. There have been numerous events dealing with women and girls being killed for simply trying to go to school. Schools for girls have also been burnt down to prevent girls from going to school. http://civilliberty.about.com/b/2006/04/17/afghanistan-women-still-subject- to- widespread-oppression-discrimination.htm http://www.afghan-web.com/woman/ India: India uses the Caste System that is basically a system of classes. There are Priests, landowners, merchants, artisans, and people who are “outside” the system are referred to the untouchables. These classes restrict many things that the people can do. If they were in a lower class they could have limits on what they eat, who they eat with, who they marry, what jobs they can have and what communities they can live in. They have a specific path they need to follow and they can’t wonder off it or go their own way. http://www.csuchico.edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/spring98/india.htm http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/cot/t3w03casteindia.htm Pakistan: In Pakistan women are locked up in their houses and are not allowed to leave because of the fear of dying. If they want to go out they have to have a male with them or be completely covered. They are afraid to say anything or even show emotion in public because if someone sees, the result may be death. It has been 100 years since there was a day created to commemorate equal rights between women and men, but these women have nothing to celebrate. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/pakistan/2009/03/08/199225/Women- facing.htm http://www.ptudc.org/Data/Women.htm Algeria: In February of 2006, there were new laws created in Algeria that restricted any religions to be practiced besides Islam. If anyone chooses to practice any other religions it can result in up to five years in jail and many fines. Recently, the Algerian government has started to use this law against Algerian Evangelical Christians. There were three brothers that were found to be Algerian Evangelic Christians and were sentenced to three years in jail and a fine of $750. http://www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2008/s08020106.htm http://www.peacefaq.com/christians.html Iraq: As in two of the other countries there is a lot of oppression in Iraq against women. In March of 2009, the president of Iraq passed two laws that legalized rape in marriage and the other one prevents females from leaving the house without permission from males. The women aren’t allowed to seek work, education or doctor’s appointment without consent from their husbands. After Saddam left office everyone thought that life was going to get better, but it didn’t. There have been many more rapes, murders, domestic violence, and infant mortality since he left. http://www.equalityiniraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&lay out=blog&id=35&Itemid=55 http://rwor.org/a/1270/bush-hypocrisy-iraq-women.htm
1. Mexico In Mexico, the oppression against Christians is on the rise. Catholics, who are native to the country, not only believe that they have the right to express their own beliefs but they also believe that they have the right to forcibly conform others to the Catholic religion. So, as the number of Christian evangelizers is increasing in Mexico, so is the intense pressure and oppression against them. It has even gone to the extent that even in popular states such as Oaxaca, non-Catholics live with the fear of being expelled from their very own properties. And on top of that, officials are even threatening to cut of the water and electricity. http://www.compassdirect.org/en/display.php?page=news&lang=en&length=lo ng&idelement=5703 http://www.christianpersecution.info/news/mexico-oppression-of- christians-persists-in-various-parts-of-country-17222/ 2. Zambia In Zambia, homophobia is a growing, common mental state of mind. One interview with a gay Zambian man clearly shows his fear that his family might find out that he is in fact gay. He claims that his employers know, but the staffs is more ashamed than tolerant, and always try to “keep him in the closet.” This man, as well as many others like him, live in fear by the Zambia Penal code, which states, “Any male person who, whether in public or in private, commits any act of gross indecency with another male person, …. Is guilty of a felony and liable of imprisonment for five years.” So the oppression against gays in Zambia is clearly is a serious matter. http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,IRBC,,ZMB,456d621e2,474e8957c,0. html http://www.asylumlaw.org/docs/sexualminorities/ZambiaAfrcVeil05.pdf
China oppresses certain religious groups such as the Tibetan Buddhists and Protestants, as well as Catholics. Members of these groups have been known to be harassed, physically abused, and detained. China uses its anti- cult law to crack down on unsanctioned groups of many different faiths. China has also banned a religious group called the Falun Gong. Sources: http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_china.htm http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/21/world/asia/21iht-pelosi.4.11323562.html 2. North Korea In North Korea, religion is perceived as a security threat. Citizens are not granted human rights. Many North Koreans live in poverty. Kim Jong Il and his communist government have total control. Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/02/religious.freedom/index.html 3. Sudan Since its liberation from Britain as a colony on January 1st, 1956, Sudan has been run on unstable parliamentary government and military regimes. Omar Hassan al-Bashir constantly violates human rights and persecutes various religious groups. Also, there have been allegations that Sudan is a safe haven for terrorist groups. Sources: www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107996.html?pageno=4 4. Cuba Oppression runs rampant in Cuba. With no rights to free trials, people are imprisoned or executed often. The prisons are over crowded. Travel outside of the country is restricted to those without permission, and children of families are held hostage to ensure the people come back. Within the country, freedom of press and the freedom to buy many things is heavily restricted. The people are also forbidden to assemble. Sources: http://www.hrw.org/legacy/english/docs/2006/01/18/cuba12207.htm http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/04/26/raul.castro/ 5. Saudi Arabia In Saudi Arabia, there are also restrictions to human rights. Women are not allowed to walk the streets without the escort of their husband or a close, male relative without being suspected of prostitution. Freedom of speech and press is restricted so that the people cannot criticize the government or challenge the status quo. Public executions and torturing occurs for many non violent crimes including “witchcraft, “sexual offenses,” drug dealing, and “corruption of the Earth.” Sources: http://web.archive.org/web/20070202011603/http://www.amnesty.org/ailib/intca m/saudi/
Systemic Oppression 1. Kenya: In 1999, the Kenyan Equality bill was proposed and has had much controversy, especially with women organizations. One major blow was when the President withdrew his support for it in 2000, claiming the constitution already provided that equality. The women organizations were mad that they are so poorly represented having only 8 women in parliament and none in cabinet. Kenya prevails at the bottom for representation in women’s government. http://www.afrol.com/News2001/ken001_equality_bill.htm http://www.glpinc.org/Classroom%20Activities/Kenya %20Articles/Struggle%20f or%20Independence.htm 2. Jamaica: Many people believe that Jamaica is the most hostile towards homosexuals in the Caribbean, being victims of frequent abuse. This may be partly because of their sodomy laws that ban sex between men. It is reported that the murder rate in Jamaica is high, especially in homosexual murders. The government and police officials refuse to address or recognize the amount of violence and the rights of homosexuals. http://www.impunitywatch.com/impunity_watch_north_amer/2009/07/jamaican- government-.html http://www.epinions.com/review/Book_The_Torturer_s_Wife_Thomas_Glave/conte nt_476858060420 3. Iran: It is believed that the sex slave trade is one of the most profitable activities in Iran today and even the government takes part in this act. Many of the girls that are part of this come from impoverished areas and some of their parents even sold them for drug money. High unemployment rate for women is one of the things that are driving them to accept this work. It is a huge problem in this area. http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1708/context/archive http://www.iranfocus.com/en/women/irans-sex-slaves-suffer-hideously-under- mullahs-00006.html 4. Afghanistan: 2001: People in Afghanistan that converted from being Islam to any other religion were to be sentenced to death. Along with people who try to convince people to do so. The Taliban’s supreme leader thinks people are trying to convert people by criticizing on the strictness of Islamic law. The taliban, rules about 95% of Afghanistan and has harsh laws like, not allowing women to attend school or to work past the age of 8, making men have beards and attend prayer daily, and ruling out most electronics like television and music. http://www.angelfire.com/co/JeffersonBible/Oppression/roafghan.html http://www.islamfortoday.com/taleban8.htm 5. Sri Lanka: 2001: Christians are about 10% percent of the population in Sri Lanka. Buddhists have a population of about 20 million people. There have been many attacks to the Christian community by the Buddhists and they threatened to kill and rape their women if they did not leave the area. The Christians preaching their gospel, and the more people that convert to Christianity the angrier the Buddhists get and the more trouble it causes. http://www.angelfire.com/co/JeffersonBible/Oppression/rosrilanka.html http://www.tamilnation.org/diaspora/southafrica/98paslo.htm
. Afghanistan - In Afghanistan, women are the subjects of oppression. Women being stoned, lashed, or even being killed in the streets isn’t something that is uncommon in the news. Women have to wear covering clothes and have nowhere near the rights of men. Women in Shiite Muslim families have been given harsh restrictions, so much to the fact that the Shiite men have the ability legally to starve their wives if women refuse sexual requests. Citations: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/013/641szkys.a sp & http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/afghan-husbands-win-right- to-starve-wives/ 2. North Korea – North Korea may be known as the most oppressive country, yet the religion that they may be most oppressive to is Christianity. In 2007, more Christians were tortured or killed than ever before in North Korea. On July 24, 2009 a women was executed for handing out bibles, which are illegal in North Korea, because North Korea sees Christianity as a threat to their regime. It is unknown if the woman survived, but her husband is in prison, and her two children disappear. It is obvious that oppression against Christianity is high in North Korea. Citations: http://www.cnsnews.com/Public/Content/article.aspx?RsrcID=51526 & http://www.churchsolutionsmag.com/hotnews/north-korea-christian- oppression.html 3. India – Reports of dreadful persecutions of Christians in India have come out recently. Videos and photographs have shown disturbing images of the ransacking of Christian churches in eastern India. The images show terrified Christians running for shelter to avoid making the selection between Hinduism or death. Also, India wants to nationalize the churches, much like how it has been done in China. They want the churches to be under government control. Citations: www.thenation.com/doc/20081110/crossette & http://www.angelfire.com/co/JeffersonBible/Oppression/roindia.html Sudan The Muslim north has been using ways to destroy the Nuba in Sudan. The Nuba have been in Sudan since ancient Egypt times. They have enslaved people and burned villages, causing people to be on the run and without a house. The Muslim’s treated them as nothing and let the lucky ones get off with just harassing and attacked until they give up. The not so lucky ones, however, are murdered, arrested, imprisoned, or simply disappear. Nuba villages are bombed frequently. http://www.oppression.org/africa/sudan_endless_war.html http://african-indigenous- peoples.suite101.com/article.cfm/nuba_genocide_in_sudan China Religious oppression happens in China. The government has been suppressing religious groups. Other religious are said to “not obey the law and upset social order.” Persecution has been done to many religious such as Falun Gong. Oppression also happens to non-registered Christian groups. http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_china.htm http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/05/02/religious.freedom/index.html
In Afghanistan women are treated very poorly even though there are laws stating that women have the same rights as men. About 50% of women in Afghanistan are beaten by their husbands or other males. Numerous women in Afghanistan, about 85%, are illiterate. These women have no respect and are looked down upon by men. Almost 40% of women are married against their will. Women also don’t get much medical care. Every 30 minutes a woman dies in childbirth in Afghanistan. There have been numerous events dealing with women and girls being killed for simply trying to go to school. Schools for girls have also been burnt down to prevent girls from going to school. http://civilliberty.about.com/b/2006/04/17/afghanistan- women-still-subject- to-widespread-oppression-discrimination.htm http://www.afghan-web.com/woman/ India: India uses the Caste System that is basically a system of classes. There are Priests, landowners, merchants, artisans, and people who are “outside” the system are referred to the untouchables. These classes restrict many things that the people can do. If they were in a lower class they could have limits on what they eat, who they eat with, who they marry, what jobs they can have and what communities they can live in. They have a specific path they need to follow and they can’t wonder off it or go their own way. http://www.csuchico.edu/~cheinz/syllabi/asst001/spring98/india.htm http://www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/essays/cot/t3w03casteindia.htm Pakistan: In Pakistan women are locked up in their houses and are not allowed to leave because of the fear of dying. If they want to go out they have to have a male with them or be completely covered. They are afraid to say anything or even show emotion in public because if someone sees, the result may be death. It has been 100 years since there was a day created to commemorate equal rights between women and men, but these women have nothing to celebrate. http://www.chinapost.com.tw/asia/pakistan/2009/03/08/199225/Women- facing.htm http://www.ptudc.org/Data/Women.htm Algeria: In February of 2006, there were new laws created in Algeria that restricted any religions to be practiced besides Islam. If anyone chooses to practice any other religions it can result in up to five years in jail and many fines. Recently, the Algerian government has started to use this law against Algerian Evangelical Christians. There were three brothers that were found to be Algerian Evangelic Christians and were sentenced to three years in jail and a fine of $750. http://www.assistnews.net/STORIES/2008/s08020106.htm http://www.peacefaq.com/christians.html Iraq: As in two of the other countries there is a lot of oppression in Iraq against women. In March of 2009, the president of Iraq passed two laws that legalized rape in marriage and the other one prevents females from leaving the house without permission from males. The women aren’t allowed to seek work, education or doctor’s appointment without consent from their husbands. After Saddam left office everyone thought that life was going to get better, but it didn’t. There have been many more rapes, murders, domestic violence, and infant mortality since he left. http://www.equalityiniraq.com/index.php? option=com_content&view=category&lay out=blog&id=35&Itemid=55 http://rwor.org/a/1270/bush-hypocrisy-iraq-women.htm
1. China In China they have what is known as the religious oppression. The Chinese government has been exterminating all relious groups,or cults since they received overall power in 1949. They have taken away all meditation and prayer practices, in fear of the possibility of people organizing any national group with direct followers. http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_china.htm 2. Israel In Israel, the government has created a Palestinians oppression. By doing this, they killed thousands of Palestinians, and drove some 750,000 away from their homes. The Israilies have used their military forces to support western imperialism ,and to shut down any Arabic administration. http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=14819 3 North Korea In North Korea, dictators created a security force to keep Korea isolated. They have succeeded in keeping out foreign videos (YouTube, TV shows),cds, and telephones. From this information we have extracted the fact that Korea would like to remain unintroduced to anything their own part of the country has created. http://news.bbc.co.vk/2/hi/middle_east/8204853.stm 4.Tibet Since 1950,Tibet has been under communist rule. Dali Lama has formerly announced that the conditions have not improved. It is said that China has slayed 140 lives, and has imprisioned over 1,000 people in Tibet. Abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?d=6415112 5.Iraq Since 2004, hundreds of gay men have been killed or kidnapped off the streets and from their homes.The Country believes that it is unhonorable,and are trying to kill off all men who are not straight. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/
Rwanda- in 1994, the “100 day genocide” took place in Rwanda, Africa. This genocide was the quickest and most shocking known to man, this killing was between Hutu’s and Tootsie’s which were a class of people that were defined by how they looked. In a matter of weeks, over 800,000 people were brutally murdered, men, women, children killed by their own neighbors or friends. It was not at all organized, just killing and finally the UN intervened. Today, Rwanda is peaceful again, but it stills stand as a marker that man has not outgrown genocide. http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/040412/12spotlight.htm http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/514402/Rwanda/274461/Genocide-and-aftermath http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8657 Cuba- In modern Cuba, people are thrown into jail for exercising their rights and freedoms hoping to weaken political oppression of its own government. It began in October 2000, when mass arrests were made against people who were believed to be in a counter revolutionary group against Cuba. Although their leader Fidel Castro made Cuba one of the highest Literate Latin American countries, he made the economy decline on his totalitarian regime. With people losing belief he had to take control, one of his slogans was even “socialism or death.” Even today Cuba is suffering from its economic decline. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/08/160_38741.html http://asiapacific.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGAMR250012001?open&of=ENG-CUB China- www.cfr.org/publication/11515/ www.religoustolerance.org/rt_china.htm China is allowed no form of media attention, they put any journalist found in jail. They are extremely strict when it comes to the security of the motherland, so strict even the smallest of stories getting out are treated like murder cases. China has a long time history of oppressing religions, even throwing none registered Christians into jail! They have been very strict on religion since 1949 and haven’t hidden their hate for religious believes.
North Korea- http://www.religioustolerance.org/rt_nkor.htm http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2008/11/06/partners-oppression North Korea is the true oppressive government of the 21st century, contolling all aspects of citizens lives, and performing biological/ chemical tests on them. Also religious freedom is a joke in this country, going so far as to set up fake churches to lure in more people. North Korea sent threats to its citizens saying that if any were caught fleeing in any country they would be returned and severely punished.
Cambodia- http://www.yale.edu/cgp/ http://www.ppu.org.uk/genocide/g_cambodia.html The Cambodian genocide of 1975-1979 was the worst genocide of the last century. Approximately 1.7 million people were killed, that’s 21% of Cambodia’s population. Cambodia gained independence after 100 years of French rule when they had a population of 7m. and nearly all of them are Buddhist.