GLOBAL PERSECUTION THE PRICE OF FAITH FOR CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE CONTENTS This Publication ................................................................. 1 Introduction...................................................................... 2 Cause for Concern .............................................................. 3 Evidence.......................................................................... 6 Conclusion..................................................................... 105 The Maranatha Community UK Office, 102 Irlam Road, Flixton, Manchester, M41 6JT England Tel: (0044) 161 748 4858 Fax: (0044) 161 747 7479 Email: [email protected] www.maranathacommunity.org.uk This Publication This factual Report is compiled out of profound concern for the vast numbers of innocent people worldwide who have suffered and who continue to suffer grievously for their beliefs and pay a very high price for their Christian faith. This Report is being placed before the following with an urgent appeal for support and action in the light of the desperate urgency of the situation. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations Organisation Mr. Baudelaire Ndong Ella, President, United Nations Human Rights Council Rt. Hon. David Cameron MP, Prime Minister Rt. Hon. William Hague MP, Foreign Secretary Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP, Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Opposition Mr. Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland Mr. Carwyn Jones, First Minister of Wales Mr. Peter Robinson, First Minister of Northern Ireland Baroness Ashton of Upholland, Foreign Affairs Commissioner of the European Union The Leaders of the main political groups in the European Parliament His Holiness Pope Francis Rt. Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster Rev. Dr. Olav Fykse Tveit, General Secretary, World Council of Churches Ephraim Mirvis, The Chief Rabbi Dr. Muhammad Abdul Bari, Chairman of the Muslim Council for Great Britain Professor Fares Al-Mashagbah, President of Aal Al-bayt University. In addition to the above it has been presented to a broad range of others in leadership positions in politics, religion and public life, senior civil servants and also those concerned with Human Rights. Acknowledgements The authors pay tribute to the various highly respected groups who work tirelessly for those suffering persecution. There are many Christian organisations in addition to other bodies, both international and secular, doing work of great excellence in terms of research, aid and advocacy. 1 Introduction This Document has been drawn up to present a selection of factual evidence showing the scale of injustices suffered by Christians in many parts of the world during a 14 year period to the end of December 2013. These injustices continue with increasing ferocity today, with chilling accounts of brutal punishment inflicted on Christians, including the abuse and abduction of their children. The data has been collated from around 170 sources. It is not in any sense a comprehensive document, but it endeavours to provide, in brief paragraphs, an objective indication of what is happening globally. It is believed that there is now a very urgent need for a far wider awareness of the unacceptable level of suffering and deprivation among Christians worldwide, many of whom are voiceless through the violation of their human rights. Christianity was born 2,000 years ago in what is now known as the Middle East. Over the past century Christians have gone from making up 20% of the population of this region to under 4% today. Before 2003 there were over 1 million Christians in Iraq. Today, there are as few as 200,000. This is entirely due to the active persecution of Christian communities. The authors of this document wish to make clear that they have the utmost respect for Muslims worldwide and fully acknowledge the significant contribution made by millions of them to the wellbeing of humankind. Over many years the Maranatha Community has published a range of Reports and briefing documents on specific subjects and territories of concern. It has arranged many Consultations in the House of Commons and the House of Lords and maintains a research and advocacy facility. Founded 32 years ago it has worked tirelessly for reconciliation in a broad range of communities and countries where there has been conflict. Its members are drawn from most traditions of the Christian Church; they include Anglicans & Episcopalians, Catholics & Orthodox, Baptists & Methodists, Pentecostalists and Salvationists, Presbyterians & members of the United Reformed Church, and the New Churches. 2 Cause for Concern 1. A Fundamental Right Every man and woman in the world has the inalienable right to follow and declare the religious belief and practice of his or her personal choice. This must, in all circumstances and in all places, be without discrimination, coercion, harassment, repression, or any form of persecution. 2. The Declaration The foundational statement, accepted throughout the world, is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, of which Article 18 states “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” This was affirmed by the United Nations General Assembly. It was and is a fundamental confirmation of the value, dignity and basic rights of every human being. 3. Systematic Abuse Sadly, over recent years, there has been increasing evidence of millions of people being denied this right. Nation states, and organised groups within these states, are now systematically and ruthlessly seeking to rob people of their basic human rights and, particularly, their freedom of thought, conscience and religion. No civilised society should ever tolerate the vilification, abuse or injury of any person because of their religious convictions, yet this is happening in many countries today. Everyone, without exception, must be accorded the right to practice freely the religion of their choice and to express their beliefs to others, but many are denied this. Many are being threatened, punished or even killed for their faith. Many are being prevented from worshipping and witnessing freely. 4. The Assault on Christians There is now irrefutable evidence that Christians have become the most persecuted group of people in the world. There are instances of those of other faiths suffering, but the overwhelming majority of the victims of religious persecution today are Christians. 3 It has to be recorded, with profound regret and sadness, that persecution directed against Christians, in the vast majority of cases, is instigated and executed by militant Muslims. The violence is rooted in a commitment to what they declare and believe to be Jihad and the imposition of their understanding of Sharia law. In some instances entire Christian communities and villages have been wiped out as a direct result of coordinated aggression generated by religious hatred. This aggression has often been freely tolerated by central governments or even initiated by them. 5. A Climate of Suppression To an ever-increasing extent, Christians are being subjected to both illegal and legalised discrimination. Many face imprisonment, violence, vilification, ridicule, intimidation, assault, torture and murder, solely because of their faith. Month by month thousands of Christians are losing their lives for their faith. The scale of the situation is enormous, yet has hardly been covered by the media. Even when reported it is often presented as inter-community disorder. 6. The Nature of the Persecution The persecution of Christians takes many forms. Initially, it may simply be social pressure, covert coercion or insidious intimidation. A threatening and intolerant climate is deliberately fostered, which in turn opens the way to more severe victimisation, organised harassment and ultimately violence. In some countries, properties including church buildings, businesses and homes of Christians are vandalised or destroyed. False charges are laid against Christian believers within a heavily biased judicial system. People are imprisoned and punished often for offences they have never committed. Lawyers representing Christians are threatened; some have been assaulted or even murdered. In some situations, Christians are prohibited from worshipping or constructing their own churches, schools or other buildings. Many Christians suffer employment discrimination and deprivation of education. Even ownership of a Bible has dire consequences. Sadly, after conversion to Christianity, people are assaulted, kidnapped or burnt out of their homes. In many instances they are murdered. This is largely rooted in Islamic teaching on apostasy. The forced conversion of people to certain faiths, which occurs in some countries, is an outrage and a grotesque injustice. The prejudice, cruelty and brutality experienced today by large numbers of Christians is totally incompatible with the basic principles of human rights and a civilised society. 4 The situation now is that, even in countries with strong Christian traditions, there are powerful secular humanist pressures generating discrimination and dis-information against Christians. This is in the form of the public denegration of Christ, restrictions on Christian freedom of speech and