International Religious Freedom News (Jan. 3 - 8)

Jan 9, 2007

International Religious Freedom News Archive

1. Ugandan Police Attempt to Stop "Illegal" Prayer Service (Jan. 3)
2. Malaysian Man Wins Approval to Challenge Malaysia's Islamic Courts (Jan. 3)
3. Romania Approves Controversial Religion Law (Jan. 3)
4. Iranian Singer Sentenced for "Insulting Islam" (Jan. 4)
5. Evangelical Churches in Iran Operate Only with the Blessing of the Government (Jan. 4)
6. Vietnam's Montagnard Community Faces Continued Persecution (Jan. 5)
7. Indian Government Approves Shari'a Councils (Jan. 5)
8. Bible Study Raided in Hebei Province, China (Jan. 8)

Combating Defamation of Religions, by Ali Khan, on defamation resolutions and international law, is available for download at the above site.

1. Ugandan Police Attempt to Stop "Illegal" Prayer Service
January 3
Kabale, Uganda
The Monitor reports that a group of around 10 policemen with batons and a dog attempted to shut down a Christian prayer service held over New Year's Eve at Kabale Main Stadium, saying the meeting was illegal and posed a security threat, but managed only to stop the event for a short period of time. Prayers resumed once the chief of police arrived at the scene after Pastor Aloysious Kiiza, the organizer, produced a letter from the police authorizing him to hold the event.

2. Malaysian Muslim to Challenge Country's Islamic Courts
January 3
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Associated Press reports that Abdul Kahar, charged with spreading false teachings and violating religious precepts by a Malaysian Islamic court in August of 2005, has recently been granted the right to challenge Islamic criminal laws by Malaysia's Federal Court on the grounds that Shari'a law restricts his freedom of religion. Islamic authorities in Selangor state had issued an edict denouncing Kahar for spreading "deviationist beliefs" after he claimed to be a prophet of Allah in 1986. If convicted, Kahar would face prison time and fines, and would be kept at a religious rehabilitation center.

3. Romania Approves Controversial Religion Law
January 3
Romania
Forum 18 reports that Romanian President Traian Basescu has approved a controversial new religion law, promulgated on December 27. Critics of the law, mainly minority religious groups such as the Baha'i and the Seventh-day Adventists, have expressed concern about the new criteria for legal recognition as a faith, as well as the ban on "religious defamation" and "public offense to religious symbols". Though most religious communities have said they will wait to see how the law is enforced, minority groups fear that the law aims not to ensure equal protection for all, but to preserve the dominance of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

4. Iranian Singer Sentenced for "Insulting Islam"
January 4
Radio Free Europe reports that an Iranian court has allegedly sentenced Habib Meftah Bushehri, an Iranian musician, to two years in prison for "insulting Islam" during his band's performance in France in 2006. The band performed religious music from the southern Iranian city of Bushehr, which a judge deemed "an insult to sanctities" for unknown reasons. Meftah Bushehri's case is reportedly under review, during which time he will not be allowed to leave Iran.

5. Iran Evangelical Churches Operate Only with Government Blessing
January 4
Tehran, Iran
ADNKronos International reports that a new government measure in Iran now requires Evangelical church leaders to report the names of anyone who takes part in religious functions to the Intelligence Ministry and to obtain authorization from police before celebrating mass.  Evangelical churches are not often granted permission to operate in Iran, and most congregations meet in private homes despite a ban on such activity.  Christians number well under 1% of Iran's population.  At least 50 Evangelical Christians have been jailed and detained without trial since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was elected in June 2005.

6. Vietnam's Montagnard Community Faces Continued Persecution
January 5
Vietnam
The Montagnard Foundation reports that the Montagnard Degar, an indigenous community living in the central highlands of Vietnam, continue to suffer persecution at the hands of the Vietnamese authorities, including arbitrary detention, physical attacks, and religious persecution. During the past two months, Vietnamese police have punished the Montagnard Degar for taking part in Christian religious gatherings, beating participants and confiscating property. More information on the Montagnards' situation can be found in a report from Human Rights Watch, published in June 2006. Watch The Becket Fund's International Director, Angela C. Wu, in an interview about the Montagnards following Vietnam's removal from the US State Department's Countries of Particular Concern list last November.

7. Indian Government Approves Shari'a Councils
January 5
New Delhi, India
IANS reports that the Indian government has told the Supreme Court that Indian Muslims have the right to establish Shariah panchayats, saying these were not at odds with the Indian judicial system. The government cited Article 26 of the constitution, which guarantees freedom for every religious denomination to establish and maintain institutions for religious purposes, saying that fatwas issued by Shari'a courts were "advisory in nature" and "did not compel anyone to follow them".

8. Bible Study Raided in Hebei Province, China
January 8
Baoding City, Hebei Province, China
China Aid Association reports that Chinese police in Hebei province attacked a Christian Bible study being held at a communist party school on January 1, taking 40 people away for interrogation. Most were released the same day, though some of those who had played a more active role were detained for several days and placed under surveillance. The Christian population of China is estimated to be about 130 million at present.