IRFN (July 31 - Aug. 7): China Bans Reincarnation of Tibetan Lamas

Aug 8, 2007

International Religious Freedom Archive
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1. Iran: Bahá'í Students Now Barred from Vocational, Technical Schools (July 31)
2. India: Gujarat State to Enforce Anti-Conversion Law (Aug. 2)
3. Chinese Government Tightens Control Over Clergy Loyal to the Vatican (Aug. 2)
4. Tajikistan Forbids Hijab at University Entrance Exams (Aug. 3)
5. China Bans Reincarnation of Tibetan Lamas (Aug. 4)
6. Iran: Three Executed as "Enemies of Allah" (Aug. 6)
7. Saudi Religious Police Arrest Man For Act of Kindness (Aug. 6)

Feature: 
An in-depth look at the bill that would limit the activities of religious minorities, currently under consideration in Tajikistan, from Radio Free Europe

1. Iran: Bahá'í Students Now Barred from Vocational, Technical Schools
July 31
Iran
Bahá'í World News Service reports that Bahá'í students now face difficulties in entering Iran's vocational and technical institutes, as prospective students are, as of 2007, required to identify their religious affiliation on their entrance examination. Students may choose to identify themselves as Christian, Jewish or Zoroastrian – there is no option for Bahá'í – and in the case that they leave the form blank, they will be considered Muslim. The present system means that Bahá'í students will be unable to undertake vocational or technical training this year without "a de facto denial of their faith", according to Bani Dugal, the Bahá'í Community's main representative to the United Nations.

2. India: Gujarat State to Enforce Anti-Conversion Law
August 2
India
The Indian Express reports that in the Indian state of Gujarat, the government, led by Narenda Modi, has decided to re-activate an anti-conversion law, originally enacted by the state Assembly in 2003 but never promulgated. According to the government, in the "larger national interest" it was necessary to prevent conversions by "force, allurement or fraudulent means" and institute harsher punishments. Those who convert of their own free will would also be required to petition the District Magistrate for permission prior to the ceremony. Asia News has quoted the state's Interior Minister as saying that the law should come into force within eight to ten days.

3. Chinese Government Tightens Control Over Clergy Loyal to the Vatican
August 2
China
Asia News reports that for Roman Catholic priests loyal to the Vatican, conditions may have worsened following Pope Benedict XVI's letter to Chinese Catholics, as the summer activities of the underground Catholic church, traditionally focused on youth meetings and religious instruction, have slowed following a series of arrests of priests in Inner Mongolia and Hebei. In the period leading up to the publication of the Pope's letter, the Chinese government also began restricting visits to some imprisoned priests and extending prison terms for others who had been promised early releases.

4. Tajikistan Forbids Hijab at University Entrance Exams
August 3
Takijistan
Radio Free Europe reports that Tajikistan's State Teacher Training Institute has decided that prospective students may not take the entrance exam while wearing the Islamic head scarf, or hijab. Tajikistan's Ministry of Education has recently taken steps to enforce its ban on hijabs for female secondary and university students, and on July 31, three female applicants were barred from sitting for the entrance exam at Tajikistan's National University.

5. China Bans Reincarnation of Tibetan Lamas
August 4
Beijing, China
The Times of London reports that the China has issued a new ban designed to prevent Tibetans from recognizing reincarnations of the living Buddha without the approval of the Chinese government. The edict, which will enter into force on September 1st, states that the "so-called reincarnated living Buddha" is "illegal and invalid" without the approval of the government, and is one item of a fourteen-part document issued by China's State Administration for Religious Affairs. The order is the latest step by China to limit the authority of reincarnate lamas, or tulkus, who have the power to influence large religious communities in Tibet.

6. Iran: Three Executed as "Enemies of Allah"
August 6
Baluchistan, Iran
ADN Kronos International reports that three Iranian men were executed on Monday after being convicted of being "enemies of Allah". The men, Abdelaziz Esmailzehi, Abdoljamal Shahbakhsh and Ali Akbar Shahbakhsh, were put to death at a prison in Zahedan, Baluchistan, in southeast Iran. It was unknown what they had done in order to receive the designation of "enemies of Allah". Thus far, Iran has executed at least 150 people in 2007, and 177 more in 2006.

7. Saudi Religious Police Arrest Man For Act of Kindness
August 6
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Arab News reports that a Nigerian convert to Islam, Ibrahim Mohammed Lawal, has been imprisoned by the Saudi Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, after he was found to be in an "illegal state of seclusion" (with a woman who is not a relative) while attempting to help a sick woman. After learning that his neighbor, a 63-year-old woman, was in need of medical attention, Lawal drove her to several hospitals, eventually managing to secure medical attention for her. Officers of the Commission took Lawal into custody after finding him at the woman's home, where he had gone to see if she was recovering following treatment.