Jan 30, 2008
International Religious Freedom Archive
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1. Egyptian Courts Grant Bahais Right to Obtain ID Papers (Jan. 29)
2. Afghan MPs Support Death Penalty for Blasphemy Suspect (Jan. 30)
3. Iran Convicts 54 Bahais of Heresy (Jan. 29)
4. North Korea Frees Canadian Church Leader (Jan. 28)
5. Italian Senate Bill Seeks Protection of Muslim Headscarf (Jan. 25)
6. Soldiers Deployed to Secure Foreign Christian Missionaries in Philippines (Jan. 23)
Features: The Washington Times published a commentary by Angela Wu, International Director at the Becket Fund, on the current debate in the Netherlands about the right to wear a burqa in public.
Ms. Wu was also featured in the Wall Street Journal with an op-ed on the tension between Malaysia's civil and Islamic courts.
Updates: According to The Times, the Archbishop of Canterbury has spoken in favor of the repeal of Britain’s blasphemy law, but he has suggested that a replacement bill should protect religious people from “thoughtless or cruel” words.
The International Herald Tribune reports an effort by the governing party in Turkey – the Justice and Development Party – to remove the ban on wearing the traditional female Muslim headscarf in universities.
1. Egyptian Court Grants Bahais Right to Obtain ID Papers
January 29
Cairo, Egypt
In a landmark case, an Egyptian court has ruled that two members of an un-recognized religion may receive ID cards given the religious affiliation is left blank, according to Reuters. The appeal was brought forward by a Bahai Egyptian citizen who was seeking identity papers for his teenage twins. Identification documents are needed to enroll in school, marry, drive a car and open a bank account. It is yet to be determined if this ruling will apply to all members of un-recognized religions, like the Bahai religion. Unfortunately, the same court ruled in a separate case that a man who had converted from Islam to Christianity would not be allowed to change his name and religion on his identity papers. The ministry of the interior had indicated that it was “not correct” for a Muslim to leave the Islamic faith.
2. Afghan MPs Support Death Penalty for Blasphemy Suspect
January 30
Afghanistan
The Upper House of the Afghan government has voiced its public approval of a court’s decision of the death penalty for a journalist student who is accused of blasphemy, according to the BBC. Pervez Kambaksh, 23, was accused of downloading and distributing an article that is critical of Islam. Kambaksh has challenged the decision on grounds that he was not given a fair trial.
3. Iran Convicts 54 Bahais of Heresy
January 29
Shiraz, Iran
BBC reports that Iran has sentenced three Bahai members to four years in prison and another 51 to suspended sentences for heresy. Although they have been released from detention, the 51 suspended sentences require attendance at courses run by state propaganda officials. The Bahai faith is outlawed in Iran.
4. North Korea Frees Canadian Church Leader
January 28
North Korea
After spending three months in prison for trying to start a church in North Korea, a Canadian aid worker has been freed, according to the Associated Press. Kim Je-yell was met at the border between North Korea and China by Canadian consular officials, who have been assisting Kim and ensuring his safety. North Korea grants nominal freedom of religion and has been identified by the U.S. State Department as a country of particular concern every year since 2001.
5. Italian Senate Bill Seeks Protection of Muslim Headscarf
January 25
Torino, Italy
A bill to protect the wearing of the hijab in Italy has been proposed by a senior Italian Senator in an effort to stave off right-wing support for legislation that would ban the Muslim headscarf, according to Islamonline.net. Religious dress, especially the Muslim headscarf, has received a great deal of attention in the wake of the 2004 French law banning “conspicuous” religious attire in schools.
6. Soldiers Deployed to Secure Foreign Christian Missionaries in Philippines
January 23
Philippines
In response to the growing threat of kidnapping for ransom by Muslim extremists, Philippines authorities have taken measures to protect local and foreign Christian missionaries on the “conflict-ridden island of Mindanao,” reports ADNKronos International. According to Senior Superintendent Fransisco Cristobal, armed soldiers will be deployed around churches and convents.