International Religious Freedom News

The Becket Fund:

1. Kazakhstan: State Intensifies Checks on Religious Communities
2. China: Protestant Pastors Sentenced to Forced Labor
3. Malaysia: Courts Decide Citizens’ Religious Affiliation
4. Nigeria: Persecution of Christians Continues Despite Easing of Shari’a
5. Saudi Arabia: New Criticism for Saudi Religious Police
6. China: Vatican-China talks could cement diplomatic relations with papal visit

Features: A look back on Fidel Castro's relationship with organized religions, among them Cuba's Catholic and Jewish communities, courtesy of Catholic News Service and Jewish Daily Forward.

BBC video documenting the protest of Indian Sikhs against the French turban ban.

1. Kazakhstan: State Intensifies Checks on Religious Communities
KAZAKHSTAN – Kazakhstan’s secret police have renewed their interest in the country’s religious communities, conducting fifteen intrusive searches of Protestant and Hare Krishna communities during the first two months of 2008, according to a Forum 18 report on February 15. Thus far, Kazakhstan’s Muslim and Russian Orthodox communities have not reported similar treatment. Such checks are only cause for concern as they have been used in the past to justify closing religious buildings, and sending religious leaders away from their communities.

2. China: Protestant Pastors Sentenced to Forced Labor
SHANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA – Twenty-one Shangdong Protestants, arrested during a police raid in December, have been sentenced to “re-education through labor”, with sentences ranging from fifteen months to three years, reports AsiaNews February 19. The arrests occurred on December 7 in Hedong district, where Protestant pastors had met for leadership training. More than 250 persons were arrested during the raid, with the majority of the group being released after a few days. Police would not disclose the name or location of the work camps.

3. Malaysia: Courts Decide Citizens’ Religious Affiliation
KUALA TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA – A Shari’a High Court in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, has ruled that Kamariah Ali is still a Muslim in the eyes of the state, despite her stated desire to leave the religion, according to The New Straits Times on February 20. Though Ali had filed an application to leave Islam, technicalities prevented her from being considered a non-Muslim in the eyes of the court. Ali has been charged with belonging to a sect whose teachings were deemed “deviant” by a previous fatwa; she will be sentenced on March 3.

4. Nigeria: Persecution of Christians Continues Despite Easing of Shari’a
JOS, NIGERIA – Although some media reports signal the easing of Shari’a law enforcement in northern Nigeria, Christians and churches are still being attacked, according to a February 20 report by Christianity Today. In December 2007, the government in Kano State demolished four churches after demolishing ten in October 2007. Christian converts from Islam continue to receive harsh punishments from Shari’a courts in northern Nigeria.

5. Saudi Arabia: New Criticism for Saudi Religious Police
BEIRUT – On February 4, religious police detained a female businesswoman for “sitting with a man who is not a relative and exchanging words and laughter with him,” reports the Associated Press February 20. The woman, identified only by the name Yara, went to a Starbucks branch in Riyadh in order to use the Internet. When she was joined by a male colleague, she was quickly taken away by religious police affiliated with the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice. She was released approximately five and a half hours after interrogation and a forced confession.

6. China: Vatican-China talks could cement diplomatic relations with papal visit
BEIJING – With rising criticism ahead of the Olympic games, China has been engaged in talks with Vatican officials with hopes of establishing diplomatic relations, the Catholic News Agency reported on February 19. While a papal visit is unlikely before the games begin, the announcement of a visit could give Chinese officials a boost in international image before the games. Debate continues around the issues of bishop appointments and relations with Taiwan. In December, the politburo convened its first meeting on the topic of religion. President Hu showed signs of being more open to religion: “The party and government shall reach out to religious believers in difficulties and help them through their problems. We shall fully understand the new problems and challenges to manage religious affairs so that we can do it right.”

International Religious Freedom Archive
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