A new wave of persecution of Christians started in Iran after the election of hard-line conservative president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Since 2005´s election, many Christians – mainly those of Islamic background – have not only been rounded up for harassment, but many have been arrested and beaten. In Uzbekistan, government measures following the suppression of the popular uprising in Andijan led to restrictions in religious freedom for Christians. The level of monitoring of churches and Christians has increased considerably. Violence against Christians in India seems to be on the rise. Christians are coming under increased pressure (in the form of physical attacks, killings, depiction in the media, threats etc.) because of accusations of (alleged) outreach activities. Intolerance and atrocities against minorities are increasing in Bangladesh. A radicalisation is evident among Muslims in the country, where several Christians were murdered in connection with their faith in 2005.
Changes for the Better
The situation of Christians improved to different extents in Vietnam, Laos, Afghanistan, Sudan, Nigeria, Colombia and Mexico.
Church leaders in Vietnam and Laos indicated that the situation for Christians had improved to some extent in 2005. Christians were allowed to build and renovate church buildings and conduct training. In Laos, Christian leaders in the south were able to undertake many church activities with little or no government interference. What particularly has changed is the increasing ability of church leaders or individual Christians to bring cases of persecution and abuse by local government leaders to the respective national offices. However, the main group of Christians in the north continues to face difficulties and persecution.
In 2004, five Afghan Christian converts were killed in Afghanistan for abandoning Islam and spreading their new faith. We did not receive similar reports for 2005, which explains why Afghanistan has lost a few points. However, violence in general continues to occur frequently, as Muslim fundamentalist resistance is still active. Last year, we reported on the new hope Christians in Sudan cherished with the signing of the peace deal, which ended more than 20 years of civil war. Already in 2004 there were less incidents of violence against Christians compared to earlier years. In 2005 this trend seemed to continue, with no confirmed reports of Christians being killed for their faith and fewer other incidents reported, such as physical assaults and kidnappings. We continued to receive reports of religious violence in Nigeria in 2005. However, the violence led to fewer casualties among Christians than in 2004. Nigeria continues to be a country to observe closely, especially since plans of Muslim militants were uncovered to attack Christians in certain states and destabilize the states involved.
Whereas the status of religious freedom did not change significantly in the conflict areas of Colombia, the ranking dropped because fewer Christians were reportedly killed or arrested compared to the previous year. Nevertheless, believers in rebel-occupied areas continue to live under pressure and amidst violence, partly because of their faith, although this is not easy to discern. With regards to Christian persecution in Mexico, we received fewer reports of physical assaults, arrests, kidnappings and killings of Christians than in earlier years. Most incidents against Christians in 2005 concern exiles and threats.
Focus on the Top Ten
1. North Korea ►
Violations of human rights are the order of the day in the Stalinist country of North Korea, including many breaches of religious rights. North Korea has entered its fourth year as the worst violator of religious rights for Christians. Christianity is observed as a dangerous foreign influence which stimulated the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union and therefore poses one of the greatest threats to the regime’s power. As a result, the North Korean authorities are making harsh efforts to root out Christianity. It is believed that tens of thousands of Christians are currently suffering in North Korean prison camps, where they face cruel abuses. The hermit regime is suspected of detaining more political and religious prisoners than any other country in the world. Several North Koreans became Christians after crossing the border with China and entering into contact with local Christians. Many among these were exposed as believers when they returned to North Korea, and they were specially targeted for arrest. Many of them were tortured and killed. Though no exact figures can be given, our staff estimates that hundreds of Christians were killed by the regime in 2005. Amidst all of this, North Korea is trying to keep up a facade of religious freedom, trying to cover the complete lack of this inalienable human right, by -- among others -- organising government-sponsored religious services in show churches in the capital of Pyongyang, which foreigners are allowed to attend.
