Christians challenged to speak out on human rights abuses

Christians have failed to speak out strongly enough against genocide, crimes against humanity, slavery, torture, persecution and oppression, and at times have been complicit with grave human rights violations, leading human rights advocates argue in a new book launched this week.

'On the Side of the Angels: Justice, Human Rights and Kingdom Mission' is the new book by Dalit Freedom Network President Joseph D'Souza and Christian Solidarity Worldwide's Benedict Rogers.

In it, they challenge Christians of all denominations to put biblical teaching on justice and human rights into action and to see human rights advocacy as a form of Christian mission.

Benedict Roger, who recently returned from troubled Burma, said, "We have freedom. We should use our freedom on behalf of those who are brutally denied it. Why is every Christian in the free world not on the streets protesting?

"We cannot carry on as though fighting for human rights is an optional extra, something we put under 'any other business' and then don't deal with because we are too busy. Justice and righteousness were on the top of Jesus' agenda, so why don't they feature on ours?"

Roger made his 18th visit to the India-Burma border two weeks ago. There he met a man who told him of prisoners who had been roasted over a hot fire, repeatedly stabbed, then placed in a tub of salt water.

"I met a man who had been hung upside down for an entire night and repeatedly pistol-whipped and swung against a pillar," he continued. "I met a boy who, at the age of three, was imprisoned in a dark, damp, windowless cell for eight hours and denied food or water. I met women who had been raped and people used as forced labour. The stories from Burma are as consistent as they are horrific."

'On the Side of the Angels: Justice, Human Rights and Kingdom Mission' is published by Authentic Media and will be launched on Tuesday 9 October at an event hosted by Christian Solidarity Worldwide and chaired by Lord Alton of Liverpool. Bishop David Pytches will be a keynote speaker.