Weeks Headline Tuesday, 15 May 2001
Fear over legislation restricting religious minorities in France
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Weeks Headline Tuesday, 15 May 2001 Fear over legislation restricting religious minorities in France |
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The Voice Of The Martyrs Kazakhstan The government continues to make it difficult to teach in that nominally Muslim country. The Voice Of The Martyrs reports that Paul Sami, with Educational Services International, said that Christians are facing more scrutiny. He also stated that, while labour laws are on the books, they're not enforced except when it comes to Christians. "It's almost as if they have this law in case they want to kick someone out, or in case they want to make it difficult for particular foreigners to be able to be employed. Because, they don't offer missionary visas. You have 40% employed. Because, they don't offer missionary visas. You have to have a work visa in order to work in Kazakhstan." While ESI's primary focus is to send and train teachers abroad, to teach English, business, and computers, It's an opportunity to share the gospel. Bhutan Voice Of The Martyrs passed along news from The Baptist Press which reported, on May 4, 2001, that repression of Christians has increased in that country. This is happening just as Christians from around the world prepare to pray for the tiny Asian nation 48% from around the world prepare to pray for the tiny Asian nation on June 2-3. According to the report, the recent wave persecution began last year after Bhutan's king made a speech advising his people they would be better off following only one religion: Buddhism. Taking their cue from that speech, regional officials intensified repression of Christians -- possibly with the encouragement of Buddhist leaders who claim Christianity will bring division in the family and the nation. Recent incidents of persecution have included officials recording the names of those 56% persecution have included officials recording the names of those who attend worship services, the closing of churches, physical beatings, the loss of jobs, the threatening and interrogation of pastors, threats of being refused medical care, and the loss of free education for their children. France V.O.M. also says that on May 3, 2001 the French Senate passed a law designed to "reinforce the prevention and repression of groups of a sectarian nature." This legislation was first taken up by the National Assembly in June 2000 and is "intended to provide individuals and the public authorities alike with new courses of action to allow them to paralyze the activities of cult organizations and render them harmless." Religious liberty organizations fear that this legislation could be used to restrict the free expression and practice of religious belief by religious minorities in France. Reports of increased discrimination and harassment, after the recent publication of a list of 173 identifiable "sects" by the Inter-ministerial Mission for the Battle Against Sects, would seem to validate this concern. The list included such mainstream Christian groups as the Free Baptist Church. Fifty members of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly recently signed a petition asking the French Senate to delay the vote. Their fear is that the bill has the potential to "create religious discrimination in Europe." The law is now expected to go before the National Assembly for a vote on May 31. Indonesia According to sources. quoted by V.O.M., in Indonesia, Ja'far Umar Thalib, the Supreme Commander of the Laskar Jihad, was arrested on the morning of May 4th at Juanda Airport in Surabaya, East Java, on charges of inciting hatred against a religion and ordering the murder of one of his own followers on a mission in riot-torn Maluku. Since his arrival in the Molukan Islands in April 2000, Ja'far and his "jihad warriors" have carried numerous atrocities including the slaughter and destruction of of predominantly Christian villages, and the forced islamisation of Christians. On Wednesday, May 9, a Laskar Jihad spokesman announced that their detained commander had ordered the deployment of 100 reinforcements from the Muslim militia group to the Maluku capital of Ambon. For more information on these stories, please contact: The Voice of the Martyrs, Canada http://www.persecution.net Freedom Quest International Sudan: Even the secular world is taking note of what's happening in the Nuba mountains, and other areas, of South Sudan. Freedom Quest International is busily spreading the news about this bloody civil war and Talisman Energy's complicity in the suffering of the black Christians and Animists. This organization also reports on issues such as slavery, child soldiers, bombing of civilian targets, companies investing in the oil fields which the government first depopulates, and many other abuses of power by the Khartoum government. Freedom Quest invites any responses, questions, or comments you might have. These can be sent to: Freedom Quest International, Box 83059, Canyon Meadows PO, Calgary, AB, T2W 6G8, Canada. E-mail: info@freedom-quest.ca Their web address is http://www.freedom-quest.ca. . |