Christian Group Says China Expelling Missionaries Ahead Of Olympics
By Santificarnos.com
A Chinese central government-directed campaign to expel suspected foreign missionaries has been ongoing since February 2007, according to China Aid Association.
China Aid said it has collaborated reports by at least five different mission agencies of over 100 foreigners accused of being involved in illegal religious activities in China have been expelled or deported this year between April and June.
Sources inside the Chinese government confirmed to CAA that the Chinese government launched a massive expulsion campaign of foreign Christians, encoded Typhoon No. 5, in February 2007.
This campaign is believed to be part of the "anti-infiltration" efforts to prevent foreign Christians from engaging in mission activities before the Beijing Olympics next year, CAA said.
Citizens from six countries working in Xinjiang, Beijing and Tibet targeted
Most of those expelled are citizens from the United States, South Korea, Singapore, Canada, Australia, and Israel. They were expelled when they were either working or visiting in Xinjiang, Beijing, Tibet, or Shandong.
According to an American who had been working in Xinjiang for 10 years and wants to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the topic, over 60 foreign religious workers were expelled from Xinjiang alone.
Some of the workers had been serving the local people for 15-18 years before they were asked to leave in the past few months. At least 15 Christian couples from the United States and other countries were expelled from Beijing in the month of May. Two American English teachers sent by the English Language Institute/China (ELIC) were expelled from Tibet. ELIC, a California based Christian organization, is the largest English teacher-sending organization to China and has trained thousands of Chinese college and high school students since the 1990s.
On May 31, 2007, one Israeli Jewish Christian and an American were arrested and expelled from Linyi City, Shandong province when they worshiped together with 70 House Church leaders. Only July 1, three American Christians from Indiana were detained in Beijing and then forced to leave China after their US passports were taken away for 3 to 5 days by Chinese security agents, according CAA.
Consulate Protection Rights Violated
According to CAA's private interviews with some of the expelled Americans, the Chinese PSB confiscated their passports for 2-7 days and treated them professionally while they were interrogated. They were not allowed to have access to US Embassy in Beijing, a direct violation of US-China consulate protection agreements. Some will not be allowed to return to China for 5 years.
This is the largest expulsion of foreign missionaries since 1954 when the Chinese Communist government expelled all foreign religious workers after taking power in 1949. The Chinese government refuses to recognize foreign missionary status in China so many missionaries choose to work in the education or business sectors as ways to stay in China.
"Given the significant contribution to the Chinese people made by those expelled foreigners, this campaign is certainly misguided and counter- productive," said Bob Fu, President of CAA. "We call upon the Chinese government to correct this wrong by allowing these selfless good-hearted people of faith back into China."
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A Chinese central government-directed campaign to expel suspected foreign missionaries has been ongoing since February 2007, according to China Aid Association.
China Aid said it has collaborated reports by at least five different mission agencies of over 100 foreigners accused of being involved in illegal religious activities in China have been expelled or deported this year between April and June.
Sources inside the Chinese government confirmed to CAA that the Chinese government launched a massive expulsion campaign of foreign Christians, encoded Typhoon No. 5, in February 2007.
This campaign is believed to be part of the "anti-infiltration" efforts to prevent foreign Christians from engaging in mission activities before the Beijing Olympics next year, CAA said.
Citizens from six countries working in Xinjiang, Beijing and Tibet targeted
Most of those expelled are citizens from the United States, South Korea, Singapore, Canada, Australia, and Israel. They were expelled when they were either working or visiting in Xinjiang, Beijing, Tibet, or Shandong.
According to an American who had been working in Xinjiang for 10 years and wants to remain anonymous because of the sensitivity of the topic, over 60 foreign religious workers were expelled from Xinjiang alone.
Some of the workers had been serving the local people for 15-18 years before they were asked to leave in the past few months. At least 15 Christian couples from the United States and other countries were expelled from Beijing in the month of May. Two American English teachers sent by the English Language Institute/China (ELIC) were expelled from Tibet. ELIC, a California based Christian organization, is the largest English teacher-sending organization to China and has trained thousands of Chinese college and high school students since the 1990s.
On May 31, 2007, one Israeli Jewish Christian and an American were arrested and expelled from Linyi City, Shandong province when they worshiped together with 70 House Church leaders. Only July 1, three American Christians from Indiana were detained in Beijing and then forced to leave China after their US passports were taken away for 3 to 5 days by Chinese security agents, according CAA.
Consulate Protection Rights Violated
According to CAA's private interviews with some of the expelled Americans, the Chinese PSB confiscated their passports for 2-7 days and treated them professionally while they were interrogated. They were not allowed to have access to US Embassy in Beijing, a direct violation of US-China consulate protection agreements. Some will not be allowed to return to China for 5 years.
This is the largest expulsion of foreign missionaries since 1954 when the Chinese Communist government expelled all foreign religious workers after taking power in 1949. The Chinese government refuses to recognize foreign missionary status in China so many missionaries choose to work in the education or business sectors as ways to stay in China.
"Given the significant contribution to the Chinese people made by those expelled foreigners, this campaign is certainly misguided and counter- productive," said Bob Fu, President of CAA. "We call upon the Chinese government to correct this wrong by allowing these selfless good-hearted people of faith back into China."
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Two House Church Leaders Sentenced To One Year Re-Education Through Labor; Other Church Leader Detained In Shanxi Province
By Santificarnos.com
China Aid Association is reporting that two House Church leaders were sentenced to one year re-education through labor on June 29 in Shandong Province.
According to the official notification paper sent to family members, the two church leaders have been sent to Re-education through Labor Camp of Jining City of Shandong province to serve their sentence. The paper issued by Re-education through Labor (Lao Jiao) Management Committee of the People's Government of Heze City said pastor ZHANG Geming(erred as ZHANG Gaiming in CAA's previous report) and pastor SUN Qingwen were accused using an evil cult to obstruct the law. Their re-education through labor time starts from June 29, 2007 and ends on June 14, 2008.
According to house church sources, both pastors are evangelical missionaries sent from Henan to Shandong province. They were detained on June 15 along with 4 other local church leaders when they had a worship service together. The 4 local pastors were released on July 1 after being forced to have paid 10000yuan($1300) fine.
Meanwhile, in Shanxi province, two forcibly held church leaders are likely to be sentenced to re-education through labor soon.
Pastor Zhou Jieming and pastor Niu Wenbin have been accused as "suspects of using an evil cult to obstruct of the law" and put in criminal detention since June 10. On June 9, 2007, the two ministers along with 12 other church leaders were detained while they were distributing Bibles in a market place in Jiaocheng county, Shanxi province. 4 of them were eventually released at the same day. 6 more church leaders were released on June 15 from their detention center without any legal paper or explanation from the PSB.
On June 29 one more church leader was detained and sentenced to 10 days administrative detention. According to reliable sources, Ms. GAO Qiuxiang(54- year-old) who is the wife of the senior pastor Zhang Tuanyuan(in hiding) of Jiaocheng House church was detained when she went to the PSB office along with the 6 released leaders seeking official explanation paper.
According to CAA investigators' interviews, five of the female leaders were beaten up and abused by the PSB during their five days detention and interrogation time.
Inquires and concerns can be raised to the following Chinese government officials:
Mr. WU Heping deputy Chief of Staff, Ministry of Public Security +86-10- 66262549
Mr. WANG Lixian, chief of staff, Ministry of Justice +86- 10- 65206706
Mr. HU Keming, Chief Administrative Secretary, State Council +86-10- 63097477
Mr. GUO Wei, Director of Foreign Affairs Department, State Administration on Religious Affairs 86+10- 64095157
Mr. LIU Baoju, Deputy Director, Department of Propaganda of Communist Party Shandong province +86-531-82062258
Translation of Notification Paper by Re-education through Labor (Lao Jiao) Management Committee of the People's Government of Heze City (Shandong province)
(Heze Zi No. 356)
Due to the fact that ZHANG Geming using an evil cult to obstruct the law, this Committee resolves to sentence him one year re-education through labor. (Including the custody time before this decision, the re- education through labor time starts from June 29 2007 and ends on June 14, 2008) ZHANG Geming has been sent to Re-education through Labor Camp of Jining City to serve his sentence.
(Stamp of Re-education through Labor (Lao Jiao) Management Committee of the People's Government of Heze City)
Signature of the sentenced individual: ZHANG Geming
Date: June 29, 2007
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Overview Of Decision To Not Allow Lina Joy’s Conversion To Christianity
The Malaysian Federal Court has referred the case of Lina Joy, a woman seeking legal recognition of her conversion to Christianity from Islam, to the Islamic Court. The decision increases fear already present among many non-Muslims that religious freedom guaranteed by the Malaysian Constitution cannot co-exist with Islamic law.
By Singapore Catholic News
Lina Joy, the Malay lady who converted from Islam to Christianity, has lost her long battle to have her new religion legally recognized. On May 30 the Federal Court, which is the highest civil court in Malaysia, decided that only the Islamic Court may remove the word “Islam” from her identity card.
Without this change, Ms Joy cannot marry the man she loves, an Indian Christian. Of the three judges called to hear her appeal, one (Richard Malanjum) was in favour, two (Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Federal Judge Alauddin Mohd Sheriff) against.
The verdict came after a long wait and much heated public debate, pressure from Islamic fundamentalists and death threats against the woman and her lawyers.
Azlina Jailani, 42, born Malay and therefore regarded as Muslim, began attending church in 1990. In 1998 she was baptized and took on the name Lina Joy. In 2000 she applied first to the National Registration Department (NRD) and then the Court of Appeal to remove the designation “Islam” (as her religion) from her identity papers.
It is only by having this change made that she be would be able to marry her Christian boyfriend of Indian origin because a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man. Both the requests to the National Registration Department and to the Court of Appeal were refused. This led Ms Joy to appeal to the Federal Court.
She was refused in both earlier requests on the grounds that she was ethnic Malay. In Malaysia that made her legally a Muslim and being a Muslim she “could not change religion” and therefore the identification “Islam” could not be removed by the civil authorities. Religious issues involving Muslims fall under the jurisdiction of Islamic courts. Thus, two legal systems in the country: one based on Sharia (Islamic law); the other on the Constitution.
The two appear to be in conflict, as shown in Lina Joy’s case. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion; Islamic law prohibits conversion to any other religion. The Federal Court’s decision practically forces Lina Joy to marry a Muslim man in a Muslim ceremony and makes her subject to Muslim laws. Leaving Islam is called apostasy, which may be punished by forced rehabilitation, imprisonment or fines.
But referring Lina Joy to an Islamic Court for the purpose of getting a declaration that she is an apostate (one who has left Islam) so that the term “Islam” can be struck off from her identity paper, might cause her to suffer the penalties imposed for apostasy. It appears that the only choice left for her to lead a normal life and marry the man she loves is to leave her country.
But her problem is not just legal or religious. Since last year Ms Joy and the man she wants to marry have been in hiding after receiving death threats. They continue to receive such threats. Even her lawyer, a Muslim, and observers from the Malaysian Bar Council have been subjected to serious intimidation.
“A Muslim can renounce his faith but the way one leaves a religion is set by the religion itself, in this case Sharia law,” said Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim to explain the decision of the court to refer Ms Joy to the Islamic Court to declare the woman an apostate in order that the National Registration Department can modify her documents.
The report in the The Star newspaper added that the Chief Justice said: “To say that she is not under the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court – because she no longer professes Islam – is not appropriate, (in so far as) the way one leaves a religion is set by the religion itself.” He said a mere statutory declaration that one has renounced Islam is not sufficient to remove the word “Islam” from a Muslim person’s identity card. “This is because apostasy is an issue dealing with Islamic laws.”
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has stated that no political pressure (was used) to influence the Federal Court decision but admitted that the issue of non-Muslims and Islamic Courts needed to be dealt with by the government.
The Christian community has long appealed to the authorities to reaffirm the supremacy of the Constitution over Islamic laws. Jesuit Msgr Paul Tan Chee Ing, who is Chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, said after the verdict: “To deny this basic human right of a person is to choose his/her religion is to usurp the power of God and the right of the person concerned. It is, therefore, inhuman and uncivilized.”
Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Catholic parliamentary of Chinese origins and member of the Democratic Action Party, has asked the government to “take immediate measures to amend the Federal Constitution” so that there is no doubt that the civil court is superior to the Islamic Court in all matters.
Similar statements were made by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism, and Council of Churches in Malaysia.
Muslims constitute 47.7 percent of the total population of just over 24 million in Malaysia. The remainder is divided between Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and others. The minorities have often voiced concern about the spread of Sharia law from personal and family issues applicable to Muslims into the wider social context and even to non-Muslims.
In April 2006, worried over the situation, the Malaysian Bishops’ Conference together with other non-Muslim communities took part in a national prayer campaign for “a return to religious freedom” in the country. Earlier this year, in an appeal made via AsiaNews to Malaysia’s lawmakers, Msgr Paul Tan Chee Ing, who is Chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, said that every means should be used to uphold “the constitution and the rights of non-Muslims”.
“Matters involving civil liberties and the family should come under the jurisdiction of civil courts rather than Islamic tribunals,” he insisted. Bishop Tan made the appeal at a time when Malaysia’s dual legal system was being tested by several cases involving religion in burial rights and the custody of children.
“Non-Muslim communities are not prepared to accept the ‘cajoling’ of the civil courts, forcing people to go before Sharia Courts,” the prelate said then. The Christian Federation of Malaysia had also organized a national prayer campaign in favour of minority rights. Other minority groups had also taken action in support.
The problem does not look like it will dissipate soon. A solution requires a change in the country’s Constitution and, perhaps, even harder, a change in the beliefs of many.
Meanwhile, Ms Joy is in a bind. “I am devastated by the fact that the country’s highest court is not able to guarantee a simple fundamental human right to its citizens: that of the freedom to choose their own faith and the person they want to marry,” she confessed to The Star newspaper after the verdict. (Written with
information from AsiaNews)
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By Singapore Catholic News
Lina Joy, the Malay lady who converted from Islam to Christianity, has lost her long battle to have her new religion legally recognized. On May 30 the Federal Court, which is the highest civil court in Malaysia, decided that only the Islamic Court may remove the word “Islam” from her identity card.
Without this change, Ms Joy cannot marry the man she loves, an Indian Christian. Of the three judges called to hear her appeal, one (Richard Malanjum) was in favour, two (Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and Federal Judge Alauddin Mohd Sheriff) against.
The verdict came after a long wait and much heated public debate, pressure from Islamic fundamentalists and death threats against the woman and her lawyers.
Azlina Jailani, 42, born Malay and therefore regarded as Muslim, began attending church in 1990. In 1998 she was baptized and took on the name Lina Joy. In 2000 she applied first to the National Registration Department (NRD) and then the Court of Appeal to remove the designation “Islam” (as her religion) from her identity papers.
It is only by having this change made that she be would be able to marry her Christian boyfriend of Indian origin because a Muslim woman cannot marry a non-Muslim man. Both the requests to the National Registration Department and to the Court of Appeal were refused. This led Ms Joy to appeal to the Federal Court.
She was refused in both earlier requests on the grounds that she was ethnic Malay. In Malaysia that made her legally a Muslim and being a Muslim she “could not change religion” and therefore the identification “Islam” could not be removed by the civil authorities. Religious issues involving Muslims fall under the jurisdiction of Islamic courts. Thus, two legal systems in the country: one based on Sharia (Islamic law); the other on the Constitution.
The two appear to be in conflict, as shown in Lina Joy’s case. The constitution guarantees freedom of religion; Islamic law prohibits conversion to any other religion. The Federal Court’s decision practically forces Lina Joy to marry a Muslim man in a Muslim ceremony and makes her subject to Muslim laws. Leaving Islam is called apostasy, which may be punished by forced rehabilitation, imprisonment or fines.
But referring Lina Joy to an Islamic Court for the purpose of getting a declaration that she is an apostate (one who has left Islam) so that the term “Islam” can be struck off from her identity paper, might cause her to suffer the penalties imposed for apostasy. It appears that the only choice left for her to lead a normal life and marry the man she loves is to leave her country.
But her problem is not just legal or religious. Since last year Ms Joy and the man she wants to marry have been in hiding after receiving death threats. They continue to receive such threats. Even her lawyer, a Muslim, and observers from the Malaysian Bar Council have been subjected to serious intimidation.
“A Muslim can renounce his faith but the way one leaves a religion is set by the religion itself, in this case Sharia law,” said Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim to explain the decision of the court to refer Ms Joy to the Islamic Court to declare the woman an apostate in order that the National Registration Department can modify her documents.
The report in the The Star newspaper added that the Chief Justice said: “To say that she is not under the jurisdiction of the Sharia Court – because she no longer professes Islam – is not appropriate, (in so far as) the way one leaves a religion is set by the religion itself.” He said a mere statutory declaration that one has renounced Islam is not sufficient to remove the word “Islam” from a Muslim person’s identity card. “This is because apostasy is an issue dealing with Islamic laws.”
Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi has stated that no political pressure (was used) to influence the Federal Court decision but admitted that the issue of non-Muslims and Islamic Courts needed to be dealt with by the government.
The Christian community has long appealed to the authorities to reaffirm the supremacy of the Constitution over Islamic laws. Jesuit Msgr Paul Tan Chee Ing, who is Chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, said after the verdict: “To deny this basic human right of a person is to choose his/her religion is to usurp the power of God and the right of the person concerned. It is, therefore, inhuman and uncivilized.”
Teresa Kok Suh Sim, Catholic parliamentary of Chinese origins and member of the Democratic Action Party, has asked the government to “take immediate measures to amend the Federal Constitution” so that there is no doubt that the civil court is superior to the Islamic Court in all matters.
Similar statements were made by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism, and Council of Churches in Malaysia.
Muslims constitute 47.7 percent of the total population of just over 24 million in Malaysia. The remainder is divided between Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and others. The minorities have often voiced concern about the spread of Sharia law from personal and family issues applicable to Muslims into the wider social context and even to non-Muslims.
In April 2006, worried over the situation, the Malaysian Bishops’ Conference together with other non-Muslim communities took part in a national prayer campaign for “a return to religious freedom” in the country. Earlier this year, in an appeal made via AsiaNews to Malaysia’s lawmakers, Msgr Paul Tan Chee Ing, who is Chairman of the Christian Federation of Malaysia, said that every means should be used to uphold “the constitution and the rights of non-Muslims”.
“Matters involving civil liberties and the family should come under the jurisdiction of civil courts rather than Islamic tribunals,” he insisted. Bishop Tan made the appeal at a time when Malaysia’s dual legal system was being tested by several cases involving religion in burial rights and the custody of children.
“Non-Muslim communities are not prepared to accept the ‘cajoling’ of the civil courts, forcing people to go before Sharia Courts,” the prelate said then. The Christian Federation of Malaysia had also organized a national prayer campaign in favour of minority rights. Other minority groups had also taken action in support.
The problem does not look like it will dissipate soon. A solution requires a change in the country’s Constitution and, perhaps, even harder, a change in the beliefs of many.
Meanwhile, Ms Joy is in a bind. “I am devastated by the fact that the country’s highest court is not able to guarantee a simple fundamental human right to its citizens: that of the freedom to choose their own faith and the person they want to marry,” she confessed to The Star newspaper after the verdict. (Written with
information from AsiaNews)
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Proposed Law On Religion Infringes Upon Religious Rights, Leaders In Tajikistan Say
Representatives of minority religions in Tajikistan have written an open letter to President Emomali Rakhmon and parliament, concerned that a proposed new law on religion will curtail freedom to practice their faith.
Twenty Protestant representatives and one each from the Catholic Church and Bahai community gathered in Dushanbe June 28 to draft the letter. The Russian Orthodox Church, which forms about 3 percent of Tajikistan's 6.5 million people, did not send a representative. Catholics, who number around 250, form a tiny minority.
The letter, which is expected to be sent to the president and parliament in a couple of days, states "our deep concern on the draft law" because it "contains numerous regulations that go contrary to human rights."
Religious leaders objected to the stipulation that in order to register as a religious organization, a non-Muslim community must have at least 400 members in rural areas, 800 in a city and 1,200 in Dushanbe. The present law only requires only 10 members for registration of a non-Muslim religious organization.
Father Carlos Avila, head of the Catholic Church in Tajikistan, told UCA News, "Our Church is too small, and I don't know how we can register our Church if this draft law will pass."
According to Igor Samiev, chairman of Baptists Association of Tajikistan, the numbers are unacceptable. "Such requirements are a barrier to our legal existence," Samiev said during the meeting.
The new draft requires Muslims to have a minimum of 2,000 members to establish a mosque, but this would have a minimal effect since they form 96 percent of the country's 6.5 million people.
Article 10 of the proposed law demands that people who teach spiritual dogma coordinate their activity with the state committee for religious affairs.
"It is quite difficult and almost impossible, because committee officials don't have necessary qualifications to judge the quality of Catholic teachers," said Larisa Kwiatkowskaya, a catechist.
This part of the draft also decrees that children can start spiritual education only after they reach 7 years, and only if parents allow them. Catholics point out that students younger than 7 currently attend their Sunday-school activities.
Others point to Article 11, which says foreigners cannot lead or establish religious communities and organizations, an issue that affects the local Catholic Church directly. All Catholic priests in Tajikistan today are Institute of the Incarnate Word missioners from Argentina.
"Maybe it is not so terrible for Protestant denominations in Tajikistan, because their leaders are basically Russians or Tajiks. But it is absolutely unacceptable for the Catholic Church, because none of our priests are locals and we wouldn't be able to lead the Church and parishes if the new draft law were passed," Father Avila said.
Religious leaders said the existing law on religion was created in 1994 and based on an earlier law written when Tajikistan was part of the Soviet Union.
That law is "pretty acceptable," says Saidsharaf Saidsharapov, leader of Evangelist Church, since it allows preachers to work without much hassle. "Some additions to the present religious law might be a better solution, because it won't cause so many problems as making a new law."
Zulfia Kaumova, a lawyer, told UCA News that Article 7 of the proposed draft forbids religious activity directed to convert people from one religion into another. "It goes contrary to Article 26 of the Tajik Constitution, which claims anyone can independently decide which religion to profess," she said.
The first attempt to change the present law came in May 2006, when Murodullo Davlatov, head of the committee for religious affairs, said the law does not conform to the reality of modern Tajikistan.
On March 10, committee officials contacted representatives of religious communities and organizations and presented them with the new draft, asking them to write in their comments within five days.
According to Davlatov, his committee and non-Muslim religious leaders have had two joint meetings since.
Source: UCAN
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Twenty Protestant representatives and one each from the Catholic Church and Bahai community gathered in Dushanbe June 28 to draft the letter. The Russian Orthodox Church, which forms about 3 percent of Tajikistan's 6.5 million people, did not send a representative. Catholics, who number around 250, form a tiny minority.
The letter, which is expected to be sent to the president and parliament in a couple of days, states "our deep concern on the draft law" because it "contains numerous regulations that go contrary to human rights."
Religious leaders objected to the stipulation that in order to register as a religious organization, a non-Muslim community must have at least 400 members in rural areas, 800 in a city and 1,200 in Dushanbe. The present law only requires only 10 members for registration of a non-Muslim religious organization.
Father Carlos Avila, head of the Catholic Church in Tajikistan, told UCA News, "Our Church is too small, and I don't know how we can register our Church if this draft law will pass."
According to Igor Samiev, chairman of Baptists Association of Tajikistan, the numbers are unacceptable. "Such requirements are a barrier to our legal existence," Samiev said during the meeting.
The new draft requires Muslims to have a minimum of 2,000 members to establish a mosque, but this would have a minimal effect since they form 96 percent of the country's 6.5 million people.
Article 10 of the proposed law demands that people who teach spiritual dogma coordinate their activity with the state committee for religious affairs.
"It is quite difficult and almost impossible, because committee officials don't have necessary qualifications to judge the quality of Catholic teachers," said Larisa Kwiatkowskaya, a catechist.
This part of the draft also decrees that children can start spiritual education only after they reach 7 years, and only if parents allow them. Catholics point out that students younger than 7 currently attend their Sunday-school activities.
Others point to Article 11, which says foreigners cannot lead or establish religious communities and organizations, an issue that affects the local Catholic Church directly. All Catholic priests in Tajikistan today are Institute of the Incarnate Word missioners from Argentina.
"Maybe it is not so terrible for Protestant denominations in Tajikistan, because their leaders are basically Russians or Tajiks. But it is absolutely unacceptable for the Catholic Church, because none of our priests are locals and we wouldn't be able to lead the Church and parishes if the new draft law were passed," Father Avila said.
Religious leaders said the existing law on religion was created in 1994 and based on an earlier law written when Tajikistan was part of the Soviet Union.
That law is "pretty acceptable," says Saidsharaf Saidsharapov, leader of Evangelist Church, since it allows preachers to work without much hassle. "Some additions to the present religious law might be a better solution, because it won't cause so many problems as making a new law."
Zulfia Kaumova, a lawyer, told UCA News that Article 7 of the proposed draft forbids religious activity directed to convert people from one religion into another. "It goes contrary to Article 26 of the Tajik Constitution, which claims anyone can independently decide which religion to profess," she said.
The first attempt to change the present law came in May 2006, when Murodullo Davlatov, head of the committee for religious affairs, said the law does not conform to the reality of modern Tajikistan.
On March 10, committee officials contacted representatives of religious communities and organizations and presented them with the new draft, asking them to write in their comments within five days.
According to Davlatov, his committee and non-Muslim religious leaders have had two joint meetings since.
Source: UCAN
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Minority Faiths In Malaysia Criticise 'Misuse' Of Religion
By Michele Green
Members of five minority religious groups in Malaysia, including Christians and Hindus, have urged their government to take steps to prevent "personal tragedies" resulting from state policies that favour Islam, the official religion of this south-east Asian nation.
In a document that describes the effects of a policy in which Muslims are prevented from converting to other religions, the minority religious groups say that some people are even sent to "rehabilitation camps where they are held and 're-educated' until they lose their desire to convert out of Islam".
The claims were included in a "Note of Protest" issued on 19 June by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.
"The Note of Protest highlights the personal tragedies of various ordinary Malaysians suffering anguish as a result, in one way or another, of the misuse of religion [such as] persons who are treated as 'Muslims' against their will," the consultative council said in a statement.
The protest followed a high-profile court case of a Muslim woman who converted to Christianity and sought to have her conversion recognised by the state so she could marry her Christian fiancé. Inter-religious marriages are banned in Malaysia.
The woman's appeal was rejected by the country's highest court which ordered her to seek redress in an Islamic court even though Islamic courts can send apostates to prison for abandoning Islam.
The consultative council cited numerous other cases, including that of a Hindu woman who lost custody of her child because her husband converted to Islam, and of an ethnic Indian woman sent to a re-education camp because she wanted to become a Hindu.
Malaysia is considered one of the world's most relaxed Muslim countries but the treatment of apostates has ignited a heated debate.
Half of Malaysia's 26 million people are ethnic Malays, who must by law be Muslim, while the country's Chinese and Indian minorities include Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. Local officials in each of Malaysia's 13 federal states selectively enforce Islamic law.
The grouping of religions minorities urged the government to allow freedom of religion to all people living in the country, and said it "prayed for a peaceful and just society which would find unity in diversity".
Source: ENI
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Members of five minority religious groups in Malaysia, including Christians and Hindus, have urged their government to take steps to prevent "personal tragedies" resulting from state policies that favour Islam, the official religion of this south-east Asian nation.
In a document that describes the effects of a policy in which Muslims are prevented from converting to other religions, the minority religious groups say that some people are even sent to "rehabilitation camps where they are held and 're-educated' until they lose their desire to convert out of Islam".
The claims were included in a "Note of Protest" issued on 19 June by the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism.
"The Note of Protest highlights the personal tragedies of various ordinary Malaysians suffering anguish as a result, in one way or another, of the misuse of religion [such as] persons who are treated as 'Muslims' against their will," the consultative council said in a statement.
The protest followed a high-profile court case of a Muslim woman who converted to Christianity and sought to have her conversion recognised by the state so she could marry her Christian fiancé. Inter-religious marriages are banned in Malaysia.
The woman's appeal was rejected by the country's highest court which ordered her to seek redress in an Islamic court even though Islamic courts can send apostates to prison for abandoning Islam.
The consultative council cited numerous other cases, including that of a Hindu woman who lost custody of her child because her husband converted to Islam, and of an ethnic Indian woman sent to a re-education camp because she wanted to become a Hindu.
Malaysia is considered one of the world's most relaxed Muslim countries but the treatment of apostates has ignited a heated debate.
Half of Malaysia's 26 million people are ethnic Malays, who must by law be Muslim, while the country's Chinese and Indian minorities include Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Sikhs. Local officials in each of Malaysia's 13 federal states selectively enforce Islamic law.
The grouping of religions minorities urged the government to allow freedom of religion to all people living in the country, and said it "prayed for a peaceful and just society which would find unity in diversity".
Source: ENI
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