The Iranians Mohamedreza was part of an underground Church and to his colleagues at work told again and again of Jesus. This should prove to be a mistake. One day brought employees of the security service of the man, handcuffed him with handcuffs, clothed him with a black cloth bag over his head and interrogated him for two days. Mohamedreza was insulted, beaten, and with the head against the wall pushed out, before a well-Known, worked for the security service, was able to obtain his release.
So the aid organization Open Doors tells it in his latest report to the world persecution index, and it issues annually. Mohamedreza is a face of the persecution that Christians experience because of their faith in the world. Since 2006, Open Doors notes a strong increase of hostility, discrimination and violence against Christians.
Mohamedreza had more luck than others. In the past year, 4136 Christians were murdered because of their faith. The 1354 or 48 percent more than in the same period last year. And the number of unreported cases is high: Open Doors is very carefully documented and religiously motivated killings in his report.
“Every ninth Christian in the world of discrimination and persecution endures.”Patrick Schäfer, Open Doors
In more and more countries, Christians know also exclusion on the part of the society as well as oppression by the state, because they do not want to follow the given ideology or Religion. Harassment and Surveillance, they are increasingly pushing into the ground, like the story of Mohamedreza shows.
“Unfortunately, the Situation of the year, worse year,” says Patrick Schäfer, head of the Swiss-German offices of the Open Doors. “Currently, every ninth, Christ suffers in the world because of his faith, discrimination, and persecution.”
beaten by the police, because he demonstrated against violence: A Pakistani Christian in Lahore. Picture: Reuters
the worst situation is in North Korea is 18. Times in a row. According to the Open Doors in the totalitarian state 50’000 to 70’000 Christians because of their faith in prison camps to forced labour and tortured. The reason for the persecution in North Korea the cult of personality of dictator Kim Jong-un. The powers-that-no religions will not tolerate in his country.
In a number of countries in the Middle East, in Africa and Asia, Christians also suffer under repressions. For the first time in the Top 10, India ranks are, where in the reporting year, attacks on about 100 churches and at least 12’500 Christians documented. More than 200 of them were arrested, therefore, and at least 10 killed.
also New is Morocco, and Russia are among the 50 countries where Christians are most dangerous to life. According to Open Doors, it comes mainly in the regions of Russia transactions with a Muslim majority, but also the government of favoring the Russian Orthodox Church at the expense of other Christian groups.
In the 50 countries in the world persecution index reported that around 700 million people who profess the Christian Faith. In many of these countries, a development now to totalitarian systems, recognizable, writes the Agency. The growing proliferation of personal digital devices do it for governments, it’s easy to monitor their citizens.
most clearly shows this Trend in China, where a year ago, new regulations for religious Affairs came into force. Since then, numerous churches and Christian institutions had to close or were destroyed. Worship services are video monitored, pastors in re-education camps. In the reporting period, 1131 Christians were imprisoned, more than in any other country in the world.
to Be suppressed by the state: Chinese Christians like this woman. (Image: Reuters)
China is a Prime example of the growing oppression of the faith says freedom of a repressiveres Regime, Open Doors. The head of state, Xi Jinping attempts to force the growing Christian communities, to the absolute loyalty to the state and the Communist party. Of China’s estimated 12 million Catholics, half of it belongs to churches of the state-not approved Surface.
“The freedom of religion was never at risk as it is today,” stated Patrick Schaefer from the the Open Doors. “I call on our government and the international community to focus their attention on these worrying developments.” In relations to the affected countries, the Situation of the religious minorities too often ignored or not addressed. Economic interests had priority.
(editing Tamedia)
Created: 17.01.2019, 10:03 PM
