Religious Persecution

Getting It Right: "Israel and the Plight of Mideast Christians"

John L. Esposito | Posted 05.15.2012

Read More: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Religious Persecution, Palestinian Christians, Freedom of Religion, World News

Michael Oren's March 12 Wall Street Journal article, "Israel and the Plight of Mideast Christians" exploits a real issue, the fears and plight of Christians in some Muslim countries.

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Christian Pastor Won't Be Executed, Iran Claims

The Huffington Post | Laura Hibbard | Posted 03.15.2012

Read More: Nadarkhani, Youcef Naderkhani Iran, Youcef Nadarkhani, Youcef Nadarkhani Execution, Religious Freedom, Iran, Iranian Laws, Religious Persecution, Faith-Based Laws, Religion News

An official from Iran has refuted claims of plans to execute imprisoned pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who has been imprisoned for almost three years on ac...

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Americans for Permanent War: Target Syria

Doug Bandow | Posted 05.14.2012

Read More: John McCain, Arab Spring, Kurds, Intervention, War, Humanitarian Intervention, Iran, Religious Persecution, Syria, Bashar Al-Assad, World News

Washington obviously is filled with ivory tower field marshals eager to send others off on glorious crusades. But unleashing death and destruction in Syria should not be viewed as just another policy option.

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Santorum's Augustinian Theology

Jay Rubenstein | Posted 04.24.2012

Read More: Theology, St. Augustine, Free Will, Obama, Religious Persecution, Religion and Sexuality, Religion and Politics, Rick Santorum, Rick Santorum 2012, Religion News

In the eyes of Augustine and his intellectual heirs, the concept of "liberty" was closely intertwined with free will. It is the classic theological question: If God is omniscient and omnipotent, can human beings truly be called free?

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A Global War On Christians In The Muslim World?

John L. Esposito | Posted 04.24.2012

Read More: Islamophobia, Religious Freedom, Religious Persecution, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Egypt, Islam, Religious Tolerance, Interfaith, Christianity, Christian Minority, Religion News

In the 21st century, Muslims are strongly challenged to move beyond older notions of "tolerance" or "co-existence" to a higher level of religious pluralism based on mutual understanding and respect.

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Why Evangelicals Must Defend Muslims

Skye Jethani | Posted 04.14.2012

Read More: Islam, First Amendment, Muslims, Religious Liberty, 9/11, Christianity, Religious Persecution, Interfaith Dialogue, Evangelicals, Interfaith, Teachings of Jesus, Islam and Christianity, Religion News

As Christians, we cannot demand that everyone share our beliefs. But we can demand that everyone share our freedom. For where this freedom exists, we can be sure that Christ will be lifted up.

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Is Atheism The Solution To Religious Persecution In Egypt?

Alexander Goerlach | Posted 12.18.2011

Read More: Islam, Arab Spring, Middle East, Egypt, Coptic Christians, Wahabi-Salafism, Radical Islam, Religious Persecution, Pope Benedict XVI, Egypt Protests, Christians in Egypt, Religious Persecution in Egypt, Religious Tolerance, Atheism, Religion News

In Europe, Christianity was able to adapt its complex theology and philosophy to modernity before sliding into oblivion. Today, moderate Islamic scholars and Muslim liberals are confronted with the same task.

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An Ahmadi Muslim's Plea: Be My Voice

Kashif N. Chaudhry | Posted 12.10.2011

Read More: Blasphemy Laws, Islam, Ahmadiyya, Pakistan, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Religious Persecution, Muslims for Life, Religious Tolerance, Ordinance Xx, Anti-Ahmadi Laws, Muslims for Peace, General Zia Ul Haq, Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan, Muslims in Pakistan, Ahmadi Muslim Persecution, Religion News

Much needs to be done to effect a change on ground. I am hopeful that as a primary supporter of international religious freedom, the U.S. will continue to play a positive role to this end.

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Reflections on a Visit to Germany

Diane Ravitch | Posted 10.01.2011

Read More: Nazi Germany, Germany, Berlin, Jewish, Holocaust, Judaism, Auschwitz, Religious Persecution, Berlin Wall, Travel News

Being Jewish is part of my identity. So, the question I asked myself as I packed for the trip was whether I could see Germany as it is now, not as the homeland of the Third Reich.

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Convert Or Die

Qasim Rashid | Posted 08.16.2011

Read More: Finality of Prophethood, Taliban, Ahmadi, Faisalabad, Pakistan, Religious Freedom, Islam, Religious Persecution, Religion News

While this letter specifically targets Ahmadi Muslims, lest we forget, Christians, Hindus, Jews, and even Atheists in Pakistan suffer similar systemic persecution.

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Baha'i Holy Day Marred By Fresh Wave Of Persecutions In Iran

Rothwell Polk | Posted 07.23.2011

Read More: Baha'i, Iran, Baha'u'llah, Religious Persecution, Baha'i Faith, The Declaration of the Bab, Baha'i Holy Days, Iran Baha'i, Baha'i Holidays, Religion News

The Bab foretold the coming of another Messenger of God Who would fulfill the prophetic expectations of all the world's religions. Baha'is believe this Promised One of all humankind is Baha'u'llah.

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The Case Of The Disappearing Religious Freedom Report

Joseph K. Grieboski | Posted 06.17.2011

Read More: State Department Human Rights Report, Religious Persecution, Religious Liberty, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Human Rights, Ambassador for Religious Liberty, International Human Rights Report, International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, Religious Freedom, Obama Administration, Religion News

As the issue of religious liberty appears to become more and more of a lost cause to the Obama Administration, the issue takes on a critically important role in the world.

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Why America Needs An Ambassador For Religious Liberty

Joseph K. Grieboski | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Suzan Johnson Cook, Blasphemy Laws, International Religious Freedom, Shahbaz Bhatti, Jim Demint, Obama Administration, Religious Persecution, Ambassador for Religious Liberty, Religious Liberty, Religion News

Nearly 1 billion people need a voice, and Suzan Johnson Cook is that voice. But since the president made his nomination, the Senate has put it on hold.

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Redeeming the Obama Administration's Record on Religious Liberty

Doug Bandow | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Suzan Johnson Cook, Islam, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Human Rights, Religious Liberty, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Religious Persecution, Hillary Clinton, Jim Demint, China, Irfa, International Religious Freedom Act, Barack Obama, State Department, Politics News

Religious liberty is the first freedom. If governments will not protect this most basic liberty of conscience, they are unlikely to protect political or civil freedoms.

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Baha'is Press Case Of Relatives Imprisoned In Iran

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Religious Persecution, Imprisoned Baha'i, Baha'i, Religious Minorities in Iran, Baha'i in Iran, Religious Freedom in Iran, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Iran, Religion News

By Richard Yeakley Religion News Service WASHINGTON (RNS) A delegation of Baha'is is making the rounds in Washington in an effort to raise awareness ...

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Muslim Countries Cited On Religious Freedom

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Open Doors, Muslim-Majority Countries, Muslim on Muslim Violence, The Price of Freedom Denied, Islamic Countries, First Freedom Center, Religious Freedom, Religious Intolerance, Religious Persecution, Egypt Protests, Religion News

By Lauren Markoe Religion News Service WASHINGTON (RNS) The New Year's Day massacre at a Coptic church in Egypt. Christian converts facing the death ...

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Dr. King's Dream and a Prisoner in Baghdad 150 Years Ago

Homa Sabet Tavangar | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Baha'i, Human Rights, Martin Luther King, Race Relations, Religious Freedom, Racism, Baghdad, Religious Persecution, Iran, Martin Luther King Day, Interfaith Dialogue, Iran Hostage Crisis, Religion News

The parallels between the message of the 19th Century Prophet Baha'u'llah and the 20th Century's Dr. King are striking. It's the reason Baha'is in the U.S. mark "Race Unity Day" on the second Sunday in June.

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Muslim-Majority Nations More Likely To Deny Religious Freedom

David Briggs | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Religious Freedom, Religious Violence, Religion and Politics, The Price of Freedom Denied, Association of Religion Data Archives, Pew Research Center, Blasphemy Laws, Ahmadiyya Sect, Religious Intolerance, Religious Persecution, Religion News

Even amid this widespread disregard for religious freedom, one group of countries stands out: Muslim-majority nations.

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How To Save The Christians Of The Middle East

Bernard-Henri Lévy | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Coptic Christians, Iraqi Christians, Church of Al Kidissine, Christian Arabs, Middle East Christians, Ahmed Al Tayeb, Christians in Arab Lands, Egyptian Christians, Religious Persecution, Bernard-Henri Lévy, World News

It is less and less disputable that we are in the presence of what can actually and accurately be termed mass persecution. Hard to imagine, since we are dealing with a religion that has long been dominant.

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Pakistani Killing Latest in Deadly Debate around Blasphemy Laws

Sharon Kelly | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Blasphemy Laws, U.N., Pakistan, Religious Freedom, Discrimination, Defamation of Religions, Religious Persecution, Global Blasphemy Code, Aasia Bibi, Freedom of Religion, Salman Taseer, World News

The recent murder of Pakistani governor Salman Taseer for opposing blasphemy laws tragically showcases the high stakes of the fight for religious tole...

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Christians In Iraq Flee North Before Christmas

AP | REBECCA SANTANA | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Our Lady of Salvation, Terrorism, Baghdad, Christmas 2010, Christianity, Christians, Iraqi Christians, Religious Persecution, Kurdistan, Iraq, World News

IRBIL, Iraq — They saw their brethren murdered during Mass and then were bombed in their homes as they mourned. Al-Qaida vowed to hunt them down...

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"Ground Zero Mosque:" Politics of Fear and Persecution Assail American Character

Yuna Shin | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Park 51, Gop, 14th Amendment, Demagoguery, Death Panels, Zero-Sum-Game, Cordoba House, Ground Zero Mosque, Religious Persecution, Newt Gingrich, Constitution, Sarah Palin, Politics News

What the GOP and the "ground zero mosque" detractors want you to believe is that the Americans at the Muslim cultural center are not Americans. Remember the Japanese internment camps?

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Promoting Religious Liberty: Whither the Obama Administration?

Doug Bandow | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Human Rights, Religious Persecution, International Religious Freedom Act, Office of International Religious Freedom, Religious Liberty, Irfa, Religion News

The Obama administration has talked much about increased engagement and improved outreach abroad. But it has neglected to offer effective support for one of the most important human rights, religious liberty.

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Homaidan Al-Turki, Colorado Man Who Kept House Keeper As Slave, Has Conviction Upheld By Supreme Court

AP | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Supreme Court, Religious Persecution, Homaidan Al-Turki, Sexual Slavery, Al-Turki v. Colorado, Al Turki 09-700, Al-Turki v. Colorado (09-700)., Al-Turki vs Colorado, Denver News

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Protecting Refugees: an American Commitment and Tradition

Elisa Massimino | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Refugee Act, Religious Persecution, Human Rights, Carl Levin, Patrick Leahy, Political Persecution, Refugees, Home News

This week marks the 30th anniversary of the Refugee Act of 1980, a landmark piece of legislation that changed the U.S. approach to refugee protection ...

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