This is what we know of the patient tolerant states where Islam is the law of the land. It is no wonder we hate islam. These are just a few. This you will NOT see in the US. We are not persecuters of those who attend mosques in our towns. If a woman is modest and wears hijab she might be looked at as unusal but does not need to fear that there will be reprisal. The Islamic Star and Crescent symbol is not torn down from the tops of mosques. The Imam in our communities speak at christian gatherings to explain Islamic culture. We do not jail them, stone them, kick them in the streets or rape their daughters. But this is what Islam does to the “people of the Book” in their own countries.
Saudi Arabia
In Sharia-ruled Saudi Arabia, the deplorable state of religious freedom remained generally unaltered in2008. We received more information on incidents against Christians, which led to an increase in points. Under the kingdom’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, apostasy (conversion to another religion) is punishable by death if the accused does not recant. For believers from a Muslim background, there is also a great risk of honor killing if their family or social environment discovers their new faith. During 2008, there was one confirmed report of honor killing of a convert to Christianity within a family. Public non-Muslim worship is prohibited in Saudi Arabia. Non-Muslim worshippers who engage in such activities risk arrest, imprisonment, lashing, deportation, and sometimes torture. During the reporting period, we received more reports of Christians arrested for their involvement in religious activities than during theprevious year.
Bangladesh
Unlike 2007, one believer was killed in Bangladesh in February this year. In May 2008, Elina Das, the 13-year-old daughter of a pastor was kidnapped and repeatedly raped. In general, pressure on converts increased in Bangladesh – both from Muslims and Buddhists. These are the main reasons for the increased persecution score for Bangladesh this year.
Iraq
After a short period of fragile peace at the end of 2007, Iraq’s Christian minority was faced with a year full of violence in 2008. The year started with a series of bomb blasts, damaging in total seven Iraqi churches and three convents. Also during the rest of the year, churches were attacked or damaged by bombs. More violence than ever before was specifically directed at Christians because of their faith. Extremists used death threats to force Christians out of entire quarters in Mosul and Baghdad, in what seems to be a religious cleansing campaign. Christians also suffer from the anti-Western atmosphere in the country. Many Iraqis see the West as Christian, so they jump to the conclusion that when you are Christian, you are a collaborator. Having “Christianity” on your ID is sufficient to get you killed. Other motives, especially when targeting Christians in kidnappings, are financial, since many Iraqi Christians are part of the middle class. In 2008several Christians were murdered, abused and/or kidnapped. No less than five Christians were reported kidnapped and we have recorded at least 35 Christians who were killed for their faith during the past year. However, the actual number could be much higher. The violence has caused hundreds of thousands of Iraqi people, both Muslim and Christian, to leave the country, and many are displaced inside Iraq, particularly in Kurdistan.
Iran
This year, Iran and Saudi Arabia have the same total of points. Since Saudi Arabia had higher points last year, it is labeled number 2 and Iran is 3. The reason for the increase in points for Iran is due to some dramatic developments for Christians during 2008. A major crackdown on house churches occurred during the past year, marking 2008 as one of the toughest years regarding Christian persecution since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. In total, we recorded more than 50 Christians arrested for their faith in one of the world’s most repressive societies. A Christian couple died after interrogation by government officials, due to injuries and stress caused during captivity. Islam is the official religion in Iran, and all laws and regulations must be consistent with the official interpretation of Sharia law. Although Christians are a recognized religious minority who are guaranteed religious freedom, they have reported imprisonment, physical abuse, harassment and discrimination because of their faith. Under the judicial interpretations of Sharia law, any Muslim who leaves Islam to embrace another religion faces the death penalty. However, last September the Iranian Parliament has also called for the Penal Code to be revised, making apostasy punishable by death only. Formerly, the court could also hand down a jail term or hard labor as alternatives. Armenian and Assyrian churches are allowed to teach fellow countrymen in their own language, but it is forbidden to minister to people with a Muslim background (speaking Farsi). Many church services are being monitored by the secret police. Believers that are active in churches or the cell group movement are being pressured. They are questioned, arrested and put in jail and beaten. Individual believers are being oppressed by society, under pressure of the authorities. They have difficulty in finding and keeping a job and are easily fired when it becomes known they are Christian.
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