Roma (AsiaNews) – Here is some advance information about the 2004 Report on Religious Freedom in the World, edited by Aid to the Church in Need. We focus on the situation in some Asian countries where there is no religious freedom or where it is seriously restricted. We point out that the top three countries whose governments fight against religious freedom are Asian: Saudi Arabia, North Korea and Laos.

Saudi Arabia

In 2003, according to the classification of persecutions of Christians in the world, published by Open Doors – an American group serving persecuted Christians - the Wahhabi Kingdom is at the bottom of the world ranking as far as freedom of worship is concerned. However, a somewhat greater freedom to meet was reported for the Shiites. By contrast, railing against Christians and Jews in mosques continues to be widespread. Among those responsible for such behaviour there are many well-known imams, including those in the great mosque at Mecca.

China

2003 was characterised above all by a change in leadership. However, the reappointment of Ye Xiaowen – an atheist and conservative – as the director of the State Administration of Religious Affairs has led to a religious policy in line with that of previous years, namely keeping under so-called «democratic» control all official religions and eliminating all clandestine and non-official organisations. Protestant communities, who are said to have about 50 million secret members, are among the most widely attacked because they do not accept being registered as official communities.

North Korea

The situation concerning religious groups is shrouded in mystery in a country that is totally impenetrable and isolated from the rest of the world. The news that manages to leak out tells of brutal persecutions and strict control by the government. It is estimated that since the coming to power of the Communist regime in 1953 about 300.000 Christians have disappeared and that there are no more priests and nuns, perhaps all killed during the persecutions. There are currently about 100.000 people who are detained in the work camps.

Georgia

There had been a decrease in violence by Orthodox extremists towards other religious groups, but the situation of the religious minorities is still precarious. The absence of a law on religious freedom makes it impossible for groups that are not Orthodox to obtain legal status and makes the situation worse.

India

Hindu fundamentalism repeatedly tramples the rights of religious minorities, denying them their constitutional rights and threatening their very existence. In states controlled by the Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP constant inter-religious clashes seem to have made evangelisation quite difficult. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), a body that unites the Christian minorities, has strongly protested and has requested greater protective measures against attacks by fundamentalists.

Iraq

Saddam Hussein's regime, often criticised for its interference in its citizens' freedom of worship, was militarily defeated on April 9, 2003 by a US-led coalition. After the regime's fall, religious fundamentalism increased unbelievably. Christians wanted to participate in the democratic process which started under such difficult circumstances. Christian patriarchs and bishops called for the recognition of human rights, especially of freedom of worship.

Laos

In the classification of persecutions of Christians in the world, published by Open Doors, the country is still in third place after North Korea and Saudi Arabia. This is one of the few nations in which the government has specifically declared its intent to eliminate Christianity considering it a violation of Laotian customs and "a foreign imperialist religion" supported by western political interests, particular American ones. Article 30 of the Constitution establishes freedom of worship, but it is in practice extremely restricted.

Myanmar

In the Open Doors classification of the persecutions of Christians in the world this country is in ninth place. The Constitution promulgated in 1974 established legislative and administrative restrictions on freedom of worship. There is no official state religion, but the government favours Theravada Buddhism which is practiced by most of the population. This has caused reactions among minority Christians and Muslims and has contributed to escalating inter-religious conflicts. Discrimination of religious minorities is done through restrictions to educational activities, evangelisation and the building of places of worship.

Uzbekistan

The government has implemented policies that greatly restrict freedom of worship. Religious communities – in particular Muslim ones – are subject to strict control by the authorities. At the same time, the government tries to restrict the activities of Protestant groups, of Jehovah's Witnesses, of the Hare Krishna and other groups whose religion is considered "non traditional". Missionary work and proselytising are forbidden as is private religious education.

Vietnam

Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the Constitution; however, in practice (especially at local level and in the interior and the mountain areas) this freedom is violated by the continuous abuse and arrests of the faithful and by the destruction of churches and temples. Government policies are aimed at controlling all religious movements.