When he told fellow workers of Jesus, hell started for him: International: Standard

The Iranian Mohamedreza was part of an underground church and told his colleagues over and over again about Jesus. This should prove to be a mistake. One day the security guards lifted him, handcuffed him, threw him a bag of black cloth and interrogated him for two days. Mohamedreza was insulted, beaten and pushed his head against the wall before a friend working for the security service could get his release.

This is what the Open Doors rescue organization tells in its latest report on the World Tracing Index, which publishes every year. Mohamedreza is a face of persecution that Christians experience all over the world for their convictions. Since 2006, Open Doors has seen a strong increase in hostility, discrimination and violence against Christians.

Mohamedreza was more fortunate than others. Last year they were 4136 Christians killed because of his faith. This is 1354 o 48 percent more than in the same period of the last year. And the number of cases not reported is high: Open Doors only records very well documented and motivated by religious motives in his report.

"Every Christian ninth in the world suffers discrimination and persecution".Patrick Schäfer, Open Doors

In more and more countries, Christians are experiencing an 'marginalization on the part of society and the oppression of the state because they do not want to follow the ideology or religion given. Harassment and surveillance are pushing them more and more underground, as the story of Mohamedreza shows.

"Unfortunately, the situation worsens year by year," says Patrick Schäfer, head of the German-Swiss Open Doors office. "Currently, every Christian ninth in the world suffers discrimination and persecution for his convictions".

Being beaten by the police to demonstrate against violence: a Pakistani Christian in Lahore. Image: Reuters

The worst thing is the situation in North Korea – a 18th time in a row. According to the open doors, in the totalitarian state, from 50,000 to 70,000 Christians are forced to work in the fields of punishment for their faith and are tortured. The reason for the persecution in North Korea is the cult of personality around dictator Kim Jong-un. The sovereign does not tolerate religions in his country.

Christians also suffer reprisals in many countries of the Middle East, Africa and Asia. For the first time ranked in the top 10 in India, where the attacks in the year under review at approx 100 churches and at least 12,500 Christians they are documented More than 200 of them have been arrested and at least 10 killed.

Morocco and Russia are among the new ones 50 countriesin which Christians live more dangerous. According to Open Doors, accidents occur mainly in Muslim-majority regions of Russia, but the government also favors the Russian Orthodox Church at the expense of other Christian groups.

The 50 countries that the World Tracker Index reports live 700 million People who profess Christianity. In many of these countries, a development towards totalitarian systems of power is now recognizable, charity writes. The proliferation of personal digital devices facilitates the control of citizens by governments.

This trend is more evident in China, where a new religious rules came into force a year ago. Since then, numerous churches and Christian institutions have had to close or be destroyed. Services are monitored by video, pastors are sent to re-education camps. During the reference period 1131 Christians imprisoned – more than in any other country in the world.

They are repressed by the state: Chinese Christians love this woman. (Photo: Reuters)

China is a prime example of the growing suppression of religious freedom by an increasingly repressive regime, says Open Doors. President Xi Jinping is trying to force the ever-growing Christian communities to absolute loyalty to the state and the communist party. Estimated of China 12 million Catholics are half of the unauthorized underground churches.

"Freedom of religion has never been in danger like today", says Patrick Schäfer of Open Doors. "I urge our government and the international community to pay attention to these troubling developments". In relations with the countries concerned, the situation of religious minorities is too often ignored or not addressed. Economic interests would have priority.

(Tamedia editors)

Created on: 17.01.2019, 10:03 clock