annual country reports

CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY WORLDWIDE

For immediate release

May 29 2003

RISING INTER-RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE AND PERSECUTION DOCUMENTED IN CSW ANNUAL COUNTRY REPORTS

Rising inter-religious violence and persecution are documented in CSW’s Annual Country Reports for 2002.

Reports covering the year’s developments in Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru and Saudi Arabia were launched at CSW’s Annual Meeting in London on May 27.

The reports highlight emerging as well as ongoing violations of religious freedom as well as detailing individual cases, the political and religious history of the countries and CSW’s recommendations for change.

The ongoing violations of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia are shown by the arbitrary arrests and detention of Christians, as well as by the mistreatment of detainees, denial of consular and legal access and lack of fair court proceedings.

CSW continues to call on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to safeguard the religious freedom of all believers to worship in the privacy of their own homes, to bring to an end the arbitrary arrests of law-abiding residents on account of their faith and to grant access to human rights reporters, including the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance.

In Pakistan, there has been an escalation of tension and acts of aggression against Christian and other non-Muslim communities. CSW continues to call on President Musharraf to abolish the Blasphemy Law which causes such sectarian tension and to safeguard the lives and property of Christians and other non-Muslims. CSW welcomed the positive step taken in abolishing the Separate Electoral System which was used to discriminate against religious minorities.

In Nigeria, CSW is gravely concerned by the chronic instability caused by the institution of Shari’ah Law in parts of the north. 12 of the country’s 36 states have adopted this as the de facto law and a determined constituency within the northern Muslim community has stated a long-term aim to declare Nigeria an Islamic state. Shari’ah Law discriminates against women and non-Muslims and violates the Nigerian Federal Constitution and the government’s obligations as signatory to the UN’s Convention Against Torture (CAT). CSW is also deeply concerned by the violence which has claimed thousands of lives, particularly in the Middle Belt states.

CSW continues to call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to challenge the constitutionality of the institution of full Shari’ah Law in the northern states, to ensure the right to life of women threatened with death by stoning for adultery and to protect the rights of all non-Muslims in the northern states.

Religious freedom in Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia and Peru continued to be threatened according to the reports which each contain details of individual cases, responses from the various governments as well as country profiles and religious backgrounds.

Each report is available as a free download on the CSW website at http://www.csw.org.uk/Countryreports2002.asp or can be ordered from the CSW office for  £1 each (including postage) by ringing 020 8942 8810 or emailing .