THE OPEN DOORS WORLD WATCH LIST, JANUARY 2005

 

 

Explanation of the World Watch List

 

A specially-designed questionnaire is used to compile the World Watch List. The questionnaire contains 49 questions. A point value is assigned depending on how each question is answered. The total number of points per country determines its position on the WWL.

 

The questions cover various aspects of religious freedom, differentiating between the legal, official status of Christians (e.g. Does the constitution and/or national laws provide for freedom of religion?; Are individuals allowed to convert to Christianity by law?) and the actual situation of individual Christians (Are Christians being killed because of their faith?; Are Christians being sentenced to jail, labor camp or sent to a psychiatric hospital, because of their faith?). Attention is paid to the role of the church in society (Do Christians have the freedom to print and distribute Christian literature?; Are Christian publications censured/prohibited in this country?) and to factors that may obstruct the freedom of religion in a country (Are Christian meeting places and/or Christian homes attacked because of anti-Christian motives?).

 

The “variation” column gives an indication of how certain we are about the information obtained. Sometimes information is unconfirmed or incomplete. In that case, the “variation” will rise. Thus some countries may be ranked lower on the list because complete information is not available.

 

The WWL Ranking

 

For the third year in a row, the complete lack of religious freedom in North Korea has positioned it first on the World Watch List. The strict Islamic kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to hold the second position. Vietnam has risen one place to position three, followed by Laos in fourth place. Due to the continued pressure on believers in Iran, the country is in fifth place again this year. The Maldives remain sixth, followed by a new country in seventh place: Somalia. Christian converts from Islam are paying a high price for their new faith, especially in rural parts of this most lawless country in the world. There was no change in the status of religious freedom for Christians in Bhutan, which continues to hold position eight. In China, holding ninth place, the government increased control of religious activities during 2004. The top ten is concluded by a new number ten: Afghanistan, where the status of religious freedom deteriorated mostly because of the influence of Islamic extremists.

 

Islam is the majority religion in five of the top ten countries: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Maldives, Somalia and Afghanistan. Four countries have communist governments: North Korea, Vietnam, Laos and China. Bhutan is the only Buddhist country in the ten highest countries on the list.

 

Changes for the Worse

The status of religious freedom deteriorated in Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Eritrea and Ethiopia. In Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq, lawlessness and violence by Islamic fundamentalists caused most of the oppression of Christians, especially converts from Islam. In Somalia, three converts died as a result of physical attacks because of their new faith and several believers had to flee. Also in Afghanistan, new believers from Muslim backgrounds experienced heavy pressure from Islamists. Five converts were killed for abandoning Islam and spreading Christianity. Several Christians in Iraq were faced with written threats, kidnappings, bombings and murder by Muslim extremists. Tens of thousands of Christians fled to neighboring countries as a result. In both Afghanistan and Iraq, the new (draft) constitutions do not allow any law that is deemed to be contrary to the beliefs of Islam.

 

In Eritrea and Ethiopia, evangelical Christians are not officially recognized. Hundreds of Protestant Christians were imprisoned for illegal religious gatherings in Eritrea in 2004 and kept in deplorable conditions. Many were pressured to renounce their faith. In Ethiopia, Christians experienced the most opposition from local authorities and radical Muslims in majority Islamic areas. A number of believers were imprisoned or have remained in hiding throughout the year.

 

Changes for the Better

The situation of Christians improved to different extents in Sudan, Colombia, Myanmar, Algeria, Turkey and Qatar.

 

After two decades of civil war, Christians in Sudan are encouraged by the recent peace agreements and hope they will now have better access to goods and services previously denied. During 2004, there were reportedly fewer Christians killed or physically harmed. This was also the case in the conflict areas of Colombia, which explains the decrease in rank for this country. However, religious freedom did not change significantly in the Latin American nation, where Christians continue to be faced with kidnappings or threats of kidnappings, and displacement because of violence. Recent information on the situation of believers in Myanmar shows that persecution is less serious than last year, although Christians still face church closures, difficulties in registration and a ban on church construction. A slight improvement in religious freedom is taking place in Algeria. Algerians are becoming adjusted to the presence of Christians, and the government generally does not interfere with church activities. Converts from Muslim backgrounds are still facing strong social pressure. In Turkey, legalization for religious freedom was adapted somewhat to European standards and some Christians enjoyed better treatment by authorities. Nonetheless, the improvement is not really accepted in most formal laws or in the minds of the Turkish majority. Qatar saw the launch of its first constitution, and it guaranteed freedom of religion. Five Christian communities received permission to start building five new churches, the first in the Gulf state since the seventh century.

 

	Severe persecution
	Oppression
	Severe limitations
	Some limitations
	Some problems

 

 

 

World Watch List        January 2005

 

 

        Country Name                               January 2005            January 2004             Trend      Variation       

1.      Korea, North                                 82,0                        82,5                     0          7,0

2.      Saudi Arabia                                 68,5                        70,5                    0            0,0

3.      Vietnam                                       65,0                        63,0                     0          0,0

4.      Laos                                            63,5                        65,5                     0          0,0

5.      Iran                                             63,5                        63,0                     0          8,0

6.      Maldives                                       60,5                        60,5                      0          7,5

7.      Somalia                          60,0                     57,0                 -       5,5

8.      Bhutan                           59,5                59,5              0       7,0

9.      China                            58,0                     57,5                 0       0,0

10.  Afghanistan                       58,0                55,5                 -       4,0

11.  Yemen                           57,5                        55,5                     0          4,0

12.  Turkmenistan                                56,0                     58,5                      0       2,0

13.  Pakistan                          50,5                52,0                 0       0,0

14.  Comoros                         49,5                50,5              0       2,0

15.  Uzbekistan                        49,0                49,0                 0       2,0

16.  Eritrea                            48,5                44,5              -       5,0       

17.  Myanmar (Burma)                         48,0                        53,5                     +          0,0

18.  Egypt                                           44,5                        46,0                     0          0,0

19.  Sudan                                          43,5                        47,0                     +          0,0

20.  Libya                                           42,5                        43,0                     0          7,5

21.  Iraq                                             42,0                        35,5                     -           2,0

22.  Azerbaijan                                    41,5                        43,0                     0          0,0

23.  Morocco                                       41,5                        42,5                     0          1,5

24.  Brunei                                          40,5                        40,5                     0          6,5

25.  Nigeria (North)                              40,5                        38,5                     0          0,0

26.  Cuba                                           39,0                        41,0                     0          0,0

27.  Russian Federation (Musl.)[1]            37,5                        37,5                      0          5,0

28.  Tajikistan                                     36,5                        36,0                     0          0,0

29.  Sri Lanka                                     36,0                        35,0                     0          0,0

30.  Djibouti                                        36,0                        34,0                     0          1,5

31.  Mexico (South)[2]                             34,5                        36,5                     0          0,0

32.  Tunisia                                         34,5                        32,5                     0          5,0

33.  Qatar                                           33,5                        39,0                     +          1,5

34.  India                                            33,5                        35,5                     0          0,0

35.  Nepal                                           31,5                        33,5                     0          4,0

36.  Colombia (Conflict Areas)[3]             31,0                        38,5                     +          0,0

37.  Indonesia                                     31,0                        31,5                     0          3,5

38.  Algeria                                         30,5                        33,5                     +          4,5

39.  Turkey                                         29,0                        32,0                     +          0,0

40.  Mauritania                                    28,5                        30,5                     0          5,0

41.  Kuwait                                         27,0                        26,5                     0          5,0

42.  Belarus                                        26,0                        26,0                     0          1,5

43.  United Arab Emirates                     25,0                        27,0                     0          4,5

44.  Oman                                          25,0                        27,0                     0          5,0

45.  Syria                                           24,5                        25,0                     0          2,0

46.  Bangladesh                                  24,0                        25,5                     0          0,0

47.  Jordan                                         24,0                        25,5                     0          0,0

48.  Kenya (North East)                        23,5                        21,5                     0          0,0

49.  Ethiopia                                        23,5                        21,0                     -           0,0

50.  Bahrain                                        20,5                        22,5                     0          6,5

 

Copyright © 2005 Open Doors International

 

 

 

 

Focus on the Top Ten

 

1. North Korea ►

 

The Stalinist country of North Korea is characterized by a complete lack of religious freedom and of many other human rights. For the third year in a row, North Korea heads the ranking as the worst violator of religious rights. Christianity is observed as one of the greatest threats to the regime’s power. The government will arrest not only the suspected dissident but also three generations of his family to root out the bad influence. Our local co-worker reports that at least 20 Christians were arrested for their faith in 2004. It is believed that tens of thousands of Christians are currently suffering in North Korean prison camps, where they are faced with cruel abuses. North Korea is suspected to detain more political and religious prisoners than any other country in the world. Though no exact figures can be given, our staff discovered that more than 20 Christians were killed by open air shootings or by beatings in the prison camps during the past year.

 

2. Saudi Arabia ►

 

Also this year, Saudi Arabia is high in the top ten of the World Watch List. Religious freedom does not exist in the Wahhabist kingdom. Its citizens are not allowed to adhere to any other religion than Islam. The legal system is based on Islamic law (sharia). Apostasy -- conversion to another religion -- is punishable by death. Christians and other non-Muslims are prohibited from gathering for public worship. Christians spreading their religion are likely to be imprisoned, as was Indian citizen Brian O’Connor who was sentenced to 10 months imprisonment and 300 lashes during the past year. While in prison, he discovered other Christians in prison for their faith in Saudi Arabia. O’Connor was physically mistreated and pressed to convert to Islam, then released unconditionally from prison after seven months and deported.

 

3. Vietnam ►

 

New to third place is Vietnam, rising one position. One of the few communist nations in the world, Vietnam considers Christians to be a hidden enemy. Authorities fear that Evangelical Christianity, suspected to be connected to the United States, is being used in a peaceful revolution against the communist system. Although the constitution provides for religious freedom, the government considerably restricts unrecognized religious activities. A new law on religion was introduced during the past year and bans any religious activity deemed to threaten national security, public order or national unity. The new ordinance was also used to prohibit unregistered church services in private houses. More than 100 Christians -- mainly from a tribal background -- were imprisoned. Many were forced to renounce their faith. During Easter, hundreds of ethnic minority Montagnards were arrested or injured and an unknown number killed in demonstrations against religious oppression and confiscation of tribal lands in Dak Lak province. Though the demonstrations resulted from a larger Montagnard issue and cannot be attributed solely to Christian repression, they probably brought additional repression to minority Christians.

 

4. Laos ►

 

Laos’ constitution provides for religious freedom in this Southeast Asian country. However, the absence of rule of law and specific regulation on religious matters allows local officials to interpret and implement the constitutional provisions as they choose. Article 9, for instance, discourages all acts that create divisions among religions and persons, and officials use it to prohibit evangelizing and to discourage religious conversions. Decree 92 on religious practice requires that almost all aspects of religious practice be approved by the authorities. During the past few years, religious conditions have improved slightly for Protestant Christians, although intolerance continued in some areas. Several Christians were arrested and accused of engaging in illegal church activities outside of their church premises because they didn’t have an official permit to travel outside of their villages. They were also accused of speaking negatively about the government. Some local officers have threatened to kill believers if they do not renounce their faith.

 

5. Iran ►

 

Islam is the official religion in Iran, and all laws and regulations must be consistent with the official interpretation of sharia law. Because conservative parties were victorious in the elections (at the beginning of 2004), religious freedom further deteriorated. Although Christians belong to one of the recognized religious minorities who are guaranteed religious freedom, they have reported imprisonment, harassment and discrimination because of their faith. Iranian authorities have banned the Bible and closed down Protestant churches that accept worshippers from an Islamic background. Hundreds of Christian converts were arrested throughout the year. Iranian Christians considered the detention of 85 Christian pastors in September to be the biggest crisis in 10 years. Most of the prisoners have been released, but many reported they received severe beatings and threats in jail. A former army colonel was sentenced to three years in prison for hiding his Christian faith, despite documented proof that the army knew he had become a Christian before he was ever given officer rank. There