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Welcome to Christ Church, Blacklands & St. Andrew, Laton Road, Hastings
PROCLAIM FREEDOM
Last year, Christ Church Blacklands gave financial aid as part of our Stewardship giving, to the St Barnabas Fund – a Christian organisation working in many parts of the world where Christians are being persecuted. The following article has been taken from the March/April edition of its magazine.
“How can we remain silent while Christians are being persecuted?”
This was the headline of an article published in a British newspaper ‘The Daily Telegraph’ days before Christians throughout the world celebrated Christmas. ‘The Economist’ has also recently reported on the growing levels of persecution experienced by Christians around the world. In his New Year address at the beginning of 2011 France’s President Sarkozy condemned “the perverse plan of religious cleansing in the Middle East’” that targets Christians.
The emerging dominance of Islamists following the “Arab Spring” is unlikely to result in any improvement in human rights for religious minorities in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt or elsewhere in the Arab world. The situation is just as serious for Christians in many other parts of the globe. Last year Islamist groups in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Somalia, for example, carried out attacks against Christians. In Nigeria, the President declared a state of emergency on lst January 2012 in response to a spate of Islamist attacks against Christians. In Central Asia a number of legislative restrictions on freedom of religion have been imposed in several countries. Converts from Islam in countries such as Afghanistan and Iran face the death penalty. Aasia Bibi, a Christian mother, remains on death row in Pakistan after being convicted under the notorious blasphemy laws. In North Korea, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Burma, Sri Lanka and parts of India, life has been getting worse for many Christians.
Christians are one of the largest and most persecuted groups in the world. Yet they often appear to be the most neglected group in Western governments’ foreign policy. There is little concrete engagement with the issues, even though governments may recognise that respect for minorities and human rights is a foundation stone for national and international peace and security.
Governments have significant potential influence with other countries. Massive amounts of foreign aid are given to poorer countries; this aid can be well directed or unwisely directed. States maintain diplomatic relations, bilateral ties and security arrangements and cooperate in many fields. Most countries have signed up to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other conventions, some of which have specific legal mechanisms for dealing with countries who do not meet their responsibilities. There is plenty of scope for positive influence.
Further information about how the Barnabas Fund is helping and aiding projects in many parts of the world – bringing hope and transforming lives is on display at the back of the church. Compassion in action!