persecution of Eritrean Christians in its recent human rights report. Open Doors UK and Ireland told BosNewsLife that, "Contrary to the British Government’s 2006 Human Rights Report, which states that ‘Christians [in Eritrea] are allowed to preach the Gospel as long as they do not criticize the government or its policies’, two Eritrean Christians were tortured to death after being arrested for holding a religious service in a private home."
In addition over 2,000 Christians "are under arrest in police stations, military camps and jails across the country. In many cases, police authorities are subjecting the detained Christians to beatings and other physical mistreatment," said the group, which supports Christians persecuted for their faith..
Open Doors UK and Ireland made the comments as its revealed more details about its recently released World Watch List of what it claims are the 50 countries with "the worst" situation for Christians.
North Korea is leading the list after Open Doors said it "uncovered information which indicates that more Christians were arrested in 2006 than in 2005, with an estimated 50,000 to 70,000 Christians currently suffering in prison camps." Many of them are said to have been tortured. “Others are putting their lives at risk by trying to flee to China," the group stressed. At least some Christians are known to have been executed in recent months, BosNewsLife monitored.
"HONEYMOON DESTINATION”
In addition to North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Somalia and the Maldives "a favorite honeymoon holiday destination for many Britons," are "highlighted as the worst offenders," Open Doors UK and Ireland said. Completing the top 10 are Yemen, Bhutan, Vietnam, Laos and Afghanistan.
Chief Executive of Open Doors UK and Ireland, Eddie Lyle said he regretted that the international community appears to be indifferent regarding persecution of Christians. "One of the great injustices in today’s world is the ignorance that surrounds the scale of persecution against Christians. In over 60 nations, 200 million believers face the most brutal retribution because of their faith," Lyle said in a statement.
"It’s time for this oversight to be redressed. The publication of the Open Doors’ World Watch List is the first element of a campaign to bring this information into the public arena."
His organization noted that in 2006 conditions for Christians "in many other countries” deteriorated markedly, namely in Uzbekistan, Comoros, Iraq, northern Nigeria, Algeria, Mauritania, Turkey, Ethiopia and northeast Kenya. In Iraq (no.21 on the list) violence specifically targeted at Christians in addition to the daily violence increased in 2006, the group said.
CHRISTIANS MURDERED
"A number of Christians were murdered, abused and/or kidnapped, and churches have been fired upon and bombed. Iraq’s Christian population is estimated to have dropped below 450,000, half the total in 1991."
Despite the overall increase in persecution in recent years some positive trends do emerge, according to Christian rights investigators. "Christians fared better in 2006 in Morocco and Indonesia," although several Christians are known to be detained, including Sunday school teachers, Open Doors UK and Ireland added.
"In Nepal the constitution was rewritten so that the country ceased to be a Hindu nation. Consequently, during the past year the Nepalese Church has grown fast, and no reports of attacks against Christians were received."
The World Watch List is compiled by Open Doors, which has offices in the UK and around the world, using indigenous Christians to complete a complex questionnaire, with questions covering the legal, official status of Christians and the actual situation of individuals. Attention is also paid to the role of the Church in society and to factors that may obstruct the freedom of religion in a country. (With reports from Eritrea and BosNewsLife Research).
