Persecution of Christians worldwide

While we in Australia are looking forward to celebrating Christmas and the holidays, we should spare a thought for the Christians who are suffering persecution in so many countries. Even in democracies such as the US and Canada, Christians can be fined or lose their jobs for imaginary "hate" crimes, i.e. speaking about the health risks of some homosexual practices or declining to provide services for homosexual "marriages".

It is persecution in developing countries that is most distressing to me because Christians there rarely have the financial resources to seek legal redress. Below some news items from the weekly email I receive from Christians in Crisis:

Iran: Two of the seven members of the Church of Iran arrested in Shiraz have been temporarily released on bail.

Indonesia: Church building set ablaze - Unidentified attackers torched a church building in Poso in a series of renewed violence against the local Christian community.

Egypt: A call to pray for an end to the abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage of Coptic girls by Islamist Salafis.

Kasakhstan continues its attempt to make exercising the freedom of religion or belief dependent on state permission.

China: Secret Police Suspected in Attack on Church Pastor in Beijing.

Kenya: Pastor Killed in Church Blast in Garissa, several others injured in attack by suspected Islamic extremists.

Tanzania: Several Christians in Tanzania were struggling to find a place to worship Sunday, November 4, after Islamic militants attacked Christians, torched at least three churches and damaged other Christian properties in the country's largest city.

India: The persecution of Christians has increased by 400% in India. I find these reports particularly painful not only because it is the country of my birth but because it is a democratic, secular country and the federal government has the power to deal with Hindu extremists even if state governments are unwilling to do so.

There is a relationship between religious freedom and economic prosperity. With reports of the increase in persecution in India come articles on the stalling of economic growth in India. Rakesh Ahuja in The Australian (15/11/12) wrote: "India on track to Becoming a Failed State". Ahuja cites corruption and lack of infrastructure, but part of the corruption is the failure of the government to stop the persecution of Christians. Perhaps there is hope for India with the formation of an anti-graft party - the AamAadmi (Common Man) party under the leadership of Arwind Kejriwal, a former tax officer. His political rally drew thousands of supporters in Delhi in November.

Pakistan: A Christian woman forced to marry a Muslim man remained abducted in southern Pakistan, November 5, while a pastor was told he would remain behind bars on charges of "blasphemy". A Pakistani editor is in hiding as he fears for his life for opposing blasphemy laws. Preacher Jailed for Sermon at Funeral - Muslims accuse him of "blasphemy", order relatives to leave village or be set on fire.