STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTS ON CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

STATE DEPARTMENT REPORTS ON CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION

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July 25, 1997 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org) - At the behest of Congress, the U.S. Department of State has issued its first report on the persecution of Christians worldwide. The report details the restriction of religious freedom in 78 countries. It also called on Russian President Boris Yeltsin to veto the proposed law curbing religious liberty in that country.

China is one of the persecuting countries listed in the report. Though the communist government of China guarantees religious freedom in its constitution, the report said it has "regularly violated constitutional guarantees of religious rights, cracking down on unregistered Catholic and Protestant groups, raiding worship groups meeting in private homes, and sometimes detaining, interrogating or beating leaders." The report affirms the charge which has been made by Bible-believing Christians who are familiar with conditions in China, stating that "the Government of China has sought to restrict all actual religious practice to government-authorized religious organizations and registered places of worship." The report explained that a central policy directive was issued by the communist government of China last year which has resulted in a crack down on unregistered churches in 1996 and 1997. The report calls on China "to release all those incarcerated for the peaceful expression of religious views.’’

In our report of July 18, "Liberal Chinese Christian Leaders Warn Against Missionary Activity," we described communist China’s history of persecution of non-registered churches.

The State Department report also notes that North Korea firmly discourages all religious activity, and even the three churches which are registered with the communist government in the capital of Pyongyang "are usually locked and unattended."

Israel is mentioned in the report as persecuting Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Other countries listed in the report are the Islamic nations of Iran, Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.