wfn.org | Religious Freedom is Deteriorating Around the

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World

November 19, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD

Religious Freedom is Deteriorating Around the World, 
Warns New Report

Washington, D.C., USA.        Conditions for 
religious freedom are worsening globally, says a new 
report published this month by Freedom House, a non-
profit, US-based organization that tracks religious 
liberty trends. 

The study, which gives a religious freedom rating for 
more than 75 countries, concludes that the religious 
rights of individuals continue to be eroded, especially 
in large countries such as China, India, Indonesia, 
and Pakistan. The report also points out that many of 
the world's conflicts have a strong religious component 
from the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, to the 
continuing violence between Muslims and Christians in 
East Indonesia. 

Contrary to popular belief, Western countries do not 
have a monopoly on religious freedom, the report concluded.  
Botswana and Namibia both scored higher religious freedom 
ratings than Belgium and France--countries that have 
each engaged in political and legal battles against so-called 
"sects" in recent years.