"Religious harmony is essential for global tranquility"

In a world grappling with religious freedom and human rights issues, the Yearbook on Persecution and Discrimination of Christians 2024 and the Yearbook on Religious Freedom 2024 offer a comprehensive look at the complex and troubling global landscape.

China, India, Islamic states, and Russia are among the major threats to religious self-determination, according to the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR). In China, systematic repression of people of faith and places of worship aims to control religious expression and loyalty. India's blasphemy laws and anti-conversion laws contribute to an environment of fear and discrimination. Islamic states frequently restrict the rights of non-Muslims, and Russia targets faith groups that may undermine state control or allegiance.

In the Middle East, particularly countries like Qatar and other Islamic states, religious minorities face significant restrictions on public worship and open expression of faith. Non-Muslim groups cannot display religious symbols publicly, and the Baha’i community faces systemic persecution, including imprisonment without due process.

Turkey, while not detailed in the search results, often faces challenges balancing secular state principles with religious freedoms, especially affecting Christian and non-Muslim communities, which are often targets of discrimination or social hostility.

Germany and other European countries uphold religious freedom firmly in law but have reported rising social tensions and occasional hostility against Christian groups and churches.

In Africa, particularly Nigeria, violent extremism and religious persecution devastate communities, often with limited state response. In India, growing violence against religious minorities continues, often with limited intervention by authorities.

The situation regarding religious freedom and human rights has worsened in most regions of the world compared to ten years ago. This trend is particularly evident in authoritarian states, regions with violent extremism, and countries with restrictive religious laws.

Efforts to monitor, report, and activate diplomatic pressure are emphasized as critical for improvement. The need for renewed international leadership, particularly from the U.S. and allies, to promote religious freedom as an essential human right and peace-building tool is recognized.

In the United States, religious freedom faces increased hostility, particularly toward Christian churches, reflecting domestic tensions parallel to global challenges.

The ISHR, under the leadership of Thomas Schirrmacher, emphasizes that religious freedom is a significant factor in practically every socially relevant issue. Felix Böllmann, director of European advocacy at ADF International, warns that 'hate speech' laws in Europe are leading to restrictions on the expression of faith, favouring self-censorship and silencing people.

The article is published in Evangelical Focus under the sections "life" and "tech". Frank Heinrich, head of the German Evangelical Alliance, warns about the misuse of religion for political and geostrategic goals, and Thomas Rachel, federal chairman of the Protestant working group of the CDU German party, expresses concern about the defamation, discrimination, and persecution of Christians on a global scale and emphasizes the need to treat religious beliefs with respect and consideration.

At Evangelical Focus, there is a sustainability challenge ahead, and they are seeking support from those committed to their mission. The Yearbook on Religious Freedom 2024 also highlights the need for continued support and advocacy for religious freedom worldwide.

Amidst the complex and troubling global landscape of war-and-conflicts, politics, and general-news, as depicted in the Yearbook on Persecution and Discrimination of Christians 2024 and the Yearbook on Religious Freedom 2024, various countries such as China, India, Islamic states, Russia, Qatar, Turkey, and Nigeria pose significant threats to religious self-determination.
The article published in Evangelical Focus, under the sections "life" and "tech", underscores the critical importance of religious freedom in practically every socio-political issue, a perspective shared by Thomas Schirrmacher of the International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) and Felix Böllmann, director of European advocacy at ADF International.