Nations With Worst Religious Tolerance Named

[kds1980]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. government panel listed 13 countries Friday as "egregious" violators of religious freedom.

Homeless Pakistani Christians protest last month in Islamabad for protection of Christian minorities.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom's annual report named Myanmar, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

It recommended that the Obama administration designate them as "countries of particular concern" or CPC.

The group has issued a watch list that includes Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Laos, Russia, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Venezuela, countries that don't rise to the level of a CPC but need to be monitored.

"Unfolding events in Pakistan make clear the relevance of this theme to the 2009 Annual Report. At the time of writing, emboldened Taliban-associated extremists had advanced to within 60 miles of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad," the report said.

"In the areas they already control, these groups are imposing draconian restrictions on human rights and religious freedom and engaging in brutal acts against individuals, particularly women and local police, who refused to accede to their repressive policies."

The federal commission is bipartisan, and its commissioners are appointed by the president and members of Congress.

A CPC designation gives Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "a range of specific policy options to address serious violations of religious freedom."

It requires the secretary "to enter into direct consultations with a government to find ways to bring about improvements in the respect for religious freedom."

The report covers the period May 2008 through April. The commission was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
"While sanctions are a possible policy option, the secretary may decide to develop a binding agreement with the CPC government on specific actions that it will take to end the violations that gave rise to the designation or take a commensurate action," the commission said. "The secretary may determine that pre-existing sanctions are adequate or waive the requirement of taking action in furtherance of the Act." E-mail to a friend | Mixx it | Share

 

[ac_marshall]

There would be no conflict at all if people interpret the teachings of their faith in the correct manner and respect the prophets of other faiths. Unfortunately out of blind fanaticism, certain people think that only their faith is the righteous one and all the others are false. Every prophet tried to simplify worship, make spiritual texts intelligible to one and all and attempted to unite people and show them the righteous paths those were relevant at their life time and circumstances. Lord Jesus preached that all are children of the same God and that some of the obsolete discriminatory practices in the Jewish society were unethical. But ironically, some Christian missionaries believe that all non-Christians are infidels and indulge in mass prosytelizing activities even by abusing scriptures of other religions. Same is the case with some radical muslims. Prophet Mohammad never preached hatred or discrimination but organizations like Al Qaeda, Taliban, Jaish E Mohammad do nothing other than spreading hatred. Same is the case with people belonging to various faiths. If people read and understand the teachings of their lords and prophets completely, they'll enlighten to wisdom from their blind and ignorant hatred.

Let's wish that the almighty and the divine prophets bless these ignorant lots with wisdom to enable them live human lives.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A U.S. government panel listed 13 countries Friday as "egregious" violators of religious freedom.

Homeless Pakistani Christians protest last month in Islamabad for protection of Christian minorities.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom's annual report named Myanmar, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.

It recommended that the Obama administration designate them as "countries of particular concern" or CPC.

The group has issued a watch list that includes Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Laos, Russia, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Venezuela, countries that don't rise to the level of a CPC but need to be monitored.

"Unfolding events in Pakistan make clear the relevance of this theme to the 2009 Annual Report. At the time of writing, emboldened Taliban-associated extremists had advanced to within 60 miles of the Pakistani capital of Islamabad," the report said.

"In the areas they already control, these groups are imposing draconian restrictions on human rights and religious freedom and engaging in brutal acts against individuals, particularly women and local police, who refused to accede to their repressive policies."

The federal commission is bipartisan, and its commissioners are appointed by the president and members of Congress.

A CPC designation gives Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "a range of specific policy options to address serious violations of religious freedom."

It requires the secretary "to enter into direct consultations with a government to find ways to bring about improvements in the respect for religious freedom."

The report covers the period May 2008 through April. The commission was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
"While sanctions are a possible policy option, the secretary may decide to develop a binding agreement with the CPC government on specific actions that it will take to end the violations that gave rise to the designation or take a commensurate action," the commission said. "The secretary may determine that pre-existing sanctions are adequate or waive the requirement of taking action in furtherance of the Act." E-mail to a friend | Mixx it | Share

 

[kds1980]

There would be no conflict at all if people interpret the teachings of their faith in the correct manner and respect the prophets of other faiths. Unfortunately out of blind fanaticism, certain people think that only their faith is the righteous one and all the others are false. Every prophet tried to simplify worship, make spiritual texts intelligible to one and all and attempted to unite people and show them the righteous paths those were relevant at their life time and circumstances. Lord Jesus preached that all are children of the same God and that some of the obsolete discriminatory practices in the Jewish society were unethical

What about Muslims? I have never came through any quote from quran or hadith Where tolerance with non muslims is preached.Hardly any of 52 muslim countries provide equal rights to minorities.The only tolerance that was in Islam is From Sufi's Where many beautiful quotes were written about them

 

[ac_marshall]

Gurfateh Kanwardeep Singhji,
As per the knowledge I've gained about the Holy Quran, the order is to spread the message of "One All pervading God" and enlighten the minds of fellow human beings with his grace.
As on 7th century AD while Holy Quran was being written, 25 prophets including Adam, Moses, Abraham, Lord Jesus and Prophet Mohammad were identified. Islamic Theology states that as many as 124,000 prophets were sent by God to various nations. Unfortunately for power hunger, greed and false pride the Quran has been deliberately misinterpreted. Prophet Mohammad himself paid the last honours to a slain Jew in his neighbourhood.

With the fanatic tyranny of various Caliphs, Sultans and Badshahs like Babar and Aurangzeb the true "Islam" of peace, righteousness and brotherhood took the back seat. People need to understand that prophets of other faiths were also sent by God after Prophet Mohammad to various parts of the world for the betterment of humanity.

I am not trying to justify any misdeed or intrude Sikhism and unethically prosyletize for some other faith. You can observe from my previous posts that I have condemned such activities. I just wish to convey my frank observation that no religion preaches hatred. May the almighty bless the ignorant fanatics with wisdom, humility and enlightenment.

Gurfateh