| 4th
January, 2006
North Korea, Iraq and Ethiopia have
topped a list of the countries rated as the worst persecutors
of Christians.
The three nations headed a list of 10 countries named in International
Christian Concern’s annual “Hall of Shame Awards”.
Others on the list include Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Iran, Eritrea,
China, Vietnam and Pakistan.
In an introduction to the 10 worst persecutors list, Jeff
King, president of the Washington-based organisation, says
that one of the most disturbing trends with regard to the
persecution of Christians is the rise in attacks associated
with Islam.
King outlines a number of reasons behind the trend including
what he describes as the “Islamic legal doctrine”
that allows “no room for a prolonged peace between Islam
and the world”, verses of the Qur’an which fundamentalist
interpret as advocating persecution of other faiths, and the
perception among Muslims that the West is Christian, resulting
in the targeting of indigenous Christians when Muslims become
“outraged at something that the “Christian West”
has done.
King says that Communist countries such as China, Vietnam
and Cuba have previously been among the chief persecutors
of Christians, while North Korea remains an exception, “these
countries are slowly changing and reducing their levels of
persecution”.
“Considering how far they have to go, however, many
Communist countries still made it into ICC’s worst 10
of 2006.”
King called on the world’s media to cover the news of
oppressed Christians and name the instigators.
“Persecution of Christians is commonplace throughout
the world, but almost entirely ignored by the media,”
he writes. “Christians suffer harassment, job discrimination,
imprisonment, rape, torture, and assassination, all because
of their faith.”
~ www.persecution.org
- DAVID ADAMS
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