Adventist World Affairs

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	Adventist World Affairs	March 2002
(News and Analysis from the Department of Public Affairs of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church)

TURKMENISTAN: Persecution Condemned by Adventist Representative

Washington, D.C…. Proposals by the United States Commission on International Freedom (USCIRF) to address the ongoing persecution of religious minorities in Turkmenistan brought reaction from the Seventh-day Adventist Church's department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (PARL).

Addressing panelists and attendees at a Capitol Hill meeting on March 7, Jonathan Gallagher, associate director for the PARL department, said, "We are appalled at the gross violations of religious liberty in Turkmenistan. The church supports attempts to make the persecuting regime change course and respect the fundamental freedoms they claim to endorse. When churches are bulldozed and Christians imprisoned, tortured and deported, we must speak out against such atrocities."

The rule of Turkmenistan's president Nyazov, former Communist supreme, has brought widespread condemnation. Nina Shea, commissioner for USCIRF, announced the commission's proposals to suspend all non-humanitarian assistance to the government of Turkmenistan and the cancellation of all state visits between the two countries. Additionally, the commission called for Turkmenistan's human rights record to be raised at the United Nations Commission on Human Rights.

Adventists have been targets of state-sponsored religious persecution in Turkmenistan, with the destruction in November 1999 of the only Adventist church building in the country, the arrest and detention of the pastor and members, fines and beatings, and the expulsion of an Adventist woman from her apartment for allegedly holding religious services there.

"We must send a clear message to the president of Turkmenistan that his actions in violating fundamental human rights are intolerable," says Gallagher. "We are asking all those who wish to support our protest at the treatment of religious minorities in Turkmenistan to write to both the Turkmen government and to elected leaders here in the U.S." Details about the letter-writing campaign are available at http://un.adventist.org. [AWA Staff]

TURKMENISTAN: Former Deputy Receives Political Asylum

Washington, D.C. …Appearing cautious but eloquent, a former deputy of the Turkmenistan government addressed panelists and delegates on Capitol Hill on March 7. The briefing on U.S. Policy in Central Asia and Human Rights Concerns was organized by the United States Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). The CSCE is an independent government agency that monitors religious freedom around the world and makes recommendations to the U.S. government on how to promote religious freedom.

The former deputy (name withheld for security reasons) was granted political asylum on March 4, 2002. "There is currently no government official in Turkmenistan who can positively influence President Saparmurad Niyazov," reported the former deputy, and "thus international pressure must continue."

"There is no political dissent within Turkmenistan as most political opponents to Niyazov are in exile or in prison, and the prisons are in no way like the prisons here in the U.S.," commented Dr. Rinat Akhmetshin from the International Eurasian Institute for Economic and Political Research. Dr. Akhmetshin says that organizations like the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA) can help by organizing letter-writing campaigns to their congressperson, and speaking up on issues of human rights violations at high-level meetings such as the United Nations.

"We are deeply concerned and sad over the situation and will do all we can to continue to raise awareness of human rights violations going on in Turkmenistan. No doubt this issue will be addressed at the Human Rights Commission in Geneva at the end of March," assured Dr. Jonathan Gallagher, United Nations Liaison director for the International Religious Liberty Association.

Bordered by Afghanistan and Iran to the south and the Caspian Sea to the west, Turkmenistan only recognizes Sunni Muslims, which makes up 89 percent of the population, and Eastern Orthodox that totals about 9 percent. Many minority groups, including Adventists, have been harassed, arrested, imprisoned and tortured. In November 1999, the only Adventist Church in Ashgabat, the capital, was destroyed by the government. On December 21, Maryam Ismakayeva, an Adventist, was evicted from her apartment for holding meetings there and denied alternative accommodation.

Turkmenistan president Saparmurad Niyazov, a former Communist leader, took power in October 1990. In 1999 he arranged to be elected president for life, thus confirming his complete domination of government.

Chartered in 1893, the IRLA has promoted and defended religious freedom for 109 years. The IRLA, originally organized by leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is universal and non-sectarian, seeking to address religious freedom concerns for all faith communities. For more information about IRLA, visit www.irla.org. [Viola Hughes]

INDIA: Violence Against Christians Continues

Silver Spring, Maryland… In the country where Mohandas K. Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru promoted non-violence in the early 1900s, some cities in India have experienced religious conflict during the past ten years. On February 17, 2002, the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations in North America (FIACONA) reported that worship was disrupted at a Holy Mass in Mysore in the south Indian state of Karnataka when windows were smashed, bricks thrown at the congregation, and the parish priest room destroyed. Witnesses claimed that even after police arrived, Hindu activists continued hurling stones and bricks.

India is a diverse country with a population of more than 1 billion people. Approximately 81.3 percent of the population is Hindu, 12 percent Muslim, 2.3 percent Christian, 1.9 percent Sikh, and 2.5 percent other religious groups including Buddhist, Jain and Parsi.

Earlier this year violence against Christians was reported from the Northern Indian State of Uttar Pradesh in the districts of Ballia, Sonbhadra and Allahabad when Christian missionaries were beaten with iron rods, and Christians forced to flee their homes, according to news reports.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reported last year that the Indian central government "appears unable to control growing violence by self-proclaimed Hindu nationalists targeting religious minorities. There is concern that the government is not doing all that it could to pursue the perpetrators of the attacks and to counteract the prevailing climate of hostility in some quarters in India, against minority groups. Over the past years, priests and missionaries have been murdered, nuns assaulted, churches bombed, and converts intimidated."

In a statement issued by Dr. M.E. Menezes, national president of the All India Catholic Union, appealed to the government of Karnataka to "identify the culprits and take action that such incidents do not take place in the future." The FIACONA is appealing to the U.S. Department of State to raise the issue of human rights violations with India's prime minister.

"Breaking the cycle of violence is difficult," comments Dr. John Graz, secretary-general for the International Religious Liberty Association (IRLA). "I would recommend that commissions on reconciliation be established where representatives from all faiths can come together to dialogue and find ways to promote principles of religious freedom. Such commissions have proved beneficial in Chiapas, Mexico and Rwanda, Africa. It is so important that people of good will from different religions work together. The national and state governments in India should initiate such a commission. They cannot just express regret over the attacks of these extremists, and yet allow the extremists a free space in which to act," Graz concluded. [Viola Hughes]

Washington, D.C… A bill designed as a compromise over the President's faith-based initiative was unveiled at a White House ceremony in February. The bill's principal sponsors are Senator Santorum (R-PA) and Senator Lieberman (D-CT). The bill includes tax incentives to spur charitable giving, some protection for organizations that receive government funding, and assistance for faith and community groups to set up separate nonprofit corporations to contract with the government. Significantly, the compromise bill does not include provisions that permit payment of tax dollars directly to churches and other houses of worship as was originally proposed. [James Standish]

US: Brouhaha Over Islam in Californian Schools

Washington, D.C…. Efforts by Californian public school teachers to help their students understand Islam have created significant tensions. In some classrooms, the efforts included reading sections of the Koran, voluntary wearing of Islamic clothing, and acting out a pilgrimage to Mecca. Such activities created consternation among some parents and conservative groups who view the classes as efforts to indoctrinate children. In addition, some have expressed concern that Islam is receiving more favorable treatment in Californian public school than other faiths, particularly Christianity. In their defense, public school officials have pointed out that the curriculum includes sections on Christianity, Judaism and other world religions. [James Standish]

US: Church Addresses Issues Raised by Conference on Child Labor

New York, NY… A conference on the elimination of child labor sponsored by the government of the Netherlands and the International Labor Organization (ILO) has gained wide support from the international community and is of great importance to the welfare of children around the world, according to Seventh-day Adventist liaison staff at the United Nations.

"This conference reveals the ongoing horror story for millions of children worldwide who are forced into some kind of child labor," says Jonathan Gallagher, U.N. liaison director for the Adventist Church. "The scope of the problem is immense, and it demands the attention of us all. We specifically condemn the tragic violation of the rights of children whose lives are blighted by being forced into such work."

In an official statement issued at the church's world session in Toronto, Canada, in July 2000, Adventists re-affirmed their commitment to children, saying "Children are corrupted and exploited when they are used for cheap labor, sweat shops, armed conflict, and the perverted sexual pleasure of adult predators." Consequently, "Seventh-day Adventists affirm the right of every child to a happy and stable home environment, and the freedom and support to grow up to be the person God intended."

According to recent ILO studies, currently some 250 million children between the ages of five and 14 are working in developing countries - 120 million full time, 130 million part time. Some 61 percent of this total, or nearly 153 million, are found in Asia; 32 percent, or 80 million are in Africa; and 7 percent or 17.5 million, live in Latin America. Child labor exists in many industrialized countries and is emerging in East European and Asian countries that are in transition to a market economy. [Matt Mills]

SUDAN: Violations Against Christians

Washington, D.C…. A Former Muslim, Aladin Omer Agabni Mohammed, is currently hiding from the law to escape arrest and possible death. Labeled an "apostate," the 34-year old is subject to the death penalty under Sudanese criminal law. Shortly after converting to Christianity 11 years ago, his family denounced him and he was expelled from his university studies, according to Compass Direct.

Attempts to leave the country on January 30 and February 3 were unsuccessful, and further attempts will be more difficult as his passport is now in the hands of the security police. While under police custody, Mohammed was also given injections that caused drowsiness and disorientation.

According to sources who are in touch with Mohammed, no formal legal charges have ever been filed against him. Instead, authorities of the Islamist regime in Khartoum have resorted to patterns of harassment, trying to force him to renounce his faith and return to Islam.

Another Sudanese case involves a 46-year old man, Anthony James Ladou Wani, convicted of stealing spare car parts, who had his right hand amputated on January 24, reports Compass Direct. Described as "staunch Anglicans," Wani's family was unable to intervene as they were informed of the sentence only 30 minutes before it was carried out.

According to the Swiss-based World Organization Against Torture (OMCT), "Wani had no legal representation at his trial, and there was not enough evidence to convict him. Even if it had been proved," a Khartoum relative told Compass, "he is a Christian and should not be punishable under Islamic law."

"The government of Sudan disturbingly appears to be following the pattern of the Taliban in its treatment of people," U.S. Congressman Joseph Pitts commented. Congressman Pitts is urging the Khartoum government to protect the religious freedom of its people. [Viola Hughes]

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