Documents | Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Religious Freedom
World Report 1999

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty

Organized on May 20, 1863, in Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.A., the Seventh-day Adventist Church has more than 10.3 million members who are active in over 200 nations of the world. The Annual Statistical Report for 1997 revealed that the church employed 153,617 persons who staffed 6,093 hospitals and medical centers, media centers, orphanages, elementary and secondary schools, universities, and other institutions.

Since its beginning, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has defended religious freedom for all. Under its patronage several religious liberty associations have been established, among which, in 1893, the International Religious Liberty Association. The IRLA became a non-sectarian association in 1946. Its president for 1999 is the Lutheran bishop of Oslo, Norway, Dr. Gunnar Staalsett, a member of the five-person Nobel Peace Prize Committee.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has conducted official dialogues with various Christian denominations. A fruitful multi-year dialogue with the Lutheran World Federation concluded last year. The church's Council on Interchurch Relations continues its mission to improve relations with other churches and religions. As a non-governmental organization recognized by the United Nations Economic and Social Council and the UN Department of Public Information, the Seventh-day Adventist Church works in New York, Geneva, and Vienna to support religious freedom, justice, and peace.

Persecution has been increasing in a very significant way recently. Though the Seventh-day Adventist Church has not been a specific target in any country, its members, as Christians, have become the objects of the hostility directed at other denominations.

In the main, persecution comes from religious extremists. Other sources are governments and governmental institutions. Persecution has been particularly violent in India, Indonesia, Iran, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, and Sudan where the chief religions are Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. But intolerance does not stop at any religious boundary. Pressures and difficulties are also growing in nations where Orthodoxy is the principal national faith. Highly secular countries such as Belgium and France persecute by publicly listing certain religious groups as "sects" or "cults." Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims are also persecuted in several countries. Still and all, it is important to know that many official sources (United Nations 1997 Report, for example) identify Christianity as the most persecuted religion in the world.

This report-the first of its kind-focuses on the current experience of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but does not neglect a broader outlook. Its content was supplied by officials of the church's Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty stationed in various cities around the world. Additionally, we have heard from other recognized non-governmental organizations and from reliable private correspondents. We are particularly grateful for the volume of material supplied by APD (Adventist Press Service), Christian Solidarity, Compass Direct, Human Rights Without Frontiers, and Keston Institute. Obtaining accurate information is a formidable challenge. Accuracy, attribution, and full documentation are essential. We will always endeavor to improve our method of investigation as we prepare world reports in coming years.

Since January 1997, members of the General Conference Public Affairs and Religious Liberty team have visited religious leaders, governmental and political officers, and fellow advocates for religious freedom in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Cuba, France, French West Indies, Germany, Hungary, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. During 1998, some 45 foreign diplomats and world religious leaders and experts visited the international office complex of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside of Washington.

The compilers of the Religious Freedom World Report 1999 solicit public comment. Please contact the Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904-6600, U. S. A. Our phone number is 301.680.6680. Reach us by fax at 301.680.6695. Access the web site of the International Religious Liberty Association at www.irla.org.

The Religious Freedom World Report for 1999 places the nations of the world in one of five categories, from best to worst:

Category 1: Government and legislation provide religious freedom for all. No problems for Seventh-day Adventists.

Category 2: In spite of favorable legislation, Adventists have some problems in public schools and in the workplace.

Category 3: Legislation is not against religious freedom, but religious extremists, some authorities, and/or the media create difficulties for Seventh-day Adventists.

Category 4: The government has voted restrictive legislation. Seventh-day Adventists encounter problems practicing their faith and fulfilling their evangelistic mission.

Category 5: There is no religious freedom. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is banned.

The difference between Category 1 and Category 2 is subject to interpretation. In most cases, we have accepted the classifications applied by our correspondents. We have noted that an American or Australian or Brazilian Adventist, for example, is likely to be more critical of his or her nation than an Adventist living in a country with many restrictions to religious freedom. In other words, where religious freedom is a real human right, minor restrictions, such as school and workplace accommodations for Sabbath observance, are more readily identified as major dangers. Where religious freedom is only an ephemeral concept, such restrictions are simply accepted as the price to pay.

The difference between Category 3 and Category 4 is more significant when it comes to the violation of religious freedom.

Category 5 represents the extreme violation of religious freedom. Saudi Arabia is the perfect example of a nation in total denial of religious liberty. For the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Syria is the rare country where the church was expelled after being there for decades. Opposition rising from the nation's traditional Christian church seems to be more decisive than the will of the government. Ordinarily, Syria would be listed in Category 3, but for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Category 5 is more accurate.

American Samoa
Andorra
Angola
Australia
Belize
Botswana
Burundi
Cameroon
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Czech Republic
Democratic Republic
of Congo
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Equatorial Guinea
Fiji
Finland
Gabon
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Guam-Micronesia
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Honduras
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Kiribati
Kyrgyzstan
Liberia
Liechtenstein
Madagascar
Malawi

Malta
Mauritius
Mozambique
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Netherlands
Norway
Papua New Guinea
Philippines
Pitcairn
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Rodrigues
Reunion
Rwanda
Saint Eustat/Saba
Saint Lucia
San Marino
Sao Tome & Principe
Seychelles
Slovakia
Solomon Islands
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Tonga
Tuvalu
United Kingdom
Vanuatu
Zimbabwe

CATEGORY 2

Albania
Antigua
Aruba
Austria
Barbados
Belgium
Benin
Bermuda
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African Rep
Chad
Colombia
Congo
Cote d'Ivoire
Croatia
Dominica
Dutch Antilles
El Salvador
Eritrea
Ethiopia
France
French Antilles
French Guyana
French Polynesia
Gambia
Grenada
Guyana
Haiti
Indonesia
Jamaica
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kenya

Korea
Lesotho
Luxembourg
Mexico
Monaco
Montserrat
New Caledonia
Niue
Panama
Republic of Namibia
Republic of S. Africa
Romania
Saint Kitts/Nevis
Saint Maarten
Saint Vincent
Senegal
Sri Lanka
Surinam
Swaziland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Uganda
Ukraine
United States
U.S. Virgin Islands
Venezuela
Western Samoa
Zambia

Algeria
Armenia
Azerbaijan
China
Comoros Island
Greece
India
Iran
Jordan
Macedonia
Mali
Moldova
Mongolia
Morocco
Nigeria
Russia
Somalia
Tunisia
Turkey
Yugoslavia

CATEGORY 4

Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Bhutan
Georgia
Kuwait
Laos
Myanmar
Nauru
Nepal
Niger
Oman
Pakistan
Sudan
Tajikistan
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
West Russia
Yemen

CATEGORY 5

Angola
Botswana
Burundi
Cameroon
Cape Verde
Equat Guinea
Gabon
Ghana
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Liberia
Madagascar
Malawi
Mauritius
Mozambique
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Seychelles
Zimbabwe

Benin
Burkina Faso
Cent African Rep
Chad
Congo
Cote d'Ivoire
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Gambia
Kenya
Lesotho
Rep of Namibia
Senegal
Swaziland
Tanzania
Togo
Uganda
Zambia

Angola Increasing war in the country, but religious freedom is well accepted.

Cape Verde Two Seventh-day Adventist members have been in jail since July 1998, accused of burning and looting Roman Catholic churches. No specific evidence has been brought against them. The church's PARL personnel in the region contacted local administration and government officials at high levels, along with the Catholic bishop, on October 7, 1998. Adventist administrators set up a strategy and contacted the embassy in Washington.

Cote d'Ivoire Local papers have published the accusations of some Roman Catholic priests that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is a cult. In November 1998 some 60 Adventists were chased out of their village by fellow tribe members belonging to the Harris faith. Our mission administrators responded with positive contacts to the Harris church leadership as well as the government.

Sudan January 30, 1999, was a very remarkable day for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sudan. Twenty persons were baptized in the White Nile River. Reports Sudan Field communication director Paul Yithak: "This is the first time people who are originally and ethnically local have joined our church through baptism. We request the whole church family to pray that God will bless the effort being made by the church in Sudan to reach the people who traditionally don't accept the Christian faith."

Earlier, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) compound in south Sudan was reportedly burned and looted while two local military factions spent three days fighting nearby. (ANN January 26, 1999.)

Belize
Costa Rica
Dominican Rep
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Saint Lucia

CATEGORY 2

Antigua
Aruba
Barbados
Colombia
Dominica
El Salvador
Grenada
Guyana
Haiti
Jamaica
Mexico
Panama
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Vincent
Surinam
Trin. & Tobago
Venezuela

CATEGORY 3

CATEGORY 4

CATEGORY 5

Antigua Problems are being reduced. The governor general, a Seventh-day Adventist, has been extremely helpful.

Barbados The private sector is a problem, but there has been excellent intervention and new laws enacted.

Colombia Saturday observance problems in public schools, military services and employment.

Dominica In this Catholic-dominated area, inter-church relations are improving.

El Salvador Saturday observance problems in public schools

Grenada Police service and the private sector have brought some problems, but there is excellent intervention by the PARL director.

Guyana University security service presents some problems, but the church is initiating dialog.

Haiti At some schools, official exams are held on Sabbath and Seventh-day Adventists cannot attend or participate. Last August, a church was destroyed by a group of voodooists in protest against evangelical churches. We visited government leaders and the Ministry of Cults to present these problems. We are still working for a resolution and for more tolerance.

Mexico San Juan Chanula: "Catholics, influenced by traditional Mayan Indian religion practices and village leaders have severely persecuted evangelicals and allowed only one church in the town. Dozens of evangelicals have been killed and about 25,000 forced to leave San Juan Chanula after being accused of threatening cultural religions and economic traditions." (Religion Today, December 7, 1998; APD, 12/8/98.)

St. Vincent Public service is a problem: The general issue of Seventh-day Adventists needing to be off duty on Saturday. But church leaders are doing a great job. Conference officers and pastors are working together on problems.

Surinam Security services at the university is a problem, but the PARL officer is working to resolve the situation.

Trinidad & Public service, examinations, and private enterprise are sometimes a problem.
Tobago The government is drafting legislation. High efficiency.

Venezuela Saturday observance problems in public schools. We are planning to send a letter to the new president, requesting a solution for these problems in the new constitution.

Australia
Fiji
Kiribati
New Zealand
Papua New Gui.
Philippines
Solomon Islands
Thailand
Tonga
Tuvalu
Vanuatu

CATEGORY 2

Australia Complete freedom, yet very little legislation exists to protect religious freedom.

Fiji New constitution separates church and state and provides religious freedom for all.

Papua New Constitution protects religious freedom. Potential problem with proposed six-day
Guinea schooling.

Tuvalu Adventists are well respected in spite of the State Church of Tuvalu.

Indonesia The situation in Indonesia has deteriorated. Fear overwhelms many people in almost all cities and villages. University students demonstrate. Factory workers strike. There is fighting among groups of people and senior high school students. Newspapers headline robberies and looting. Riots are uncontrolled. Many churches have been destroyed and burned. The number of the victims increases daily. Indonesians face gloomy days. President Suharto resigned and President Habibiewas installed. But political, economic, and social conditions are not better, but worse.

Several Christians were murdered at the beginning of January of this year, and one of the oldest churches in southeast Asia was burned down by Muslim rioters the last week of January, 1999.

Concerning the Malukan Islands, "Violence between Moslem and Christian factions has flared resulting in what is described as a 'holy war.' People are being chased down and killed in the streets; buildings are being burned and the situation is out of control." ( Report on Ambon from Christian missionaries, APD, January 23, 1999.)

According to United Methodist News Service, "Before September 1996, about 370 churches had been burned or destroyed over a 30-year period. By the end of 1998, the total had jumped to 500." (APD 2/21/99.)

One of our correspondents in Indonesia describes conditions as "fearful in East Timor, Aceh, and West Kalimantan." Twenty-five churches were burned or destroyed. But in the midst of this nation's time of trouble, he adds, "many look for peace from God and join in the services of the church."

Japan Notwithstanding good legislation, Adventists have problems in the public schools, workplace, and military with respect to Saturday observance.

Korea Notwithstanding good legislation, Adventists have problems in the public schools, workplace, and military with respect to Saturday observance.

China Except in Hong Kong, the government has not allowed the Seventh-day Adventist Church to organize. China is still very cautious regarding religious affairs. Adventists meet in Protestant churches and homes on Saturday.

Mongolia It is very difficult for Christian churches to become officially registered. For example, the Adventist church in Ulaanbaatar, capital of Mongolia, must renew its registration every year.

Andorra
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
Germany
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Liechtenstein
Malta
Monaco
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

CATEGORY 2

Albania
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Canada
Croatia
France
Kazakhstan
Luxembourg
Romania
Ukraine
United States

CATEGORY 3

Armenia
Azerbaijan
Greece
Macedonia
Moldova
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Turkey

CATEGORY 4

Andorra Freedom for all religions, but there is no Seventh-day Adventist member in this country.

Hungary Jozef Lajer, vice president of the Parliamentary Committee for Minorities and Human Rights, stated on TV that "the conditions for establishing churches should be tightened in Hungary." Presently, a new church can be established with as few as 100 members. The church then benefits from special tax exemptions. Proposed amendments to existing law would require a religious community to have 10,000 members or 100 years of history in the country before it could register officially. Pastor Jozsef Szilvasi, leader of Hungary's Seventh-day Adventists, commented that any such limitation would not affect his church because it has 10,300,000 members worldwide and has been in Hungary since 1898. The church official added that "while presently existing churches cannot be outlawed, we recall past persecution, so we are very sensitive to all suggestions that tend to curb religious liberty."

Liechtenstein Freedom for all religions, but there is no Seventh-day Adventist member in this country.

San Marino Freedom for all religions, but there is no Seventh-day Adventist member in this country.

Austria New legislation does not grant freedom to all religious minorities. Nonetheless, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has again been recognized. Our correspondent writes: "After the prescribed six months we were informed that we have been recognized according to the new law. However this new law gives no privileges whatsoever. The only positive aspect is that we are now existent as a church. Until then, we did not exist officially. In every day life, however, there are advantages we experience. We are no longer looked upon as a dangerous sect. We are allowed to advertise evangelistic meetings where before we were not allowed to. As far as religious freedom is concerned, there is not much change because religious freedom is guaranteed to all religious bodies. We believe that this new law is in confrontation with the constitution of our country and does not treat all people or religious groups or churches the same way."

Belgium The recent Belgian Parliamentary report creates significant difficulties and problems for some religious minorities. There are concerns about a special committee of inquiry on "cults" ("sects") which is at the point of being set up by the government.

Canada The Seventh-day Adventist Church of Canada is highly regarded. While there have been some legislative problems, the church has successfully defended its members before the Supreme Court. There are some problems in the workplace, but the overall atmosphere is positive.

France Our correspondent in France has worked on 45 separate cases involving young students from Adventist and Orthodox Jewish families who have experienced problems attending their classes and, at the same time, observing the Sabbath. Four were expelled or excluded from school. Two lost their family subsidies. Fifteen were forced to enroll in other schools in their communities or to relocate to other communities altogether. France's new law on compulsory schooling will restrict religious freedom for many families. There are real concerns about new directives from the Treasury Office on matters of financial support of religious associations (taxes on money gifts to the churches and no salary/wage for the members of the board of directors of a religious association). Seventh-day Adventist Church personnel actively communicate with the French authorities in charge of religious affairs, as well as the French National Education Office, the French Treasury Office, and other agencies.

Luxembourg Seventh-day Adventist administrators appealed to the European Court against a decision of Luxembourg infringing a Seventh-day Adventist public school student's right to religious liberty.

Romania Frequently Catholics, Protestants, and Seventh-day Adventists in particular have problems with the Orthodox churches on the local level.

Ukraine There are some difficulties in educational institutions-schools, colleges, and universities-when exams are on the Sabbath. This is a particular issue in Western Conference where religion is taught in schools by Roman Catholics or Greek Catholics. Seventh-day Adventists face occasional problems in the workplace because of the Sabbath.

United States The United States seeks to set an example of tolerance and freedom for the world. The Constitution guarantees religious freedom. Civil rights legislation gives strong support to principles of religious liberty. However, Adventists in the U.S. continue to encounter religious discrimination in the workplace and in some domestic courts with child custody issues.

Moldova Except for one article, the legislation on cults provides freedom of belief and witness to one's religion and equal rights before the law. The problematic article, "Banning Forced Proselytism," was adopted by Parliament just before the New Year. It is thought that this law is really the hidden agenda of the Orthodox church (which asserts a self-claim to have state status) to create legal obstacles for the free activities of Protestant churches. Seventh-day Adventist ministers now face the opposition of Orthodox priests who have unlawfully arrogated to themselves the power to establish norms and rules in religious issues through local representatives of the national government. In Moldova's Prednestrovye region, religious meetings in public buildings are prohibited. Seventh-day Adventists cannot rent any halls to conduct workshops. Evangelism is out of the question. There are problems with advertising, invitations, and public events. Government and Parliament follow the "traditional" Orthodox church which is why Adventists are having difficulties realizing the nation's proclaimed principle of freedom of conscience.

Russia During an evangelistic crusade, some provocative articles appeared in the local papers. There is a malevolent, extremist attitude towards Seventh-day Adventist activities. In some cases, evangelistic programs have been prohibited. In Komsomolsk City (Ivanovsk region), the church was not allowed to conduct an evangelistic program. The local paper published a slanderous article about the church. Adventist representatives visited the editors, who declared: "We have only one church-the Orthodox church." In Vanino City, an evangelistic crusade was banned because the church did not have new registration. Students have problems at schools when they do not attend school on Saturdays: Administrators threaten not to transfer them to the next grade. Moreover, the Adventist church was not allowed to rent buildings for worship. In Ola City, an evangelistic crusade was banned because the church did not have a new registration. In the city of Rostov-on-Don, Vecherny Rostov, the local newspaper, published a number of discrediting articles which charged that Adventists are not a church, but an American sect, hostile to Russia. Church administrators visited the journal's editors and the local legal office. The editors rejected the complaint and the lawyers would not support the church. In Yjeisk City (Krasnodar), the local media representatives taped the church's program about family life and used it later as antisectarian propaganda. The church administration lodged a complaint with the city mayor, but got no answer. A literature evangelist selling books in Anapa City (Krasnodar) was assaulted by the Cossacks. The church's appeal to the police was ignored. In Klintsu City (Bryansk region) an evangelistic crusade was blocked. An appeal to the mayor by church representatives was successful. They were given permission to conduct the program. In Pugachev City, an evangelistic crusade was prevented. The church appealed to the city administration with no reaction.

Yugoslavia Yugoslavia is a country of outstanding natural beauty, but recent conflicts, including the present situation in Kosovo, have brought many changes to the freedom once enjoyed. There have been physical scars in terms of many destroyed church buildings and large numbers of homeless refugees. The community has suffered emotionally, too, with families being driven apart by enforced separation and the difficulties imposed by economic sanctions. Currently we are facing these new problems:

(1) In previous years we had considerable liberty in proclaiming the Adventist message. For example, we used to have regular religious programs broadcast on a number of radio stations, but now we no longer have that opportunity.

(2 ) Newspapers quite often carry articles against the Adventist church in general and even against individual church members. Sometimes we are able to hire public halls for our evangelistic campaigns, but Orthodox priests, who are very strong, tell the members of the community not to attend the meetings. They speak of Adventists as a sect, sometimes using even stronger language. Orthodox believers come to Adventist meetings and stand by the door, telling people not to enter. Adventists have been physically abused while attempting to put up or display posters.

(3) In some parts of Yugoslavia, Orthodox priests warn Adventist children that they must attend Orthodox services because it is part of the local culture. The pressures on Adventist young people are increasing steadily.

Belarus There are problems in evangelism. Adventist evangelists are denied access to public buildings and may use church buildings only. In many places there are no church buildings. What is available is not suitable for evangelistic programs. Church representatives have appealed many times to different statesmen and politicians, but have not received any positive solutions.

Tajikistan The local authorities do not allow evangelism. There were threats from extremist groups.

Uzbekistan Problems with registering Adventist congregations. In Karshi City, volunteer missionary Igor Gusev was arrested and exiled for 24 hours.

After reporting widespread restrictions of religious liberty in Uzbekistan and the refusal of local authorities to register the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Navoii, Adventist News Network and Adventist Press Service learned that the direct intervention of the nation's president produced positive developments in the situation. According to Victor Krushenitsky, the church's Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director for the Euro-Asia Division, President Karimov visited Navoii in November, "after which some changes were made in the leadership of the city and the region."

On November 24, 1998, after seven months of waiting for a response, leaders of the Adventist church in Navoii were invited to a meeting in the mayor's office, reports Krushenitsky. "All required papers were signed and admitted for the processing of an official registration for the Adventist church in Navoii." In a speech to those attending the meeting, the mayor spoke of the need for spiritual growth in the city's population. He told the Adventist delegates that they should proceed quickly with their plans for a health center and soup kitchen. "All the plans will be a great support to the city," the mayor said. "Start working on the completion of your building right now as we want it to be occupied no later than May 1999." Meanwhile, in some other municipalities, Seventh-day Adventist congregations are refused registration because they number less than 100 members.

But in some other parts of the country, recent information underlines difficulties. A letter from one of our correspondents gives an outlook of the current problems in one part of the country. He wrote:

"In Buhara, Uzbekistan, on Sabbath, March 13, our church was visited by a group of about ten policemen. They surrounded Pastor R's house, where our church members had gathered for worship. The police put down the names of all the people present there, took away everything they found: books, Bible lessons, tapes, Bibles. On the next day, Pastor R was invited to the police and they wrote out the fine for him in the size of 6600 sum (local currency, about $10.00). I talked with him and asked him not to pay the fine without the decision of the court. They blame him in illegal religious activity, as the church is not registered in the city of Buhara. We presented the papers for the registration, we got the special permission for the registration from the Ministry of Justice as we do not have 100 members in Buhara. The papers went through all the instances, but the Committee on Religious Affairs of Republic Cabinet of Ministers failed the registration. They said that the regulation about the registration of groups less than 100 members is only for those who had been registered before the latest law came into practice, which put into operation this restriction. Once again we wrote to the Ministry of Justice and received the answer: `Present the papers.' Pastor R began preparing the papers again and then police were involved."

We quote also, "On January 26, 1999, the Deacon of Chimkent Church was carrying Bibles for Chimkent Church, which he took in the Bible Society of Uzbekistan. On the board Uzbek Customs officers arrested the literature, total 175 books, and took the matter to the law. The Court kept the papers for more than one month and after that returned the matter back without any decision made. The Customs does not give the books back, pointing to the Court. The Court says that we are not to blame, we are arrested illegally, but it does not give any decision. Till today we are hanging in the air, nobody wants to solve our problems. Only a Customs officer secretly told us that they would do everything possible for us to be mad about carrying religious literature."

The same correspondent mentions the difficulties of the Baptists in Almalyk and Angren and the Pentecostals in Karakalpakia.

Saudi Arabia Religious freedom is not practiced here. About 400,000 Christians who are guest workers from other nations, have no right to pray together, to worship God together, or to read the Bible together.

Syria The Seventh-day Adventist Church was expelled from the country over 40 years ago. In recent months, however, a high-level delegation of Syrian Christian visited several major Adventist educational and medical centers in the U. S.

India Reports from Adventist leaders in Gujarat state indicate that an Adventist church building in the city of Surat was attacked. The church was identified in the Indian Express. The Hindu-oriented Frontline Magazine also mentioned the Seventh-day Adventist church as the target of attack in Surat. Dr. M. S. Jeremiah, president, Surat Adventist Management College, said that one church member was injured when an attacker swung a cricket bat at him.

Pastor G. E. Sharon, president of the Adventist church's Gujarat conference, fears that "many of our members have also been attacked. Two jungle chapels were burned, two others badly damaged. In every village where our people live, they have been receiving warnings and threats to stop worship or face severe consequences."

Central India was the scene of anti-Catholic attacks in September 1998. Twenty Hindu radicals are suspected of ransacking several churches and raping four nuns. Elsewhere, a Catholic priest was murdered and another was paraded naked. Catholic institutions in India number over 6,000. Christians of all denominations comprise only 2.5 percent of the population, but provide 60 percent of education. India is 82% Hindu.

On February 2, 1999, Parliamentary Affairs and Tourism Minister Kadan Lal Khurana resigned, saying he was ashamed to be part of an administration that could not protect the lives of minorities in India. (Press and Information Service, February 2, 1999.)

The United Christian Forum for Human Rights says it has documented 120 cases of rape, Bible-burning, and other assaults--all directed at Christians. (Religion Today, December 7, 1998, APD). "Only about 40 such cases had been reported in the previous 30 years," UCF said.

Proselytism is the issue. Extremist Hindus accuse Christians of converting the poor and the uneducated by offering money and schooling. Hindu fundamentalist groups are dominated by upper-caste Hindus.

Observes Dr. Justus Devadas, Southern Asia Division PARL director: "You are aware of the troubles in our country and the atrocities perpetrated on Christians. There is a tremendous outcry from everyone. The government is being severely criticized for its lack of commitment to deal with this issue."

The low-point in India's current anti-Christian outburst has to be the murder of Australian Baptist missionary Graham Steward Stains and his two young sons. They were burned to death in Pastor Stains' vehicle. Dr. John Graz, General Conference PARL director, expressed the condolences and mutual concerns of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in a letter to Dr. Denton Lotz, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance.

Sri Lanka One correspondent wrote: "I cannot verify any concerted attempt to persecute or harass Christians in Sri Lanka. The media is tightly controlled, but our members are spread throughout the island and we would hear of any widespread occurrences. Some villages have attempted to discourage Adventist churches in their areas, but an appeal to the higher authorities has always worked in our favor."

The following case is not directly a religious freedom case, but can be underlined to understand the complexity of the situation in Sri Lanka. Here is the story, in brief, of Elkins Thurairajah, 25, the son of a Seventh-day Adventist minister:

On October 27, 1998, about 6:00 in the morning, two men from the Intelligence Department and two policemen came to the Thurairajah home and announced they wanted to check Elkins' room. They found nothing that would implicate the young man. Nonetheless, Elkins was arrested and taken to the Crime and Detective Bureau on suspicion of terrorism. One of his interrogators warned him: "The authorities may get you out of here, but we will not let you live." Elkins was finally released in December, just before Christmas, and remains free.

Subsequently, the son of another Adventist pastor was taken into custody, but following ninety minutes of negotiation, he was released.

Back in March of 1998, Pastor Anthony Alexander, pastor of the Adventist church in Vavuniya and principal of the Adventist International School, was arrested. He has been held in prison ever since. No trial. Not even a formal charge. But someone in authority thinks he has been involved in terrorism. Perhaps the real motive for Pastor Alexander's unlawful incarceration is the simple fact that he is a Tamil.

Ministers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sri Lanka-including Pastor Alexander and Pastor K. Thurairajah (Elkins' father)-are not involved in political activities. This is well known. Church leaders in Sri Lanka have joined the two families in requesting the government for fair treatment according to the law. To be held in prison without charge is to be denied a fundamental human right. The families of the imprisoned are placed in difficult straits. Their security is fully compromised.

Concerning these deplorable events, the General Conference Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty continues to gather information. Directly and through diplomatic channels, the church has submitted several official letters to both the president and the minister of justice of Sri Lanka.

During the night of November 5, 1998, Pastor Vasu Sitharan, 34, of the Canaan Fellowship Church, a Christian group in Jaffna, was murdered by unidentified assailants who slit the minister's throat. On December 2, less than a month later, another man from the same church was found with his throat cut.

Bhutan From a recent report: "Bhutan is a Himalayan Hindu kingdom, very small in size with little or no religious freedom. It is a Hindu kingdom ruled by a king. Some Adventist churches have been built on the border of Indian villages where a few Bhutanese also attend church."

Nepal Two young men, both Christians, were killed November 20, 1998, while in police custody. Among Christians, fear of an imminent wave of persecution was fueled in January 1999 by the establishment of a new extremist Hindu movement. (Compass Direct 1999, APD, January 14, 1999.)

Pakistan Two Pakistanis, a man, 24, and his sister, 20, recently turned up at the office of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sri Lanka. As new converts from Islam to Christianity, a death threat hangs over their heads. They had sought asylum in Kenya and one other country, but without success. Meanwhile, the United Nations says it cannot do anything for them right now because a whole village in Pakistan has come under government attack for adopting Christianity, fourteen of whom escaped to Sri Lanka.

Afghanistan There is no religious freedom, nor any Christian church in this country.

The Religious Freedom World Report 1999 of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty is quite detailed relative to some regions and nations, admittedly much less so concerning other regions and nations. Some areas of the church's world field simply have better conditions and opportunities for reporting on religious liberty situations than others.

This much is clear: Over and against all the positive aspects to the existing worldwide religious freedom situation, there remain far too many places where religious liberty is either weak or non-existent. In some areas favorable to religious liberty, the situation is threatened. Xenophobic nationalism, opposition to religious minorities and to evangelism, religious extremism, and intolerance are growing. These are times that try our religious liberty souls, test our convictions, and challenge our commitment to the fundamental principle of religious freedom for everyone everywhere. The mandate must continue until every person is able to exercise "the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion."