EUROPE/ITALY - Religious persecution on the rise on an international level, says a report from “Aid to the Church in Need”

Rome (Agenzia Fides) – Yesterday, in various cities a presentation was made of the report on Religious Freedom in the World 2008, which is an exhaustive report on the current situation of human rights in general and the right to religious freedom in particular, as well as the unalienable rights of the human person. The report, which was carried out by the Association of Pontifical Right “Aid to the Church in Need,” has been translated into 7 languages and was presented at the same time in Italy, France, Spain, and Germany.
The report focuses on themes such as the freedom to convert to another religion, to profess and practice one's own religious beliefs, both on a public and private level, and the spread of one's personal beliefs. The report analyzes the presence or prohibition of religious freedom and presents facts that in many cases are alarming.
In Rome, the report was presented by Fr. Joaquin Alliende, the Association's President, who pointed out that “without religious freedom there can be no democracy nor peace in the world.” He also clarified the fact that the report “responds to a need which is more and more felt by the public, the need to know the situation of human rights in general, religious freedom in particular, and the inalienable rights of every person...with the hope that a more accessible and more widespread awareness of these facts will lead to action on the part of government authorities and political, social, and religious groups in those countries where religious freedom and human rights in general are not fully respected.”
It is also an attempt to “contribute to an improvement in the living conditions of millions of human beings who suffer oppression in their most fundamental rights and in the defense of which, many continue to sacrifice their own welfare, living conditions, and sometimes, even their lives.”
The 2008 report “is characterized by a non-confessional focus that examines the situation in each country, making reference to all the juridical, social-cultural, and ideological circumstances that lead to imposition, coercion, violation, or persecution of followers of any religion or faith.” Therefore, it is not limited to only Catholic communities or only Christian communities, but takes into account the desires of every human person to seek truth and be respected in their right to religious freedom.
The document analyzes each country by describing the situation and the most recent events in terms of religious freedom. It analyzes the legal and institutional framework concerning religious freedom, indicating any improvements or downfalls; the situation of the local Catholic Church and its members; the situation of other Christian denominations; the situation of other monotheist religions (Judaism and Islam); and the situation of other religions, beliefs, communities, and religious groups.
According to the statistics, in nearly 60 countries there are grave violations of religious freedom, especially in Asia. Among these countries, there are some with serious legal limitations to religious liberty, others with lesser limitations, and others with several incidents of legal repression. There are other countries in which there is violence caused by social intolerance and others with reported local conflicts. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 24/10/2008)