G20 Members Oppress Christians, Trump Talks Geopolitics With Putin

07-07-2017

When Donald Trump talked geopolitics with Putin and others in Germany, there was little mention—if any—of human rights and the strategies to prevent some G20 member states from violating the religious freedom of Christians and other religious minorities.

Turkey's president recently confiscated and nationalized at least 50 ancient Syriac church buildings and properties in Mardin province. Was Erdogan questioned about that? 

Saudi Arabia and Indonesia continue to arrest and jail those who say anything deemed offensive about Islam or Mohammed. Did anyone remind them to abide by international agreements honoring religious freedom and free speech? 

Apostasy and anti-blasphemy laws are used by Muslim countries to oppress non-Muslims, or Muslim citizens who don't "get with the program." Today, according a 2014 Pew Research Center study, about 26% of the world's countries have anti-blasphemy laws and 13% penalize apostasy. 

Pakistan is among the worst offenders. More than 1,300 people have been accused of blasphemy in that country since 1987 and 60 of them have been killed.

G20 member Indonesia recently violated the free-speech rights of the Christian governor of Jakarta who told Muslims it was okay for them to vote for a non-Muslim. His political opponents said he committed blasphemy against the Koran. A court agreed and sent him to prison for two years.

I recently talked to world renowned religious freedom expert Dr. Paul Marshall about blasphemy in Indonesia and Pakistan. Are both countries moving away from secularism and democracy and what can Trump and the United States do about it?

Watch my Where in The World segment with Dr. Marshall for some insights. 

Links:

http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2017/may/christian-ex-governor-sent-to...

http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2016/june/asia-bibis-uncertain-future-...
 

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