Religious freedom – why we cannot remain silent

Nearly 1,300 people – including leading MPs and bishops – have signed a petition calling for global religious freedom.

The protest came within 12 hours of the launch of a new report revealing that more than 5.4 billion people globally could face persecution and discrimination for their beliefs.

Members of almost every religious group, including Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Jews, and Muslims, have suffered discrimination, physical violence, arrest, abduction, sexual abuse and some even been killed.

Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need is behind the petition, calling on governments and international organisations to promote Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

ACN’s report Religious Freedom in the World was launched on 21 October at an event in the UK Parliament hosted by Brendan O’Hara MP (SNP).

Bishop John Bakeni, auxiliary in Maiduguri Diocese, Nigeria, backed the petition, saying, “In the face of persecution, we cannot remain silent.”  He criticised those denying religion is a crucial factor in “genocidal” violence in his country. Identifying a number of causes of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, including poverty, climate change and competition for land, he said that religious extremism also played a key part in many attacks.

Bishop Bakeni said, “While the conflict is not solely about religion, it is equally simplistic not to see the religious dimension as a significantly exacerbating factor especially as churches, priests and other potent symbols of Christianity are attacked, seemingly with impunity.”

The petition calls on UN bodies, the European Council and the UK government to defend religious liberty, protect at-risk faith communities and provide emergency and legal aid for those suffering persecution because of their beliefs. Signatories include Lord Alton of Liverpool, chairman of the Joint Committee on Human Rights; Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh MP (Conservative); and Jim Shannon MP (DUP), chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Religious Freedom. Other signatories were leading clergy including Catholic bishops John Arnold of Salford and Peter Brignall of Wrexham; Coptic Orthodox Archbishop Angaelos of London and Philip Mounstephen, Anglican Bishop of Winchester.

Speaking about the petition at the launch event, Dr Caroline Hull, national director ACN UK, said: “For all people who suffer injustice, discrimination and persecution for the faith they choose to follow, we must take action.”

Petition at: https://acnuk.org/article-18-petition-religious-freedom-human-right-not-privilege

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