Beatings with iron bars and acid burns are used by security forces in Burundi to extract ‘confessions’ and silence dissent, according to an Amnesty International briefing published on Monday. It highlights an increase in the use of torture since April. The testimonies are devastating and disturbing (torture and ill-treatment are prohibited by the country’s constitution and international and regional treaties to which Burundi is party). Amnesty International said, ‘Such practices must stop and those suspected of perpetrating torture should be suspended immediately pending thorough, independent and impartial investigations and prosecutions.’ People are being tortured for their suspected participation in protests against President Pierre Nkurunziza’s election to a third term in office. A human rights activist and a journalist were also detained and tortured. One detainee said, ‘They told me, “If you don’t confess, we’ll kill you.” But I said, “How can I confess when I know nothing? You’ll have to just tell me what to confess to.”’
According to the Australian Prayer network, Nepali Christians fear that amendments to the new constitution, likely to come into effect after seven years of parliamentary discussions, could render all Christian activity illegal. Attempting to convert someone to another religion is already prohibited in Nepal, but the proposed amendments would mean that anything perceived as ‘evangelistic’ could be punishable by law and pave the way for an ‘anti-conversion clause’ in the penal code, resulting in prison sentences or hefty fines for offenders. Meanwhile on Monday the government enforced a curfew and sent the army to the west of Nepal after demonstrators armed with spears and axes clashed with police, killing at least eight of them, during escalating protests against the proposed new constitution. The charter was meant to draw a line under centuries of inequality, but the draft presented in parliament on Sunday sparked fury among marginalised communities, who say the new borders will limit their political representation.
After official complaints made to Ethiopia’s government about increasing persecution of Christians in Silte (a Muslim-dominated area of southern Ethiopia) surfaced in the media, a district court charged six members of the administrative committee of an Ethiopian Orthodox church with inciting public disturbance, destroying public trust in government officials, and spreading hatred. The court found the men guilty on 7 August and sentenced them to between five and nine years in prison. The men were members of St Mary’s Orthodox church in Kilto, in the Silte zone of SNNP state. The zone came into existence after the Silte people unanimously chose to form a separate zone in a 2001 referendum. A number of Ethiopia’s prominent Muslim politicians come from Silte, including the current Minister of Defence, the Minister of Communications and the current caucus leader for women’s affairs in the federal parliament.
Christians and Muslims in Egypt flocked to churches and monasteries bearing the name of the Virgin Mary to take part in the festivities of the Assumption, which started on 6 August. Churches across Egypt's governorates held prayers and sang hymns and fasted in commemoration of the Assumption for fourteen days, despite the wave of terrorist attacks that have plagued Egypt during the past few months. The festivities appeal to non-Christians as well. In front of an image of the Virgin Mary, Samira Mohammed prayed fervently while holding another image of the Virgin Mary in her hand. She said that she always waits eagerly for the Virgin ceremony; as a Muslim, she knows the Virgin Mary is mentioned in the Quran and is the only woman to whom an entire Surah is dedicated.
Global: Refugee crisis shames us all
27 Aug 2015
The world is failing to give the United Nations the resources it needs to manage the worst refugee crisis in memory. For Palestinians trapped in the ruins of war-ravaged Yarmouk refugee camp in Damascus, life is ‘a very slow death’ from hunger, barrel bombs or being beheaded. 21-year-old Nidal told the digital media project Syria Deeply, ‘Death’s coming and we cannot stop it. If we don’t get food, we’ll all die of hunger.’ Some sixty million people are on the run in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere from conflict, war and persecution; our collective moral compass seems to be failing us badly. The UN is under strain as never before. It needs $20 billion to get into places such as Yarmouk, to help the millions of refugees in Syria, Iraq, Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and elsewhere who constitute the biggest humanitarian crisis in our lifetime. But its appeal is going largely unheard.
China: Between God and mammon
27 Aug 2015
Alongside all the news this week about Chinese stockmarkets, Global Times tells the story of a wealthy businessman who converted to Christianity. He said that Chinese businessmen who converted to Christianity all had common characteristics - they believed their money was tainted with sin. ‘They wanted inner peace, and transformed their behaviour and their companies by changing their crooked commercial dealings.’ The Bible bans bribery, tax evasion and keeping mistresses - all of which are often considered standard conduct in business circles. The businessman said, ‘The only thought that supported me in continuing my faith was that I was following the teachings of Jesus Christ.’ This man is not unique. A number of Chinese businessmen who became wealthy by cutting corners in China’s booming cutthroat business environment have been turning to Christianity for help and spiritual consolation.
Malta: A large majority mistrust the police
27 Aug 2015
72% of respondents taking part in an online poll by MaltaToday agree that Malta’s police force needs a radical shakeup. The 1,586 respondents outnumbered the 550 respondents who stated they trusted the police but agreed the police needed to work hard to inspire more trust. 3.13% said they were not sure whether the force could be trusted or not. Over the years, the police have been embroiled in far too many controversies, with the most recent being the unethical behaviour of the family of police officers who had business interests with the family of a corrupt property entrepreneur. An internal police inquiry is now underway. In December 2014 Transparency International published its annual Corruption Perception Index, ranking Malta 43rd among 173 countries. Malta has dropped a percentage point each of the previous three years. The government's decisions, choices and actions over recent years have manifestly contributed to the perception that corruption has increased.
‘The refugee issue concerns everyone and there is a need of cooperation and common efforts to tackle it.’ said the Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikola Poposki, when speaking at the annual ambassadors’ conference in Skopje. The conference was also attended by the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Albanian Foreign Minister. During the trilateral meeting Mr Poposki said, ‘The refugee issue cannot be solved individually, there is a need for cooperation with everyone in Europe in order to tackle the pressure. Macedonia is looking for cooperation with countries in central and western Europe where these migrants are heading and where they wish to end their journey. Macedonia and Bulgaria are countries with a common border and common fate and we have to cooperate. This year we welcome foreign ministers from Bulgaria and Albania at the annual ambassadors’ conference. This is proof of developing good neighbourly relations.’