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An Isis-affiliated terror group have released a video purporting to show the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Christians. It shows a group wearing orange jumpsuits, being forced to the ground and then decapitated on a beach, believed to be near Tripoli.

The men are all Coptic Christians, labourers rounded up from Sirte in December and January. A caption labels the victims “people of the cross, followers of the hostile Egyptian church”.

The men are made to kneel and one militant, dressed differently to the others, addresses the camera in North American-accented English. “All crusaders: safety for you will be only wishes, especially if you are fighting us all together. Therefore we will fight you all together,” he said. “The sea you have hidden Sheikh Osama Bin Laden’s body in, we swear to Allah we will mix it with your blood.” The men are then laid face-down and simultaneously beheaded.The militant speaker then points northward  and says, “We will conquer Rome, by Allah’s permission.”

Yesterday’s statement by His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, reads:

“It is with deep feelings of sorrow and pain that we received confirmation earlier this evening of the brutal murder of Coptic Christians in Libya at the hands of Daesh (IS). While every life is sacred and every death tragic, the particular brutality demonstrated in this instance and others like it shows not only a disregard for life but a gross misunderstanding of its sanctity and equal value in every person.

Our prayers are particularly with the families of these young Coptic men, who were fathers, brothers, sons and friends of many within their tight-knit rural communities, in which their absence will cause significant loss and sorrow. Their families are not only deprived of breadwinners who had travelled to Libya to support them, but of the joy that they bring when they return.

While it may seem illogical or incomprehensible, we also pray for those who have carried out these horrific crimes, that the value of God’s creation and human life may become more evident to them, and in this realisation, that the wider effects of pain brought by this and other acts of brutality may be realised and avoided. We pray for an end to the dehumanisation of captives who become mere commodities to be bartered, traded and negotiated with.

We cannot remember our Coptic brothers without also remembering all those who have lost their lives in equally brutal circumstances: journalists, aid workers, medical staff, religious leaders, a young pilot and communities that are considered incompatible with a fringe and intolerant element.

In the midst of this sorrow however, we must continue to dig deeper for the joy that comes from an understanding that this life is but a “vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14), and that true glory and joy are found in an eternal life prepared for all those who live in and for love and peace.

It is only through this understanding that we can continue to live according to the words of 1 Peter 3:15 as demonstrated in the life and witness of the Coptic Church and her children over centuries, “…always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…”

The Times reports that when Islamic State militants swept across northern Iraq, the region’s Christians faced an ultimatum from the jihadists: leave, convert or die. However, as western-backed Iraqi and Kurdish forces have started to reclaim their territory on the Nineveh plains, the Assyrians are asserting their right to a fourth way — self-rule.

Christian soldiers patrol the streets of the ancient town of al-Qosh. They are members of the Nineveh Protection Units (NPU), a new Christian militia that already has 500 fighters. More than 1,000 more are being trained by American security contractors at a nearby base, funded by the Assyrian diaspora in Europe and America.

If the more strident voices in the community have their way, these men will become the defenders of an autonomous mini-state for the Assyrians and Iraq’s other minorities.

Full article

Baroness Anelay, Foreign Office Minister for Human Rights, today invited people to join her in a social media campaign #freedomtobelieve.

This came after two FCO-hosted events earlier this week. The first, at Wilton Park, was a conference to discuss how the global community can work better together to defend the right to freedom of religion or belief. At the same time, in Geneva there was a half-day panel discussion with the Universal Rights Group, which offered participants a real opportunity to engage with policymakers and have an interactive discussion on how the international community can best guard against religious intolerance.

Her guest blog on the FCO website concludes:“I believe that, difficult though this issue is to tackle, it is not impossible. Let us not be daunted by the task. But we cannot do it alone. We need people who value their right to believe, whatever they choose to believe or not to believe, to stand up and be counted. This is why, this week, we’ve launched a social media initiative on Twitter. I call on people of all faiths, or none, to join me in defending the right of everyone to have the #freedomtobelieve.”

“It is time to pursue with equal enthusiasm the idea of the free market of religion and belief – the recognition that religion and belief is an important part of being human, and that we have a responsibility to promote the equality of opportunity for all humans to make belief choices and pursue them. This means promoting a capacious freedom to express views, proselytize (both for religions and atheistic views), and most importantly, a robust protection of the freedom to convert, both at home and abroad.”

In a comment piece on the ConservativeHome website, Lady Berridge, chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, refers to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s speech in Parliament last week, and then concludes:

“It is my belief that promotion of the freedom to convert is the acid test of whether a person’s commitment to freedom of religion or belief is real. It is a value that is shared by many abroad, but has been partly won in Britain through the death of those who refused to give it up, and so is woven into our history. Today it has the power to bind us together – Humanist, Christian, Jew, Muslim – in a respectful and vehemently disagreeing alliance against those across the world who would seek to play God with the conscience of others.”

Read the full article

At 5pm on Monday 9 February, APPG for International Religious Freedom or Belief vice chair Lord Alton of Liverpool is chairing a meeting on Iraq and the plight of Christians.

There will be a talk by Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil, northern Iraq and brief updates on the work of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) and Iraqi Christians in Need (ICIN). Media are expected to be in attendance. The event will be hosted in the House of Lords, Committee Room G (off Royal Court).

For more information and to register your attendance, please contact John Pontifex or John Dowling

The Archbishop of Canterbury has called on politicians, the church and the media to speak out against the ‘quiet creeping removals of freedom that create a climate of fear and animosity.’ He was speaking at the Parliamentary launch of the Religious Liberty Commission, a new partnership within the Evangelical Alliance that aims to strengthen its advocacy on issues of freedom of religion or belief.

The Most Reverend and Rt Hon Justin Welby highlighted the persecution of Christians in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, attacks against Jews in Europe and the firebombing of mosques, and told an audience of parliamentarians and church leaders:

“That is why we must speak out. We must speak out in solidarity. Silence is not an option. Treasuring the dignity of each and every human must mean that we treasure their right to religious belief – even when we profoundly disagree with them.”

“Freedom of religion is a fundamental human right – now enshrined in international law – and should be treated as equal, not subordinate, to other human rights. And for those of us who are Christians, let’s just be quite clear that the church, including the Church of England, has a poor record in this as in many other areas, but perhaps in the last 300 years has begun to learn a little of where it went wrong.

“If human rights are normative, as we believe, for how humans ought to be treated, then the precious, God-given gift of human dignity is the foundation on which these rights stand. We have value, every human being has value, because we are valued by God. Rights spring from the ineradicable dignity that we are given in creation, and we have a responsibility before God, as those who trust in Him, to protect them.

“We must be models ourselves; we must speak out in solidarity. Silence is not an option if we are to stay true to our faith. If our religious beliefs are a core part of our humanity, then treasuring the dignity of each and every human must mean we treasure their right to religious belief – even when we disagree. Religious freedom is a precious freedom, but it is also profoundly delicate and complex. It is not private, but public. It is lived out and expressed publicly.

“if we believe in freedom to choose, if we believe in freedom of religion, what’s good for one is good for all. We must speak out for others persecuted for their beliefs, whether it be religious or atheistic: taking responsibility for someone else’s freedom is as important as protecting my own. It is as much the right of Stephen Fry to say what he said and not to be abused by Christians who are affronted, as it is the right of Christians to proclaim Jesus Christ as their Saviour: that is his freedom to choose that is given to us in creation.

“Freedom of religion embedded in the very way we are human. Freedom of religion is in international law. Freedom of religion is God-given and God-called. It is preserved by humble, confident care of what it is to be a human being, and the knowledge that when human beings live out their lives faithful to Christ – and I’m talking here as a Christian – they are the most human they will ever be.”

READ THE ARCHBISHOP’S SPEECH IN FULL

The Religious Liberty Commission echoes the international Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance, and is a Commission of the Evangelical Alliance, comprising Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Open Doors UK and Release International. Mervyn Thomas, the CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said “Our purpose is to amplify the cries of the persecuted so the world can no longer ignore them.”

The National Peace Symposium, held at the largest mosque in Western Europe, is a key event of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community and Saturday 14 March marks the 12th Symposium to date. The theme for this year is ”Religion, Freedom and Peace”. Prof Heiner Bielefeldt, UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion, will also be a guest speaker at the event.

The symposium promotes a deeper understanding of Islam and other faiths and seeks to inspire a concerted effort for lasting peace. More than 800 guests attend the unique event, including Secretaries of State, parliamentarians, diplomats, faith and civic leaders as well as representatives from numerous charities and faith communities.

The keynote address will be delivered by His Holiness Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, the Head of the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim Community.

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In Egypt, there is seemingly no place where atheists or those thought to be non-believers are safe, reports USA Today.

They’ve been targeted at cafes, harassed on the streets and fired as part of a broader backlash by society and the state against atheism and blasphemy.

“I have to keep my mouth shut when it comes to any criticism or satire about religion,” said atheist Amr Mohammed. “If I wish to make a remark about religion or practice of religion regarding my own beliefs, I keep it to myself.”

Dar al-Ifta, a government wing that issues religious edicts, released a survey in December claiming Egypt was home to exactly 866 atheists — a number deemed “a dangerous development.” Days later, a Cairo coffeehouse described as an atheists’ cafe was closed, media reported.

Since 2011, at least 27 of the more than 40 defendants tried on charges of defamation have been convicted in court, according to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights.

“There have been increasing attacks on citizens with minority views and others who tried to express an opinion on controversial religious issues,” the organisation said in a report in August.

called for a revolution in Islam to overhaul the religion — a significant act in a conservative country where the population of roughly 90 million is mostly Muslim.

During a speech on New Year’s Day, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi stressed the importance of spreading moderate teachings of Islam and confronting misleading interpretations of the faith, according to the State Information Service. That doesn’t appear to indicate impending acceptance of controversial views.

“There is no plan to protect freedoms,” said Amr Ezzat, a researcher and head of the religious freedoms programme at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. “It’s an abandoned topic.”

A new international campaign was launched on Friday 30 January, aimed at abolishing “blasphemy laws” worldwide. The End Blasphemy Laws campaign is thought to be the first campaign focusing solely on the issue of laws against “blasphemy” including “ridicule” and “insult” to religion or “hurting religious sentiments”.

The coalition behind the campaign, led by the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and the European Humanist Federation (EHF) and numerous coalition partners, currently represents around 200 Humanist and secular organizations globally, and is open to all groups who oppose “blasphemy” laws, including religious and secular communities, human rights groups, and all advocates of freedom of expression.

Sonja Eggerickx, President of the IHEU, said,

“In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo killings there have been renewed calls to abolish ‘blasphemy’ and related laws in almost every country where they still exist. Our organizations have worked for many years to protect this important right: to question, criticise, and yes even ridicule religion. Given this new impetus to challenge these anachronistic laws, we believe that we can work together across national boundaries to support local voices calling for the repeal of all such laws.

“The idea that it is wrong to satirize religion, lends false legitimacy to those who murder in the name of being offended. The idea that it is taboo to question or to criticise religious authorities is one reason why sexual abuse in the Catholic Church persisted so long. The idea that “insult” to religion is a crime, is why humanists like Asif Mohiuddin are jailed in Bangladesh, is why secularists like Raif Badawi are being lashed in Saudi Arabia, is why atheists and religious minorities are persecuted in places like Afghanistan, Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Sudan, and the list goes on!”

Pierre Galand, EHF President, explained,

“Our campaign does not target laws against incitement to hatred, which are legitimate. What we are concerned about is laws which restrict freedom of expression about religion. As a first step, we want to see the remaining laws against blasphemy and religious insult in Europe repealed. There is an obvious double standard issue as the EU has taken a clear stand against blasphemy laws in the world. Now it must encourage its Members States to abolish existing blasphemy laws, as recommended by the Council of Europe.”

The campaign calls on transnational bodies and world leaders to look on “blasphemy” laws as they might look on laws restricting press freedom: as a clear restriction on free expression and indicator of wider social harm.

Meanwhile, officials in Saudi Arabia have had the opposite response to Charlie Hebdo, arguing for a United Nations resolution on “contempt of religion”, which the UN has reportedly agreed for discussion. The End Blasphemy Laws campaign website succinctly replies: “First the OIC and its member states pushed for an international ban on blasphemy, then defamation of religion, now contempt of religion. It all means the same thing. Namely, they don’t want to hear people question, criticise or mock religion. But the OIC’s envisaged ban on “contempt of religion” cannot happen without fundamentally compromising freedom of expression, and that is why we must work to oppose restrictions on criticising religion, and it is why over time, all free and democratic states will repeal their blasphemy laws.”

Organisations are being encouraged to join the coalition. primarily those with international remits, whether religious, non-religious and other human rights-based. The refusal of Asia Bibi’s appeal in Pakistan, the horrific kiln murder of the Christian couple in Islamabad, and then the Charlie Hebdo attacks and Raif Badawi case have all galvanised opposition to “blasphemy” laws and accusations.

The map on the End Blasphemy Laws website is a comprehensive compendium of current “blasphemy”-type laws and their effects (primarily on religion or belief minorities and various kinds of activist).

Heiner Bielefeldt, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, says “States should repeal blasphemy laws, which typically have a stifling effect on open dialogue and public discourse, often particularly affecting persons belonging to religious minorities. States should repeal any criminal law provisions that penalise apostasy, blasphemy and proselytism, as they may prevent persons belonging to religious or belief minorities from fully enjoying their freedom of religion or belief.”

Human Rights Watch has released its 644-page World Report 2015, reviewing human rights practices in more than 90 countries.

In his introductory essay, Executive Director Kenneth Roth says, “Human rights violations played a major role in spawning or aggravating many of today’s crises. Protecting human rights and ensuring democratic accountability are key to resolving them.”

The rise of the extremist group Islamic State (also known as ISIS) is among those global challenges that have sparked a subordination of human rights, Human Rights Watch said. But ISIS did not emerge out of nowhere. In addition to the security vacuum left by the US invasion of Iraq, the sectarian and abusive policies of the Iraqi and Syrian governments, international indifference to them, have been important factors in fueling ISIS.

While Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi of Iraq has pledged a more inclusive form of governance, the government still relies primarily on Shia militias, who carry out killing and cleansing of Sunni civilians with impunity. Government forces also attack civilians and populated areas. Reforming a corrupt and abusive judiciary, and ending sectarian rule so Sunnis feel they have a place in Iraq, will be at least as important as military action to stop ISIS atrocities, but al-Abadi has so far failed to implement essential reforms.

In Syria, President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have deliberately and viciously attacked civilians in opposition-held areas. Their use of indiscriminate weapons – most notoriously, barrel bombs – has made life almost intolerable for civilians.

Yet the United Nations Security Council has largely stood by, because of Russia and China using their veto power to stop unified efforts to end the carnage. The United States and its allies have allowed their military action against ISIS to overshadow efforts to push Damascus to end its abuses. This selective concern allows ISIS recruiters to portray themselves to potential supporters as the only force willing to stand up to Assad’s atrocities.

A similar dynamic is at play in Nigeria, where human rights concerns are central to the conflict. The militant Islamist group Boko Haram attacks civilians as well as Nigeria’s security forces, bombing markets, mosques, and schools and abducting hundreds of girls and young women. Nigeria’s army has often responded in an abusive manner, rounding up hundreds of men and boys suspected of supporting Boko Haram, detaining, abusing, and even killing them. But winning the “hearts and minds” of the civilian population will require that the government transparently investigate alleged army abuses and punish offenders.

Human Rights Watch World Report 2015