Bahrain (41st Session)

UPR

Bahrain (41st Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people. This report highlights concerns relating to the situation of freedom of religion and expression in the Kingdom of Bahrain, including the criminalization of blasphemy and defamation. It also focuses on the ongoing institutionalized discrimination against Shia Muslims, including through arbitrary arrests of religious leaders as well as disproportionate restrictions on religious gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Algeria (41st Session)

UPR

Algeria (41st Session)

ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people. This report highlights the persecution of religious minorities in Algeria, particularly of Christians and the Ahmadiyya community. Anti-proselytism and blasphemy laws exist in Algeria, which undermine the freedom of religion of religious minorities. Additionally, the Algerian authorities require non-Muslim religious groups and places of worship to be registered with governmental authorities. These registration requirements have been used to discriminate against religious minorities and shut down Christian churches.

Nada and Hamouda: Sudan

A married Sudanese Christian convert couple is currently on trial facing baseless charges after they converted to Christianity despite the decriminalization of apostasy.

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Pastors Tonchev and Kiryakov: Bulgaria

Two Bulgarian pastors stood up against a scaremongering campaign by their local government to label all non-Eastern Orthodox Christians as sects and warn children off against them. The ECHR heard their case, they won and were awarded damages.

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Shagufta and Shafqat: Pakistan

The Pakistani Christian couple Shagufta and Shafqat languished on death row for seven years on false blasphemy charges. Their death sentence was overturned in June 2021. They are now safe in Europe.

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Zavod ŽIVIM: Slovenia

Can state-owned service providers pull down ads that authorities decide they don’t like? In Slovenia, a state-owned bus company removed ads commissioned by the pro-life NGO Zavod ŽIV!M.

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