Russian Federation (44th Session)

Russian Federation

(44th Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report brings attention to the situation of freedom of religion and expression in the Russian Federation, with particular attention to persons belonging to religious minorities. It highlights the barriers related to the registration and operations of unregistered religious groups, as well as cases of police raids and property closures in this regard. It also expresses concern at the impact of anti-extremism laws on religious minority communities, including the censorship of religious publications, the banning of faith-based organizations, and the arrest of hundreds of individuals belonging to affected minority groups. Finally, the report draws attention to a growing trend of targeted threats and arrests of religious leaders for refusing to publicly voice their support for Russia’s military attack on Ukraine.

Bangladesh (44th Session)

Bangladesh

(44th Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report addresses the state of freedom of religion, of expression, and of association, as well as the situation of religious minorities in Bangladesh. In particular, it draws attention with considerable concern to laws criminalizing expression deemed to be outraging or wounding of religious feelings. It also makes note of the rising social hostility faced by Christians and other people belonging to religious minorities.

Uzbekistan (44th Session)

Uzbekistan

(44th Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report brings attention to the situation of freedom of religion and expression in Uzbekistan, with particular attention to persons belonging to religious minorities. Notably, it highlights the barriers related to the registration and operations of unregistered religious groups. It also expresses concern at laws criminalizing peaceful proselytism and the sharing of religious materials, as well as the other overbroad restrictions on the exercise of freedom of expression. Finally, it draws attention to cases of violence, abuse, and intimidation suffered by persons belonging to religious communities at the hands of state and non-state actors alike.

Five Cases to Know

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Five Cases to Know: Fall 2022

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Prayer is vital for our work and uplifting for the many people we have the privilege of fighting for. Without it, we couldn’t hope to be successful.

Included are short stories and updates about people and cases we’re supporting. From Europe to Asia and beyond, freedom is on the line.

Did you know that a case at the Supreme Court of Nigeria could overturn a state’s Sharia-based blasphemy law? A victory here would be a huge win for Nigerians and their religious freedom.

Christian converts and religious minorities would finally be protected against the ever-present danger of a blasphemy allegation and the risk of the death sentence it brings.

You can read more by downloading our ‘5 Cases to Know’ resource today.

Thank you,
Robert Clarke

Stop Religious Persecution in Nigeria

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Say NO MORE to Christian persecution in Nigeria

Say NO MORE to Christian persecution in Nigeria

STOP THE SENSELESS SLAUGHTER OF CHRISTIANS

STOP THE SENSELESS SLAUGHTER OF CHRISTIANS

SIGN THE PETITION NOW

  • Ask the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to immediately seek justice for Nigeria's persecuted Christians

2,418 submissions
2,500 goal
  • About 14 Christians are murdered in Nigeria each day because of their faith
  • Without pushback from the international community, radical Islamist militias like Boko Haram regularly commit violence while imposing religious law
  • We need your help to help secure justice for those who are dependent on life-saving action

PETITION

Dear newly seated UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk,

As the new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, we, the undersigned, are calling on you to use every power/make every effort to closely monitor the situation of religious freedom in Nigeria as a matter of urgent priority.

Background

In Nigeria, more Christians are being killed for their faith than in the rest of the world together. The tragic murder of Deborah Samuel, who was burned to death for thanking Jesus in a text message, shows that religion can be a target of deadly violence within the country. Like Deborah, every day 14 innocent people are slaughtered in Nigeria because of their Christian faith.

Notwithstanding, the UN has so far failed to devote special attention to the deteriorating situation on the ground, leaving behind countless men, women, and children who have been victims or at risk of religious discrimination, violence, and persecution.

What could help

Violent extremist groups, such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa Province, are terrorizing Christians and civilians in general. Regrettably, the horrific campaigns of abduction, sexual violence, murder, and destruction that have been plaguing towns and villages throughout the country, and the desperate calls for protection against religious persecution have so far been largely ignored by the international community. The silence surrounding this grave human rights situation has now become part of the problem.

We, therefore, urge that you speak out publicly on these issues, and work with the government of Nigeria to put a stop to the perpetration of such heinous crimes. Please conduct an inquiry into the sexual violence, forced conversion, and forced marriage committed by terrorist groups against women and girls belonging to religious minorities. Please raise awareness about the administration of injustice under Sharia courts. Please heed the plight of faith leaders living in fear for their lives and those of their community members, and spare no effort to build a world where everyone is able to practice their religion openly and freely, without discrimination. Please right the wrongs of your predecessors who lacked the courage to speak truth to power and emboldened human rights violators to continue to perpetrate atrocities with impunity.

Final call to action

Mr. High Commissioner, please use your mandate to help protect our brothers and sisters in Nigeria and around the world. And let us work together to make a lasting impact for freedom of religion, for everyone, everywhere.

Meet the four young Nigerian Christians we helped set free

Faith, Hannah, Elijah, and Barbara don’t know each other but their stories have two things in common: suffering, then freedom. Three are converts to Christianity, but all are young. And because of their faith, they faced the potential for religious violence and persecution. Even death.

Hannah was sued before the Sharia Court and her life was threatened because she did not convert to Islam, choosing to follow Jesus instead. Faith was evicted from her home because of her faith and then accused of apostasy before the Sharia Court. Elijah faced death threats from his own family after his conversion. Then his family sought the death penalty at the Sharia Court.

Barbara was displaced to Cameroon where she converted to Christianity and remarried after her husband divorced her. When they returned to Nigeria, the ex-husband sued on grounds of “adultery”. The judge ordered they be sent to prison pending their hearings.

Through the expedient work of the local lawyers ADF International supported in Nigeria, these young Christians were set free. However, these aren’t the only Christians in danger.

Learn more about these brave young men and women. Sign the petition today to say NO MORE to Christian persecution in Nigeria.

Updates about Nigeria

Nigerian Court announces trial against Christian mother for...

Nigerian court has refused to dismiss the prosecutors' case in trial against Rhoda Jatau, whose…
Read More

Blasphemy laws violate human rights—UN experts appeal to...

UN experts urge the Nigerian government to address the criminalization of blasphemy, with a focus…
Read More

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Nigeria: deadliest year in a decade
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United Arab Emirates (43rd Session)

United Arab Emirates

(43rd Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report outlines the situation of freedom of religion and freedom of expression in the
United Arab Emirates (hereinafter, the ‘UAE’). While noting positive developments in the area of religious freedom, ADF International remains concerned at the continued criminalization of blasphemy, proselytism, and other so-called ‘crimes violating religious creed and rites’, as well as at the country’s failure to recognize marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims, except when the woman is Christian or Jewish.

Montenegro (43rd Session)

Montenegro

(43rd Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report stresses the urgent need for the government of Montenegro to intensify its efforts to eradicate the practice of prenatal sex selection in the country. It highlights that the skewed sex ratio at birth has its roots in Montenegro’s prevalent culture of son preference, and suggests recommendations to tackle the root causes of the practice of sex-selective abortion.

Mali (43rd Session)

Mali

(43rd Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organisation that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report highlights the intense hostility and persecution suffered by religious minorities, particularly Christians, in Mali. Furthermore, it explains why Mali should resist calls to expand access to abortion and instead focus on safeguarding and improving access to maternal health care within its borders.

Luxembourg (43rd Session)

Luxembourg

(43rd Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report denounces the incompatibility of Luxembourg’s regulation of euthanasia and assisted suicide with the State’s basic obligation to protect the equal right to life of all persons. In particular, it highlights the inevitable subjectivity in the assessment of what constitutes ‘unbearable physical or mental suffering’ under the law and the challenges faced by medical professionals in the exercise of their right to conscientious objection in this regard.

Israel (43rd Session)

Israel

(43rd Session)

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ADF International is a faith-based legal advocacy organization that protects fundamental freedoms and promotes the inherent dignity of all people.

This report examines the discriminatory impact of laws and policies relating to the registration of religious groups and the ownership of religious property and heritage sites. This report also outlines the rising trend of social hostility faced by Christians within the country.