June 10, 2021

Dear John,

Each month, FRC's Center for Religious Liberty covers top international religious freedom news -- exploring challenges that believers face abroad.

Here is FRC's top content on international religious freedom this month.

Restrictions Wreak Havoc in China

This month, the Chinese government announced that married couples are now allowed to have three children. Following decades of the one-child policy, which caused immeasurable suffering among the Chinese people, the Chinese government is trying to reverse course. Back in 2015, the government increased the limit from one child to two, and now they have increased the limit yet again. Unfortunately, the damaging effects of more than 30 years of propaganda will be difficult to undo. For analysis on China's new policy, see Arielle Del Turco and Mary Szoch's article in Newsweek.

Meanwhile, the persecution of Chinese Christians continues. Chinese Pastor Wu Wuqing, one of the leaders of Early Rain Covenant Church, was recently arrested for "disturbing public order." Even as Pastor Wu and his congregation face the threats of fines, imprisonment, and torture, they remain resolute in their faith. Read more on the FRC Blog.

North Korea's Fake Religious Substitutes

The personal dictatorship of Kim Jong Un has devoted energies to rallying the oppressed people of North Korea around their leftist state ideology -- their "communist faith." As North Korea continues to rank at the top of the list among states that violate human rights, concern intensifies for the thousands of Christians who must practice their faith in underground churches and face a daily threat of being imprisoned or murdered for their beliefs. Read Arielle's piece on the FRC Blog.

Iran's Harmful Influence in Africa

Iran, one of the world's worst perpetrators of religious freedom repression, has recently expanded its sphere of influence to Sunni-majority North African states. This includes extremist groups in Nigeria and attempted interference in Morocco and Algeria. Iran's "under the radar" influence has occurred while the eyes of the world have been fixed on the conflict in Israel. When considering the violent threats of Sunni radical groups like ISIS and al Qaeda, Iran's influence in Africa should not be ignored. Read more in Newsweek.

Learning the Basics: International Religious Freedom 101

FRC is continuing our International Religious Freedom 101 (IRF 101) blog series, focusing this past month on Sri Lanka and Vietnam. In Vietnam, the government places great burdens on religions and congregations to register with the government, while some faiths are banned altogether. The dissemination of religious materials (including the Bible) is heavily restricted, and authorities are especially oppressive of the Hmong ethnic minority, which is disproportionately Christian.

In Sri Lanka, conversion to Christianity, or any other faith, is made difficult by policies prohibiting loosely defined "unethical conversions." Radical Buddhists have assaulted a Christian minister and his family and were never brought to justice. The situation in Sri Lanka exists on the fringes of many NGOs' focus regions, and increased attention devoted to the struggles here may help bring about a positive change.

The Importance of Religious Freedom Advocacy Abroad

In a heated political climate, it is all too easy for members of Congress to focus on political crises at home and neglect atrocities happening abroad. However, Congress members might find that Americans are interested in promoting international religious freedom. Learn why Congress should embrace international religious freedom in Arielle's article at International Christian Concern.

The State Department recently released its annual report highlighting religious freedom conditions around the world. It is pivotal that all Americans recognize the extent and severity of the international religious freedom issues that exist for believers abroad, as Lela discussed in the Washington Update.

In His Name,

Lela Gilbert
Senior Fellow for International Religious Freedom

Arielle Del Turco
Assistant Director of the Center for Religious Liberty

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them..."
Hebrews 13:3