As the International Religious Freedom Report 2013 was released Tuesday, Secretary of State John Kerry said in his statement that “we have a long journey ahead of us” for international religious freedom.
In his statement, Secretary Kerry showed his concern about widespread religious persecution. He mentioned in particular the regions and groups that have been gaining attention from news media during the past year for its persecution of Christians.
“North Korea stands out again in this year’s report for its absolute and brutal repression of religious activity. Members of religious minorities are ripped from their families and isolated in political prison camps. They’re arrested and beaten, tortured, and killed. And we’ve seen reports that individuals have been arrested for doing nothing more than carrying a Bible,” he said.
He continued. “Earlier this month, Chinese officials sentenced Christian pastor Zhang Shaojie to 12 years in prison for peaceful advocacy on behalf of his church community. And just last week, I welcomed the release of Meriam Ishag […] who had been imprisoned on charges of apostasy in Sudan. From South Asia to Sahel, governments have silenced members of religious groups with oppressive laws, harsh punishments, and brutal tactics that have no place in the 21st century.”
Secretary Kerry went on to mention the religious persecution that has been occurring in Pakistan, Nigeria, and Iraq, by various Islamic militant groups, and said that these “extremist groups have been crystal clear about what they stand against.”
“So we have to be equally clear about what we must stand for. We must stand for greater freedom, greater tolerance, greater respect for rights of freedom of expression and freedom of conscience,” he declared.
Secretary Kerry also recognized those who have been fighting for greater religious freedoms, and have been standing up for their religious beliefs. “They will not receive prizes; they may not ever receive recognition. Their courage goes unremarked, but that makes it all the more remarkable, because they put their lives on the line in face of beatings and imprisonment and even death, in the near certainty that their sacrifice will be anonymous. Believe me, that’s the definition of courage.”
The International Religious Freedom Report stated that 2013 had the largest number of “displacement of religious communities in recent history.”
