The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ordered the release of a man who had distributed an Ahmadi commentary to the Holy Quran. A step in the right direction, but problems remain.
From the World
Repression of Falun Gong Continues in Russia
The Simonovsky District Court of Moscow prosecutes nine practitioners as “agents of the U.S. Department of State.”
Pakistan, Two Christian Brothers Beaten with Iron Rods and Forcibly Converted to Islam
Azam and Nadeem Masih were savagely abused until they recited the formula of conversion and recorded a video where they said they had converted freely.
Colombia: Constitutional Court Orders Removal of Virgin Mary Statue from Public Office
A Seventh-day Baptist woman had claimed the display of the statue violated her freedom of religion. Catholics announce a national protest.
Iglesia Tabernáculo Internacional: Argentinian Court Chastises PROTEX for Fabricating Victims
The defendants were absolved and the judge recommended to investigate the “scandalous” abuses of the anti-trafficking agencies and psychologists.
Russia, Crackdown on the Esoteric Movement Allya Ayat Continues
In Siberia’s Altai Republic a new wave of repression targeted some 150 believers of the large group founded in Kazakhstan.
Pakistani Clerics Issue Fatwa Prohibiting Election Campaigning by Women
In Kohistan, Deobandi ulema does not challenge the law allowing women to be candidates—but they say they cannot campaign.
Bloody Regimes and “Drunk Drivers”: The IRF Summit Rocks Washington DC
The largest religious liberty event of the year challenged the brutality of China and Russia but also noted that democratic countries such as Japan look like dangerous intoxicated drivers.
Pakistan, Ahmadi Cemetery Desecrated in Daska
At least 80 graves were destroyed just two weeks before the elections.
Dissolve the Anti-Cult Lawyer Group, Not the Unification Church. 4. Deprogrammed, Then Compelled to Sue
More than half of those who sued the church had been kidnapped, deprogrammed, and then asked to sue to prove they had been really “de-converted.”