The Horrifying Impact of Religious Persecution on People

Religious persecution has brought so much senseless suffering to the world. People and
communities as a whole are being oppressed based purely on their religions and beliefs.
Restrictions and open hostilities to believers of all faiths are evident everywhere.

A report by the Pew Research Center informs us of the grim news on the state of religious liberty
everywhere. They stated: “In 2018, the global median level of government restrictions on
religion—that is, laws, policies and actions by officials that impinge on religious beliefs and
practices—continued to climb, reaching an all‐time high since Pew Research Center began
tracking these trends in 2007.”

The rise in religious persecution between 2017 and 2018 was especially noteworthy. In some
regions, voicing a disfavored opinion is enough to result in severe punishment or even death.
Pew noted: “The increase in government restrictions reflects a wide variety of events around the
world, including a rise from 2017 to 2018 in the number of governments using force—such as
detentions and physical abuse—to coerce religious groups.”

The acts of violence based on religious beliefs are so prevalent that the United Nations
established a day to raise awareness about this ugly reality. Every year on the 22 of August, the
world commemorates the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence
Based on Religion or Belief to raise awareness and stand as one with the victims.

The Impact of Religious Persecutions on the World

Religious persecution is a severe security threat anywhere in the world to anyone involved.
Because of religious discrimination, people are enduring fates worse than death. Torture,
enslavement, rape, and separation from loved ones are but a few of how it impacts people and
the world.

Here are some examples from recent years of atrocious acts based on religion or beliefs.

Daesh Crimes against the Yazidis

In 2014, ISIS committed crimes of unspeakable horrors to minorities, namely the Yazidis, to
establish itself as a purely Islamic State. Thousands of people were murdered, tortured, raped,
and enslaved, while countless priceless heirlooms were diminished to nothing. Children were
forcibly separated from their families to join ISIS fighters while removing them from their
religious beliefs, practices, and communities.

A survey published in The Public Library of Science (PLOS) estimated that 9900 people were
killed due to executions and starvation or kidnapped within a few days in August of 2014. All of
which was because those people held different beliefs.

Myanmar Army’s Crimes against the Rohingya Muslims

In August 2017, Rohingya Muslims fled from the atrocities committed by the army of Myanmar
to the southern beaches of Bangladesh. The majority of the refugees were children with obvious
signs of starvation and abuse.

Sadly, the effects of those cruelties are still affecting the refugees from Myanmar to this day.
UNICEF estimated: “By September 2019, around 1,295,000 people were estimated to be in need
of assistance; by the end of 2020, the Cox’s Bazar District was still hosting more than 860,000
Rohingya refugees from Myanmar.” These estimates, with the refugees already there, make
Kutupalong the largest refugee camp in the world.

Oppression of Uighur Muslims in China

Around one million Uighur Muslims were held in re-education camps in western China to strip
them of their religious and ethnic identities. This act of religious persecution is to indoctrinate
absolute loyalty to the Chinese state.

Additionally, there is evidence of China forcibly sterilizing women and forcing Uighurs into
labor.

For the acts of violence and the attempts to destroy the identity of the Uighurs people, several
countries like the US, Canada, and the Netherlands are accusing China of committing genocide
and demanding justice.

Religious Persecutions by Fanatical Pakistanis

Pakistan has probably some of the most severe cases of religious discrimination and persecution
against people of diverse faiths. Some of these acts of violence are committed with impunity
because the justice system cannot provide fair trials. In one horrifying case, a fanatic group beat
a Christian couple of humble origins and burnt them alive. The perpetrators claimed that the
couple desecrated the Koran. Various other minorities were attacked and murdered by fanatics
for alleged offenses against Islam.

Other horrifying instances include Christian and Hindu women and girls getting kidnapped and
forced into marriage.

Acts of Violence in Nigeria by Boko Haram

The violent acts carried out by Boko Haram since 2009 have affected millions of people in
Nigeria and the region as a whole. The group performed a series of repeated assassinations and
attacks. They raided villages while terrorizing and murdering civilians. They also killed
thousands of people by detonating bombs in gathering places within large towns and cities. They
even targeted schools and other public institutions.

Final Thoughts and What Must Be Done

Religious persecution is a global concern. Acts of fanaticism, bigotry, and oppression based on
religion or belief have become part of our daily life. Believers of every faith, including
Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, and Hindus, face serious discrimination, restrictions, and
sometimes severe oppression for practicing their faith.

States and civil societies must take steps to address the different sorts of atrocities committed in
every part of the world. They must uphold human rights and adapt them to international
standards. Additionally, the concerned authorities must reinforce the mechanisms behind
criminal prosecution to deter further oppression and preserve human rights.

Every person in the world should also mark the International Day Commemorating the Victims
of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief and unite behind it to raise awareness. It is time
to show solidarity with persecuted individuals and recognize this pressing but neglected issue.