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  • Writer's pictureWomen's Well Being Magazine

The United Nations Will Soon Act Against Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and Eritrea & You Will


The United Nations Will Soon Act Against Russia, Singapore, South Korea, and Eritrea & You Will Never Guess Why

Despite having a difference as it relates to their geographical location, culture, foods and language, Singapore, South Korea, and Eritrea have one thing in common that you properly didn't realize.

Although all countries operating as a democracy, the aforementioned governments refuse to grant religious freedom to the religious minority group of Jehovah's Witnesses.

While their constitutions state that all persons are free to practice the religion of their choosing, prejudice, religious bias, and disrespect for human rights prevent Russia, South Korea, Eritrea, and Singapore for truly granting religious freedom to their citizens.

For example, the "unofficial" official religion of Russia is Orthodox Christianity. Most if not all political leaders of Russia including the ‎Kremlin Vladimir Putin, who adhere to the Orthodox Christain faith, have found loopholes in their laws that allow them to legally oppress and suppress religious minorities including Jehovah's Witnesses whos religious proselytizing has recently been outlawed with one if it's members currently being held in prison for their faith.

Not far behind Russia is South Korea, who pride themselves on allowing all religions to coexist peacefully. Despite the seeming religious freedom prevalent, Jehovah's Witnesses whos conscience doesn't allow them to kill are still persecuted.

Thier non-violent position in the face of opposition is singled out and mocked by the South Korean government and their constitutional human rights are denied. Young law-abiding nonviolent men with no criminal background are being hauled out to prisons because they follow the example of Jesus who taught his disciples to love their enemies and pray for those persecuting them. Despite being treated like criminals and refugees in their home country, these young men continue to have a positive attitude in hopes that South Korea will one day truly be a place where they can freely worship their God.

Singapore follows in the footsteps of Russia and South Korea and holds some 8 Jehovah's Witnesses in prison to date.

Eritrea is certainly reprehensible in their treatment of religious minorities, many of Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned for their faith, and some still being held without charge.

For example, Habtemichael Tesfamariam and Habtemichael Mekonen died in the Mai Serwa Prison near Asmara in early 2018 according to the official website of Jehovah's Witnesses. Both had been arrested and imprisoned in the summer of 2008 for their religious beliefs and suffered harsh and inhumane conditions throughout their prison term.

If these government refuse to quickly clean up their act the United Nations will soon step in to insist that Jehovah's Witnesses be allowed to practice their faith freely without fear of reprisal, persecution or death.

According to the official website of the United Nations, the United Nations Commission on Human Rights appointed further to resolution 1986/20 a “Special Rapporteur on religious intolerance”. In 2000, the Commission on Human Rights decided to change the mandate title to “Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief”, which was subsequently endorsed by ECOSOC decision 2000/261 and welcomed by General Assembly resolution 55/97. On 23 March 2016, the Human Rights Council adopted resolution 31/16, which, inter alia, extended the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for a further period of three years

The Special Rapporteur has been mandated through Human Rights Council resolution 6/37 (see full text in English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic and Russian):

- to promote the adoption of measures at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief;

- to identify existing and emerging obstacles to the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion or belief and present recommendations on ways and means to overcome such obstacles;

- to continue her/his efforts to examine incidents and governmental actions that are incompatible with the provisions of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief and to recommend remedial measures as appropriate;

The United Nations will transmit communications to those States, diligently gather all the facts related to each incident and submit a powerful plan of action to rectify the violation of internal human rights laws and crimes against humanity.

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