(christian daily international)
Mauritanian authorities have released all Christians arrested after a video of a November baptism ceremony prompted Muslims to seek punishment, Christian leaders in the region announced.
Christian leaders noted that the Christians do not appear to have been charged with any crimes.
“They are being told to go home and believe what they want, but privately and discreetly,” a Christian leader in the area told Christian Daily International. “Our compatriots seem to be more afraid of the Islamists than the government. Thank God for this happy ending.”
At least 15 people, possibly up to 18 people Christians arrested Community leaders said all had been released by December 18. The northwest African country has no law prohibiting evangelism, but authorities prohibit public expression of faiths other than Islam.
At least three of the Christians were first arrested on or just before Nov. 30 in Seribaby, more than 600 kilometers south of the capital Nouakchott, according to Agence España. EFE. Christian leaders in the region say the arrests were sparked by protests calling for the killing of Christians after videos of baptisms were leaked on social media.
According to the U.S. Department of State's latest International Religious Freedom Report (2022), only foreigners may hold non-Muslim religious services in Mauritania, and participation by nationals is illegal. The report said Mauritanians are prohibited from holding church services, but the government generally does not prevent non-Islamic groups from holding religious meetings in private spaces.
Mauritania has no law against evangelism, but authorities prohibit the “conversion” of non-Muslims, according to a State Department report.
In Mauritania, where 98% of the population is Sunni Muslim and 1% Shia Muslim, apostasy, or departure from Islam, is punishable by death, and the constitution defines Islam as the sole religion of the people and the state. ing. There are an estimated 11,000 Christians in the country of 4.9 million, making up 0.2 percent of the population, according to Open Doors.
Mauritanian law and legal procedures are a combination of French civil law and law. sharia (Islamic law) However, according to the State Department's 2022 Religious Freedom Report, there are calls from the public for expanded application of Sharia-based criminal law.
“The law prohibits apostasy and blasphemy,” the report states. “The penal code mandates the death penalty for Muslims convicted of apostasy or blasphemy, but the government never used the death penalty for apostasy or blasphemy.''
Faith-based nongovernmental organizations must refrain from proselytizing or promoting religions other than Islam. According to the report, the government generally allows private non-Muslim prayers, but technically the government does not allow all non-Muslim religious gatherings or gatherings held in private homes. Group meetings must be pre-approved.
The government continued to prohibit its printing and distribution, but added that possession of non-Islamic religious materials remained legal.
Although Mauritania is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which provides all persons with “freedom to possess or adopt a religion or belief” of their choice, the government continues to Public expression of religion continues to be prohibited except in the following cases: of Islam, according to the Religious Freedom Report.
“Recognized churches were able to hold services on their premises, but were unable to conduct proselytizing,” the report said. “At the government's unofficial request, non-Muslim worship was limited to a small number of recognized Christian churches.''
Mauritania ranks 20thth The Open Doors 2023 World Watchlist lists the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.
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Photo credit: (Ferdinand Reus, Creative Commons) From Morning Star News
Originally published by Morningstar News. Used with permission.
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