What is Religious Persecution?

The vast majority of our fellow citizens, in countries throughout the Middle East and North Africa region, are able to live with respect for one another, and in harmony with one another. We aren’t driven by hate or fear relating to the peaceful beliefs of our neighbours. Civilised people don’t harass and oppress those who are different to themselves. It is especially uncivilised and unrighteous to do so given that, often, our fellow citizens with alternative religious opinions, practices and identities are vulnerable, and small in number. Oppression of such peoples might better be identified as bullying. Weak and pathetic people bully those who are more vulnerable and who represent an easy target.

Too often the governments and security forces of our nations operate to undermine our social cohesion. In many places, laws are used to harass religious communities, to issue fines, to stop groups from meeting together to worship, or to imprison citizens just because of what they choose to believe. Blasphemy laws in particular mean citizens are afraid to express what they believe or have discussion or debate with their friends, colleagues or family. Often these laws are used as weapons against our fellow citizens and are even applied when the citizen has said or done nothing blasphemous.

In some places, the hatred and crimes against people with different religious identity come from within the community itself. We all know about crazy groups like al Qaeda, Da’esh and various smaller extremist groups which have violence and hatred at their core. Such groups are a disgrace and a stain on humanity. But sometimes it’s not extremists but ordinary people that can’t seem to live in harmony alongside their neighbours who are different. In spite of it being dishonourable, shameful, backwards and against religion there are a small number of cases in which fellow citizens have insulted, harassed, attacked or oppressed people with other beliefs. Maybe it’s a lack of education about the other religion and its practices. Maybe they are envious of the status and endeavour of successful people who might happen to adhere to another religion. Maybe there’s some foolish error that makes them believe that Allah would be glad for their aggression and violence, or that it brings Allah honour to harm the vulnerable. We all need to learn to disagree with one another in a civilised way. We need to encourage each of our brothers and sisters to take a better path and to live more honourably.

Perhaps we might be inclined to say, “I’m not from a minority religion. It’s not my problem.” But we all have responsibility for our fellow citizens and their conditions. It is not honourable just to stand up when it is our circumstances that are threatened. To stand together with the weak and the oppressed, motivated by compassion and justice, this is the way of true honour. What’s more, there may come a time when we need others to stand together with us. Then we will want our fellow citizens to show the same selfless compassion. As the majority, we must demand change and we must and we will persevere until change is achieved. Governments must be held accountable and told to abolish unjust laws and policies. Injustice affects all of us one way or another.

The conflict we have lived with in our region for so long is exhausting. We have been taught to hate one another and to mistrust differences. We have been taught to stay low and fear governments that oppress us, as well as our fellow citizens with different religious identities. We can stand together to recover the dignity and honour which is our heritage. We can find a better future together if we take a stand.

We are // compatriots. We are // friends. We are // family. We are // diverse. We are // equal.

We are // United.