Freedom, Persecution, and the Status of Christian Minorities

This chapter explores issues of religious freedom and religious persecution faced by Christian minorities around the world. It describes the nature and scope of religious rights and of various forms of religious persecution, as well as the protections given to religious freedom in international human rights law conventions. It also provides case study descriptions of persecution of Christian minorities in Afghanistan, Burma, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam, which have been hot spots for persecution of Christianity – and other religions – in recent years. The chapter concludes with observations on the mutual necessity and interdependence of religious rights and human rights.