Dear Bishop, dear Professors, dear students, It is an honor and a privilege to speak to you at the House of Lords about the challenges to religious freedom worldwide, and specifically in Latin America, the area in which I specialize. The Westminster attack of 22 March 2017 Before I talk about Latin America, I would …
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Latin America’s Overlooked Persecuted Church
1. What does persecution in Latin America look like? Persecution of Christians in Latin America is a complex picture and results from the interplay between an overall lack of security and social exclusion, experienced by the majority of Latin American citizens. The high degree of violence particularly affects Christians who are perceived to be a …
Recommendations to reduce the vulnerability of actively practicing Christians in Mexico
Based on our research findings about the persecution of actively practicing Christians by organized crime in Mexico, stabilization mechanisms can be developed to reduce their vulnerability to human security threats. This examination of stabilization mechanisms should be read as an exploration of possible avenues to reduce risk and increase resilience. Reducing risks caused by external …
Transcript of Dennis P. Petri’s testimony at Congressional Hearing on Religious Freedom in the Americas now available
The transcript of Dennis P. Petri’s testimony at the hearing on “Challenges to Religious Freedom in the Americas” before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the US House of Representatives of 17 September 2015 is now available. You can access it here. Watch the video recording of the hearing …
Religious freedom in Latin America
Organized crime People who practice their religious faith in Latin America – whether they are Pentecostal preachers or devout Catholic priests such as Jorge Mario Bergoglio, now of course famous as Pope Francis – can be restricted by organized crime. The main feature of organized crime is the creation of a climate of impunity, anarchy …
“Challenges to religious freedom in the Americas” – Testimony before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, House Committee on Foreign Affairs
Freedom of religion has many components. The UN Human Rights Committee in its General Comment 22 says freedom of religion, as provided under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is “far-reaching and profound.” According to the Committee, the right “encompasses freedom of thought on all matters, personal conviction and the commitment to religion …
Meeting with the President and Vice-President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights
On Tuesday 1 September 2015, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) received a joint delegation of ANAJURE (Brazilian Association of Evangelical Lawyers) and the Foundation Platform for Social Transformation at its headquarters located in San José, Costa Rica. ANAJURE was represented by Uziel Santana (Chairman), Valmir Nascimento (Director of Academic Affairs), Augusto Ventura (Honorary Director) and Rosane Araújo …
Subcommittee Hearing: Challenges to Religious Freedom in the Americas
On 17 September 2015, the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere of House Committee on Foreign Affairs of the United States Congress held a hearing on “Freedom of Expression in the Americas.” Dennis P. Petri was invited to witness at this congressional hearing. This is the video recording of his verbal testimony (starts after minute 15). His written testimony can …
Christians in North Mexico
States in North Mexico, particularly the states of Nuevo León and Tamaulipas (North-East) and Michoacán and bordering states (North-West), are so problematic that they are considered an Overlooked Hotbed of Persecution. North Mexico is one of the most violent regions in the world. Heavily affected by crime, the area is under the influence of extremely …
Christians in the indigenous territories of Colombia
The severe situation of Christians in the indigenous territories of Colombia needs to be highlighted as a hotbed of persecution. According to a 2005 census, more than 1.3 million Colombians (3.4 per cent of the country’s total population) identify as indigenas, the country’s original population. There are more than 30 autonomous indigenous territories throughout the …