Catholic World News News Feature
Christians Told To Leave Faith Or Leave Bhutan April 20, 2001
ROME, Apr. 20, 01 (CWNews.com/Fides) - Christians in Bhutan, who make up only 0.33 percent of the population, are facing some of the strongest opposition and persecution they have ever experienced, Christian Solidarity Worldwide reports. Fear is growing among believers. Bhutanese Christians are being told to either leave their religion or leave the tiny Asian country, located between India, Nepal, and China.
Bhutan, the only Buddhist kingdom in the world, has no written constitution or bill of rights. There is no legal guarantee of freedom of religion. Buddhism is the state religion and non-Buddhists suffer political and social discrimination. 70.1 percent of a population of 1,800,000, are Lamaistic Buddhists, 24 percent are Hindu, 5 percent Muslims, 0.6 percent animist, and 0.33 percent Christians, (of whom 500 are Catholics).
Persecution against Christians is now widespread and systematic, village by village. On Palm Sunday, April 8, Bhutanese authorities and police went to churches to register the names of believers. Many pastors were detained for interrogation and threatened with imprisonment. Other believers scattered for fear of being identified.
The campaign started last year when the government began sending official forms to government employees and private businesses demanding the Christians to sign agreements to comply with "rules and regulations governing the practice of religion." Penalties for practicing the Christian faith include no free education for children, no free medical facilities, no promotions, and no visas for travelling abroad, and other restrictions.
As one Bhutanese Christian says, "Very harsh persecution has started in Bhutan. Christians are asked either to leave their religion or leave the country. In some places they are beaten very badly. They are not allowed to gather anymore.... Freedom of religion has been taken away. Christians now face termination of employment, expulsion from the country, cancellation of trade licenses, and denial of all state benefits."
