Zimbabweans from various human rights organizations including youths, women and faith-based bodies- joined the rest of the Southern African region this morning calling for citizens to rally for the protection of freedom of religion and the abuses by religious institutions globally.
Yolanda Ndlovu, one of the organizers and coordinators of the Harare event, told The Afronews this morning in front o Town House, that it was disturbing that while the world is celebrating the first day of the United Nations Interfaith Harmony Week – (February 1) and calling for peace , tolerance and harmony among different religions, “there are some religious institutions n that continue to violate peoples’ rights to freedom of religion through the practice of coercive conversion, leading to death”.
“In this time and age, one should be celebrating freedom of religious beliefs and acknowledge we are all part of humanity created by one God,” she told the tens who gathered in front of the Town House.
In Harare, while Ndlovu said her organization – under the Global Citizens’ Human Rights Coalition (the Coalition) – is alert to and ready to mediate in any activity that may lead to infringements and cause inter-faith conflict, they had no record of such as yet.
Takunda Chipara, one of the volunteers organizing the event, said they had not received any reports of coercive conversions in the city and the country but were keeping their ears to the ground.
“As Zimbabweans, we respect our Constitution so much that we do not tolerate any kind of such conduct as we strongly believe in freedom of association and worship,” he said
Stewart Nyabereka, who was also part of those at the event, echoed similar sentiments.
“Peace – people must live in harmony,” he said. “There has been a disturbing case of religious coercion coming from Korea. As Christians w these are things to be denounced. As an organization we must speak out against such practices.”
Internationally, civil society organizations are calling for governments to intervene and close any such religious institutions abusing individuals’ rights to practice their religion of choice freely.
The Coalition comprises over 100 organisations in South Korea including the International Women’s Peace Human Rights Commission, the Christian Association for Anti-Corruption National Movement and the World Buddhist Summit, amongst others.
It was established to expose the practice of coercive conversion and to call for the shutdown of the Christian Council of Korea (CCK) in that country after the recent death of Ji In Gi, who was murdered for her faith.
The rally was one of several held across various cities in the sub-region from Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth in South Africa; Windhoek (Namibia) and in Harare.
By Patrick Musira
