Religious Freedom in Iraq Called For by World Compassion Petition
World Compassion, a non-denominational faith-based international organization, is encouraging the citizens of the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom to sign a petition calling for the addition of religious freedom to the new Iraqi constitution.
(PRWEB) July 20, 2005 -- Dr. Terry Law, founder of World Compassion, has
released a petition calling for the addition a human rights declaration on religious freedom to the new Iraqi constitution.
“It is
my opinion that this war in Iraq isn’t over until there is a guarantee of religious freedom and basic human rights in the new
constitution being created at this very moment,” said Dr. Law.
Article 18
of the United Nations’ ratified Universal Declaration of Human Rights document
states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion;
this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom,
either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest
his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship, and observance.”
According to Dr. Law, the addition of freedom of religion to the constitution is
necessary in order to uphold basic human rights.
“I believe we have a
moral, political, and spiritual responsibility to demand freedom of religion for
Iraqis,” said Dr. Law. “Most nations of the civilized world have accepted this
UN document. The new Iraqi constitutional committee must do the
same.”
Dr. Terry Law will be meeting with Iraq’s new Prime Minister
Ibrahim al-Jaafari, as well as members of the Iraqi constitutional committee,
during the first week of August 2005, to encourage religious freedom. This
trip follows on the heels of Dr. Law’s meeting with the former Prime Minister
Iyad Allawi and Iraq’s Deputy National Security Advisor Georges Sada in June of
2004.
“We’re not asking that a specific religion be practiced,” said Dr.
Law. “We only want to ensure that the Iraqi people have the freedom to choose
for themselves.”
The new constitution is scheduled for completion by
August 15. World Compassion encourages the signed petitions to be returned by
July 25, 2005 so they can be shipped to the Prime Minister’s office in Baghdad
in early August.
Visit religious freedom in Iraq
and learn about other ways to get involved with World Compassion’s volunteer
network.
About World Compassion
World Compassion is a
non-denominational, faith-based international organization founded by Dr. Terry
Law in 1969 to assist churches in meeting the physical and spiritual needs of
people in their communities. For over 35 years, World Compassion has worked
specifically in nations that are difficult to access with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Positive results have been achieved through the distribution of
Christian literature, food, clothing, medical supplies, school supplies, and
through psycho-social counseling among populations devastated by years of war
and/or oppressive regimes. World Compassion conducts humanitarian-related
projects in education, emergencies, health, family, and religious freedom.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb263608.htm