c. 2005 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) On Saturday (Oct. 15), Iraqi citizens will vote on a new constitution. Once it is approved and enacted, Iraq will become the first real Muslim democracy _ one that combines Islam with the foundations of representative democracy and the rule of law. This is a historic moment for Iraq, the Middle East and the war on terrorism, and one that deserves American support.

However, Iraq’s constitution falls short of protecting an individual’s right to freedom of thought, conscience and belief. The new charter states that Iraq will guarantee “the religious rights of all individuals and the freedom of creed and religious practices.” And though this sounds good on the surface, the document also provides that “no law can be enacted that contradicts the established provisions of Islam which is the official national religion of the country.”

To me, the most important question is not whether Iraq has a national religion but whether the rights of religious dissenters and people of other faiths will be protected. According to some interpretations of the Quran, if someone changes to another religion, he should be offered three opportunities to repent. If he doesn’t, he’s to be killed! When I asked Iraq’s current prime minister just three months ago whether this type of action would be tolerated in Iraq, he refused to answer.

I’m concerned. I worry not only about those Muslims who decide to change their religion, or for those who decide on no religion, but also for the 700,000 Christians living in Iraq, many of whom are suffering persecution already.

One who comes to mind is Sister Cecilia Hanna, an elderly Chaldean Catholic nun who served the poor and infirm with the Daughters of the Sacred Heart in Baghdad, and was beloved by Christians and many Muslims. But three years ago, Sister Cecilia’s mutilated body was found in her home.

Christianity Today magazine reported that “militant Muslims abducted 70-year-old Sister Hanna, stripped her, tortured her, cut her throat, and beheaded her. Her fellow nuns said that harassment began in 1998 after Wahhabi Muslims constructed a mosque across the street from their convent.”

Fortunately, the Daughters of the Sacred Heart continue to thrive under the brave leadership of other committed Iraqi Christian women. But I wonder, will Christian servants like Sister Cecilia be protected under Iraq’s new constitution?

Iraq’s proposed constitution mentions religious freedom. But it is unclear whether the framers mean for this principle to apply to those who change religions, or if proselytizing is a protected right under the law.

As the head of a Christian international relief organization working in Iraq, I want the Iraqi government to clearly demonstrate their commitment to religious freedom by signing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states that “everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”

The declaration, considered the gold standard for human rights since its adoption by the United Nations in 1948, says 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.” By signing this document, people like Sister Cecilia, as well as religious dissenters, will enjoy greater protection under the law.

Before Saddam Hussein came to power, Iraq was a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The new government needs to sign it, too. Freedom of religion is the most basic of human rights and one all true democracies protect. It must be protected in Iraq as well.

(Editor’s note: Terry Law is the founder of World Compassion, a Christian organization that gives humanitarian relief and does evangelism in areas of the world normally closed to Christianity. Law has an online petition at http://www.worldcompassion.tv asking the Iraqi government to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.)

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