People living in 14 of the 48 countries taking part in this year’s World Cup face restrictions on their freedom of religion or belief.
A new report by Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) says three of those countries, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), have been classified as places of religious persecution. A further 11 countries, including Haiti, Uzbekistan, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye, are places where “significant discrimination” occurs.
ACN’s editor-in-chief Marta Petrosillo said the tournament is an opportunity to shine a spotlight on some of the countries where religious freedom is under threat: “The World Cup brings together people from every culture, religion and nation. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges that millions of people around the world still face in exercising their fundamental right to freedom of religion or belief.
“We encourage governments everywhere to uphold and protect this fundamental human right, ensuring that every person can freely practice, change or share their faith without fear of discrimination or persecution.”
The Religious Freedom in the World report says Iran and Saudi Arabia’s legal systems severely restrict religious freedom, particularly for converts from Islam, and members of unrecognised religious communities. People who challenge these restrictions risk arrest, imprisonment and even the death penalty.
DRC suffers from chronic instability and violence, which has been made worse by growing jihadist activity in the east of the country.
The report highlights Mexico, one of the three host nations, as having “a long tradition of institutionalised anti-clericalism, but a bigger concern currently comes from organised crime and the drug trade targeting priests, religious leaders and pastoral workers, as they try to exert control over local communities”.
While religious minorities in Iraq have endured persecution for decades, the national football team is diverse – containing Kurds, Sunnis and Shi‘a Muslims. Four of the players are Christians, making up roughly 15 percent of the squad.
Throughout the tournament, ACN will be promoting its petition calling on governments and the UN to do more to defend the right to believe, and to ensure that those responsible for persecution are held to account. The report states that “everyone is entitled to religious liberty according to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – but many football players and fans are denied it”.
Marta Petrosillo added: “While fans may support different national teams, the World Cup also reminds us of the values that unite us – respect for human dignity and freedom of religion or belief.”
This year’s tournament in the US, Mexico and Canada is the largest in the competition’s history and runs until 19 July.
(Photo shows the McMurtry Gardens of Justice in Canada which highlight many Human Rights, including Religious Freedom)