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International, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) formed in the 1960s to combat human rights abuses.  The most prominent is Amnesty International, which has sought release of political prisoners and also opposed use of the death penalty.  Sometimes these groups can obtain publicity and world pressure more effectively than governments can.  But these groups are often biased in what they complain about, and rarely publicize human rights abuses by communist or Islamic governments.  The persecution of Christians is unlikely to generate any outrage by NGOs or the press, unless (as in Afghanistan) the persecution is an embarrassment to Republicans.

International, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) formed in the 1960s to combat human rights abuses.  The most prominent is Amnesty International, which has sought release of political prisoners and also opposed use of the death penalty.  Sometimes these groups can obtain publicity and world pressure more effectively than governments can.  But these groups are often biased in what they complain about, and rarely publicize human rights abuses by communist or Islamic governments.  The persecution of Christians is unlikely to generate any outrage by NGOs or the press, unless (as in Afghanistan) the persecution is an embarrassment to Republicans.

The United Nations issued a Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.  It included in basic human rights “life, liberty, and security of person.”  In the United States, Rev. Martin Luther King led a movement in the 1950s and 1960s to establish civil rights for African Americans.  There were many protests and arrests, and Rev. King himself spent time in jail at one point.  But he and his supporters overcame the opposition and established equal rights regardless of race.  Ever since, virtually every other movement has attempted to claim authority based on this major civil rights movement.  But some movements today that claim to be civil rights movements actually conflict with Rev. King’s own Christian goals.  For example, Rev. King spoke out against the black Muslim movement, but that he is almost never quoted for it.

The United Nations issued a Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.  It included in basic human rights “life, liberty, and security of person.”  In the United States, Rev. Martin Luther King led a movement in the 1950s and 1960s to establish civil rights for African Americans.  There were many protests and arrests, and Rev. King himself spent time in jail at one point.  But he and his supporters overcame the opposition and established equal rights regardless of race.  Ever since, virtually every other movement has attempted to claim authority based on this major civil rights movement.  Yet some movements today that claim to be civil rights movements actually conflict with Rev. King’s own Christian goals.  For example, Rev. King spoke out against the black Muslim movement, but he is almost never quoted for it.

Public praise of Christian human rights workers is also rare.  But in 1979 the Nobel Prize committee broke from its own tradition and gave an award to an outwardly religious woman, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India.  She was recognized for her work on behalf of the sick and poor of India.  When the government of India announced its intention to tax her award, thereby preventing her from contributing it to her work, an international outcry caused the Indian government to allow her to receive her award tax-free.  When Mother Teresa died in 1997, Indians gave her a funeral with full military honors!

Public praise of Christian human rights workers is also rare.  An exception was in 1979, when the Nobel Prize committee broke from its own tradition and gave an award to an outwardly religious woman, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, India.  She was recognized for her work on behalf of the sick and poor of India.  When the government of India announced its intention to tax her award, thereby preventing her from contributing it to her work, an international outcry caused the Indian government to allow her to receive her award tax-free.  When Mother Teresa died in 1997, Indians gave her a funeral with full military honors!

== References ==

== References ==