Freedom House Notes Progress in Global Freedom in New Report
Freedom House reported notable improvements in political rights and civil liberties around the world, particularly in the Middle East, in its annual survey on global freedom.
Freedom House reported notable improvements in political rights and civil liberties around the world, particularly in the Middle East, in its annual survey on global freedom.
Released today, "Freedom in the World 2006" revealed a significant progress in Muslim dominated countries despite their lag behind other global regions. The report noted a 20 percent decrease in the number of "not free" countries in the Middle East and increases in "free" and "partly free" nations as well.
"The modest but heartening advances in the Arab Middle East result from activism by citizen groups and reforms by governments in about equal measures," said Thomas O. Melia, acting executive director of Freedom House, in a public announcement. "This emerging trend reminds us that men and women in this region share the universal desire to live in free societies.
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"As we welcome the stirrings of change in the Middle East, it is equally important that we focus on the follow-through in other regions and appreciate the importance of the continuing consolidation of democracy in Indonesia, Ukraine, and other nations."
Overall, freedom has risen over the past 10 years. Out of 192 countries, free countries now number 89 as opposed to the 76 in 1995; and not free countries dropped from 53 to 45. The freedom report showed gains in 27 countries and setbacks in only nine.
Saudi Arabia and Iraq - declared as "not free" - were among the fewer countries with worsened political rights or civil liberties.
With "zero tolerance" for other religions – as International Christian Concern president Jeff King stated during a recent panel discussion on religious persecution – Saudi Arabia has had continuous reports on the persecution of Christians and women, torture, and religious discrimination through educational materials.
While human rights violations were reported in Iraq, the Muslim-dominated country has shown positive trends as it heads toward democracy and freedom for its people with the adoption of a constitution and the election of a new full-term parliament underway.
"Among other things, the past year has been notable for terrorist violence, ethnic cleansing, civil conflict, catastrophic natural disasters, and geopolitical polarization. That freedom could thrive in this environment is impressive," stated Arch Puddington, director of research of Freedom House. "The global picture thus suggests that 2005 was one of the most successful years for freedom since Freedom House began measuring world freedom in 1972."
To view Freedom in the World 2006, visit freedomhouse.org.
