Cuba: Crackdown on Christians sees 1,600 churches targeted

[TomSea]

Cuba: Crackdown on Christians sees 1,600 churches targeted

More than 1,600 churches have been targeted by authorities in Cuba this year as a crackdown on religious freedom continues.

Between January and July 2016, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) recorded 1,606 violations of religious freedom.

These included the demolition and confiscation of church buildings, the destruction of church property and arbitrary detention.

In March, prominent pastor and religious freedom activist Rev Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso was arrested just hours before President Barack Obama arrived in the country for his official state visit.

Religious leaders have also had their personal belongings confiscated, and more than 1,000 churches are still considered ‘illegal’ and are under threat of future confiscation.

According to CSW, church leaders have raised concerns that the government’s treatment of religious groups has significantly deteriorated in the last year.

Read More At: http://www.christiantoday.com/article/cuba.crackdown.on.christians.sees.1600.churches.targeted/93277.htm