Persecution of Christians in Warsaw Pact countries

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Religious discrimination and persecution
By victimized group Anti-clericalism African religions · Atheists Bahá'ís · Buddhists · Cathars Christians · Hellenistic polytheism Hindus · Jehovah's Witnesses Jews · Mormons · Muslims Neopagans · Rastafari · Zoroastrians
By method Abuse · Censorship · Desecration Discrimination · Fascism Forced conversion · Genocide Intolerance · Pogrom Segregation · State atheism State religion · Terrorism Violence · War
Historical events Inquisition · French Wars of Religion French Revolutionary Dechristianisation Cristero War · Red Terror · Cultural Revolution · Test Act Cromwellian conquest of Ireland Thirty Years War · Kulturkampf War in the Vendée This box: view • talk • edit

Before and after the October Revolution of November 7, 1917 (October 25 Old Calendar) there was a movement within the Soviet Union to unite all of the people of the world under Communist rule (see Communist International). This included the Eastern European bloc countries as well as the Balkan States. Since some of these Slavic states tied their ethnic heritage to their ethnic churches, both the peoples and their church where targeted by the Soviet.^{[1] [2]}

Richard Wurmbrand, author of Tortured for Christ described the systematic persecution of Christians in one East Bloc nation.

Enver Hoxha conducted a campaign to extinguish all forms of religion in Albania in 1967, closing all religious buildings and declaring the state atheist. Albania was the only Eastern Bloc nation that actually outlawed religion. See Communist and post-Communist Albania.^{[citation needed]}

However, persecution of Christians, especially Protestants, Pentecostals and non-registered minority denominations, has continued after the fall of the Soviet Union, in many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, notably Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus.

[edit] References

1. ^ President of Lithuania: Prisoner of the Gulag a Biography of Aleksandras Stulginskis by Afonsas Eidintas Genocide and Research Center of Lithuania ISBN 998675741X / 9789986757412 / 9986-757-41-X pg 23 "As early as August 1920 Lenin wrote to E. M. Skliansky, President of the Revolutionary War Soviet: "We are surrounded by the greens (we pack it to them), we will move only about 10-20 versty and we will choke by hand the bourgeoisie, the clergy and the landowners. There will be an award of 100,000 rubles for each one hanged." He was speaking aout the future actions in the countries neighboring Russia.
2. ^ Christ Is Calling You : A Course in Catacomb Pastorship by Father George Calciu Published by Saint Hermans Press April 1997 ISBN-13: 978-1887904520