Report On Religious Oppression in Aschlon
Please note: PORs are the official designation for people who openly worship in the People’s Republic of Aschlon
This report, written by Willaim Donald, follower of the Manist religion and once teacher at the University of the Low Lands, has written and published this report to inform the rest of Mundus on the injustice facing open worshippers of faiths in Aschlon.
EmploymentIn a series of questions to 256 business owners on religion, 27.9% said that they would not employ PORs, 44.3% said they would be hesitant to employ PORs and 27.8% said that religion was not a factor in deciding who to employ.
As is publicly known, the option to join the military, ASSO or the police force is not available to PORs, apparently due to security concerns, as well as protecting the right to dishonourably dismiss anyone who converts to faith whilst serving.
In addition, ASSO’s ability to remove from employment people who teach or care for minors has been used almost exclusively on PORs. This has apparently stopped many minors from being influenced by PORs at a young age, stopping any chance that they could be converted.
There has also been a limit on how much a POR is allowed to be paid, with a maximum salary of 32000 Fiste. If they are paid more than the limit or have multiple occupations, their wealth is confiscated for use by the state. This was apparently put in place to discourage them from taking well paying jobs from non-PORs.
The most likely reason for PORs being held back employment wise is most likey due to discrimination, not security claims.
Representation in Media and Education
PORs are often represented badly in modern day Aschlonian fiction. Most fictional tales, both in literature and television, in Aschlon are written with religious characters being portrayed as the antagonist or rival of the protagonist. The few Aschlonian ones that do present them in a positive light are often quietly taken off the market.
Religious Education is not a subject taught in Primary or Secondary Schools, however it is taught in most universities. In the rare case it is taught, RE presents religion in an extremely negative light, which is opposed to the usual way of teaching subjects with a neutral view.
The majority of foreign media is usually much more expensive compared to native Aschlonian works, probably to discourage purchasement.
It should also be noted that the process required to obtain a religious scripture, such as the Bile or Qur'an, is rather similar to the process of getting a gun, with the purchaser being marked down as a POR, their family and employers being notified as well as extensive background checks.
PORs are also not allowed to work in any news broadcasting service, including newsletters as insignificant as a school newsletter.
Civilian Rights
PORs are not given the same amount of rights as non-PORs. They, for example, are not allowed to own a gun, get married in an open ceremony, or collect unemployment benefits. Until several weeks ago (3/09/20) they were also illegible for homeless benefits, free health care or public transport, however the Tarc reversed these policies.
There is no law stopping PORs and non-PORS marrying, except that the newly wedded couple will both be classed as PORs, as well as their next generation of children.
The children of two PORs are not classed as such, except in the aforementioned example. However, any action that would result usually result in being classed as a POR, for example attending a religious service or having evidence of prayer.
Lynching and Looting
The Lynching of PORs (or suspected PORs for that matter) is sadly not uncommon in the capital, Hootoft City. Though the government actively attempts to stop these lynchings, due to the often crowded streets and ban on vehicles bigger than a bicycle, by the time the police arrive to try stop them it is too late, and the perpetrators have disappeared into the crowd.
In addition, very rarely (about 4 or 5 every year) POR owned shops will be looted, often with all its stock being robbed and massive damage to the fixtures on the property. Unlike looting, the government takes very few steps to prevent this.
Public View
The large percentage of the population are not PORs. Due to anti-religious propaganda (usually done by ASSO), terror attacks done by groups such as the NACG as well as the King’s policies (apparently instructed to him by God) public opinion of religion is low, particularly in the Hootoft provenance. The opinion generally goes up the further you get from Hootoft, with the Eastern Island and Mainland having a much better (yet still negative) opinion on religion.