At least 33 British Members of Parliament have expressed serious concerns over recent forcible church closures in Rangoon by signing an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons.

The EDM, proposed by John Bercow MP, Co-Chair of the All Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma, calls on the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion and Belief to investigate violations of religious freedom in Burma, following reports received by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) of the closure of at least 100 churches in Rangoon in January. 

The church closures mark the most significant crackdown on Christian activity in Burma in recent years, affecting as many as 80 per cent of churches in Rangoon. Fifty pastors were forced to sign documents promising to stop holding church services, under threat of prison for non-compliance. Some local Christians believe that the immediate cause of the oppressive measures is church involvement in relief provision for victims of Cyclone Nargis. 

The EDM has drawn cross party support, with MPs David Drew, Alistair Carmichael and Stephen Crabb adding their signatures.

Burma is categorised as a 'Country of Particular Concern' by the US State Department, for its violations of religious freedom. In 2007, CSW published a report, Carrying the Cross: The military regime's campaign of restriction, discrimination and persecution against Christians in Burma, which revealed a 17-point document allegedly from an organisation affiliated to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, titled "Programme to Destroy the Christian religion in Burma". The first point states: "There shall be no home where the Christian religion is practised."

CSW's Advocacy Director, Tina Lambert said: "This recent crackdown on Christian activity in Rangoon is a worrying development and a serious violation of religious freedom. I am delighted that John Bercow and other MPs have taken this step to call for respect for religious freedom in Burma, and for the regime to stop its policies of discrimination and persecution of religious minorities, particularly Christians and Muslims. CSW welcomes the MPs' call for the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion and Belief, Asma Jahangir, to investigate violations of religious freedom in Burma and hold Burma's military regime accountable for their many human rights abuses".

Notes to Editors

• The EDM reads: 'That this House expresses deep concern at recent events in Burma with authorities in Rangoon ordering that services cease in at least a 100 local churches with a threat of prison for non-compliance; notes the concern of some of the local Christians who believe that the immediate cause of the crackdown is church involvement in providing relief for victims of Cyclone Nargis; further notes continued widespread discrimination against religious minorities and in some places violent persecution of Christians and Muslims in other parts of Burma; calls on the Government to raise concerns about religious freedom with the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); urges the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion and Belief to investigate violations of religious freedom in Burma; and calls on the United Nations Secretary General to increase and intensify efforts to urge the SPDC to cease its widespread violation of human rights, including violations of religious freedom, to release all political prisoners, to open all parts of the country to unhindered access for international humanitarian organisations and to engage in meaningful tripartite dialogue with the National League for Democracy and the ethnic nationalities.' EDM 671, "Closure of Churches in Rangoon" can be found by clicking here.
  
• A full copy of CSW's report Carrying the Cross: The military regime's campaign of restriction, discrimination and persecution against Christians in Burma can be found by clicking here
  
• For the US State Department International Religious Freedom Report 2008, click here.
  
• CSW launched a joint campaign with Partners Relief and Development last year, to highlight human rights violations in Burma. The Change for Burma! campaign includes calls for a case to be brought to the International Criminal Court. Details can be found at www.changeforburma.org
  

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