On Friday the world will mark International Religious Freedom Day, so this week we’d like to ask you to pray for situations around the globe that need the international community to speak up. Your voice is powerful, whether raised in prayer or action: we saw that in Sudan this year when Reverend Hassan and Mr Abdumawla, two unjustly accused men, were released from prison, and with the release that same week of Li Heping in China.
- Sunday 22 October
In August we learnt of the death of Fikadu Debasay, a mother of four. She, her husband and their oldest son had been detained in May, following house to house raids on Christian homes. She was detained in a remote desert area and died due to untreated kidney complications. Her three younger children have been left alone. Prayer and International action are the only ways of impacting this harsh regime, so please pray that the international community would continue to speak up strongly for the Eritrean people, respecting their right to seek asylum.
- Monday 23 October
Eritrea and North Korea are both places of tremendous suffering, and both countries should be the target of international condemnation for their treatment of their own people. Just as you prayed for Eritrea yesterday, please pray that North Korea would be similarly affected by the international community’s scrutiny of its human rights abuses.
- Tuesday 24 October
Our work at the UN was given a huge boost in April when we received official UN accreditation after eight long years of campaigning! This new status brings additional weight to our advocacy and allows us to work even more effectively for religious freedom: please join us in thanking God for this success.
- Wednesday 25 October
Our international work wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and expertise of our UN and Public Affairs Team: today, please pray that God would bless their work as they raise freedom of religion or belief concerns with diplomats and other key decision-makers.
- Thursday 26 October
In August we asked CSW supporters to email Tony Blair asking him to use his influence with the governor of Kaduna State, Nigeria, to stop attacks on religious minorities in the region. Since then we’ve had a profitable meeting with a member of Mr Blair’s staff to discuss the issues. Today, please pray that these meetings would continue and would result in strong action on the growing crises.
- Friday 27 October
On International Religious Freedom Day, please join us in praying that freedom of religion or belief would rise up the agenda in places such as the UN and the EU, and that human rights would be a priority for decision-makers in these international platforms when they consider sanctions, investigations and statements.
- Saturday 28 October
Father God, thank you that you stand above nations and governments and can move in situations that seem too big for us to even contemplate. We pray that you will move the international community to decisive action in Eritrea, North Korea and Nigeria. Amen.