Laos’ constitution guarantees its citizens the right to ‘believe or not to believe in religions’. However, the document limits state protection to ‘lawful activities’ by Buddhists and followers of other religions, and provides no clarification of the term ‘lawful activities’. The process for registering religions contains many bureaucratic obstacles, and weak rule of law at the local level also undermines the rights of the country’s religious minorities. Sadly, the international community often overlooks religious freedom violations in Laos.
Sunday 15 September
Christians are often targeted, as some officials consider Christianity to be a foreign religion at odds with traditional Lao culture. In recent years, Christians in some areas have reported cases of arbitrary detention, forced evictions, confiscation of land and livestock, destruction of property, harassment and discrimination. Pray for God’s protection over all Christian communities throughout the country.
Monday 16 September
Converts to Christianity often find themselves in a particularly precarious situation. We’ve received reports of some new Christians who have been evicted from their homes and harassed by neighbours and local leaders. Pray today for courage and safety for all new converts whose communities oppose their conversion.
Tuesday 17 September
The religious freedom situation in Laos has seen some positive changes in recent years. For some religious communities in urban areas there are more opportunities for religious gatherings. Moreover, the last decade has seen a reduction in the number of long-term Christian prisoners of conscience. Thank God for these encouraging developments.
Wednesday 18 September
While government efforts to improve religious freedom have been felt in urban areas, these are often undermined by weak rule of law in remote places. This means that religious minorities in these areas – including Catholics and Protestants – are often prevented from practising their faith freely. Pray for a strengthening of the rule of law at all levels, so that all people can practise their religion of choice freely.
Thursday 19 September
Pray the following verse over the people of Laos today: ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!’ Psalm 133:1
Friday 20 September
In August 2016 the Lao government issued Decree 315, which requires citizens to receive governmental approval for various religious activities. The decree uses ambiguous language meaning that it is open to abuse, and the registration requirements are restrictive. Pray that this law wouldn’t be abused by local authorities and that religious groups would be able to publicly manifest their religion.
Saturday 21 September
Heavenly Father, we lift up the country of Laos to you today. We ask that you would bless its leaders with wisdom, compassion and a sense of duty to all citizens, and we pray that you would protect all religious minorities throughout the country. Amen.