‘Every case of injustice happening in this world is highly relevant to you, even if it’s far away from you, because it always tortures your conscience.’ – Xu Na, an imprisoned Falun Gong practitioner.
Not every case of injustice is brought to light, but even without these hidden stories, the extent of China’s known human rights abuses is overwhelming. People of all religions or beliefs have been affected by the extreme deterioration of human rights, including Christians, Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetan Buddhists and more.
The Chinese Communist Party may seem like an insurmountable power, yet we believe God can bring positive transformation.
Read our 2022 report, ‘China: The untold stories’: csw.org.uk/untoldstories
Sunday 19 March
A Falun Gong book found in their car was enough to arrest Xu Na and her husband Yu Zhou in 2008. Sadly, Yu Zhou lost his life in prison 11 days later, though how he died remains a mystery. Pray for an end to the brutal persecution of Falun Gong practitioners, that they would be safe and free.
Monday 20 March
Xu Na is in prison for the third time since 1999 – currently serving eight years for reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic and practising Falun Gong. Pray for healing and protection from the frequent torture she has endured.
Tuesday 21 March
Zhang Zhan – a Christian journalist and whistleblower during the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan – is still serving a four-year prison sentence. Pray that the Lord would continually renew her strength and hope (Isaiah 40:31), as she remains on partial hunger strike.
Wednesday 22 March
Pray for urgent international action to close ‘re-education camps’ in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Millions of Uyghurs and members of other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups are believed to have been arbitrarily detained in these camps since 2017.
Thursday 23 March
In October, the UN Human Rights Council voted against holding a debate on the human rights situation in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region at the next session of the Human Rights Council (February-March 2023). As the session continues this week, pray for other opportunities to raise the situation of human rights in China.
Friday 24 March
Today is the International Day for the Right to Truth concerning gross human rights violations and for the dignity of victims.
Pray for courage for the victims to report what has happened, and pray that they will not experience any repercussions for bravely bringing the truth to light.
Saturday 25 March
Lord, we lift up all who are suffering from appalling human rights abuses in China. Thank you that some of them have been able to report the truth of their experiences, and we pray that their voices would be heard by powerful decision- makers today. Amen.