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Nepal has seen more religious freedom restrictions over the past year or so, with the most dramatic example being the imprisonment of eight Christians for distributing comic books based on the life of Jesus to children. Please pray for Nepal this week: that it would be a country where people can choose or change their faith without fear of the consequences.

CSW is uniquely placed to respond to the challenges in Nepal because of our long history of work in the country. Today, please thank God for the opportunities CSW has had in the past and that he would provide more in the future.

Earlier this year, eight Christians were arrested for giving out comic books about the life of Jesus at a school. They’ve been released on bail, but are on trial at the moment. Pray that all charges against them would be dismissed.

For the past eight years Christmas has been the only Christian holiday recognised as a public holiday. Recently the government has declared that Christmas will no longer be a public holiday for the general public. Please pray for Christian and interfaith groups in Nepal as they appeal for Christmas to be restored as a public holiday.

CSW is concerned about certain clauses of a bill introduced into the Nepali parliament, which are similar to the blasphemy laws in Pakistan and make it a criminal offence to insult another’s religion. Pray that the penal code guarantees all citizens the right to choose and change their religion.

We visited Nepal recently and held a training workshop for religious leaders, activists and journalists. Today, let’s thank God for this opportunity, and that those who attended would be able to use what they learned to help their people.

Several training participants went on to carry out local and international advocacy to raise their religious freedom concerns. Let’s pray that their work will have a deep and far-reaching impact.

Heavenly Father, we pray for the country of Nepal. Please watch over its people as it becomes harder for them to practise their religion freely. We pray that Nepal’s leaders would champion equal rights for all citizens, regardless of their faith. Amen.