Sudán

Since South Sudan became independent in 2011, the situation for Sudan’s religious minorities has become increasingly difficult. President Omar al-Bashir, who has been indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court, vowed that the country’s new constitution would be based on Shari’a law alone, making Christians even more vulnerable.

China

Over the years China has been infamous for its persecution of Christians. Many will remember the work of all the uncles’ of the Chinese Church as they served with endurance. But the situation today is much more complex.

México

Violations of freedom of religion or belief are regular occurrences in some parts of Mexico. This is mostly due to the government’s reluctance to involve itself in religious disputes or situations of religious intolerance, even when these result in violations of fundamental human rights protected in the Mexican Constitution. These violations range from exclusion from school, to violence and forced displacement.

Irán

Shahin Lahouti was arrested, along with seven other Christians, during a raid on a prayer meeting in October 2012. False political charges were brought against them to cover up for the fact that they were really arrested because of their conversion to Christianity. They were sentenced to 18 months in prison but while the others were released on bail, and their appeals are pending, Shahin is still in prison.

Laos

The landlocked south-east Asian nation of Laos doesn’t get a lot of attention in the international media. Nevertheless, Laos is home to a small but growing number of Christians. About 150,000 worship at state-recognised churches belonging to the Roman Catholic Church or the Lao Evangelical Church, with at least 100,000 more Protestants attending unregistered churches. Most of the majority-Buddhist population is tolerant of other religions, but some local officials see Christianity as a foreign religion’ and a threat.

International Day of Prayer

Sixteen years ago, a coalition of Christian organisations decided that the global Church could no longer be silent. They were appalled by the knowledge that more people had died for their Christian faith in the twentieth century than in all the previous centuries combined. They pledged to end our own silence in the face of the suffering of all those persecuted for their religious faith by holding a special day of prayer.

Bangladés

This is a critical time to pray for Bangladesh. This year, deeply rooted social and political tensions have been played out through nationwide protests, clashes between secular and Islamist groups, a controversial war crimes tribunal and an alarming number of attacks on the homes, businesses and places of worship of minority groups.

CSW at the UN

Working at the UN has long been a cornerstone of CSW’s advocacy work. This week, Nigeria, China and Mexico will each undergo their Universal Periodic Review (UPR) a four-yearly analysis of their human rights situation by the other UN member states.

The right to peacefully enthuse others

When South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in July 2011, it was hoped that this would bring an end to years of ethnic and religiously-motivated strife. But the Government of Sudan continues to crack down on Christians.

Egipto

Two years ago, on 9 October 2011, the Egyptian military attacked a peaceful demonstration made up largely of members of the Coptic Christian community in Maspero, Cairo. An estimated 28 people were killed and over 200 were injured in the violence.

Nigeria

On 1 October, Nigeria celebrates its Independence Day. It should be a time of celebration and unity. But the regular attacks on Christians in the northern and central states show just how sharply the country is divided along religious and ethnic lines.

Asia del Sur

South Asia is incredibly diverse and complex, and Christians in the region are sometimes discriminated against, harassed, or even killed for their faith.