{"id":31925,"date":"2022-06-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-06-23T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csw-yeo.1wp.site\/magazines\/we-shall-overcome-the-struggle-for-freedom-around-the-world-5740\/"},"modified":"2026-09-21T21:21:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T20:21:46","slug":"we-shall-overcome-the-struggle-for-freedom-around-the-world-5740","status":"publish","type":"magazines","link":"https:\/\/www.csw.org.uk\/zh\/magazines\/we-shall-overcome-the-struggle-for-freedom-around-the-world-5740\/","title":{"rendered":"We shall overcome: the struggle for freedom around the world"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2018Deep in my heart I do believe we shall overcome. And I believe it because somehow the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.\u2019 – Rev Dr Martin Luther King Jr<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr King spoke these words in a sermon he preached during the Civil Rights movement, in which hundreds of thousands of people joined protests supporting the human rights struggle of African Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today we\u2019re seeing protest movements around the world continue to fight for human rights: last year we saw ordinary people from all walks of life rise up to call for their basic rights and freedoms in a number of countries we work on \u2013 including Sudan and Cuba.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In both countries people of faith participated actively, and religious groups made public statements in support of freedom of expression and against government crackdowns \u2013 in some cases for the first time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historic advances<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sudan\u2019s military seized power in a coup on 25 October 2021, bringing to an abrupt end the transitional government that had been established following the removal of former president Omar al Bashir. The military arrested members of the civilian-led administration, dissolved the Sovereign Council and the Cabinet, and brought national television and radio stations under military control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The citizens of Sudan refused to accept this. Peaceful protests took place around the country, but they were met with violence. Yet the protestors did not give up, unwilling to forgo the historic advances in freedom and justice that had been made under the transitional government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These advances included decriminalising apostasy (leaving a religion), removing flogging as a punishment for blasphemy, and introducing rules allowing non-Muslims to drink, import and sell alcohol. They also announced the creation of an independent national commission for religious freedom, and a Ministry for Peace and Human Rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A turbulent history<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sudan is no stranger to protests \u2013 it was protests that brought about the transitional government in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In December 2018 demonstrations broke out across the country. What started as protests against a government decision that had tripled the price of bread, very calls for democratic reforms and the removal of former president al Bashir. Protestors were also demanding justice for the decades of atrocities that had been committed under the al Bashir regime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Throughout the protests there were inspiring displays of religious harmony by Christians and Muslims alike, such as an open-air church service where Christians and Muslims sang hymns together, and Christians preparing food for Muslims to break their Ramadan fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a church service at the demonstration site Rafaat Sameer, Chairman of the Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church (SPEC) Land and Building Committee, said: \u2018This is a time to move away from the trenches of religious and ethnic discrimination and head towards an inclusive and unifying Sudanese national identity for all of us. This is the time to open the door for equal opportunities and better life for all.\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Al Bashir was removed from office in April 2019, and following months of negotiations, a civilian-led transitional government was formed that September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since last October\u2019s military coup which ended that government, activists have continued to organise peaceful mass demonstrations. The military has responded with violence, leading to at least 96 dead and thousands injured and jailed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seven years in prison for a peaceful protest<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you read this, Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo is serving an unjust seven-year sentence in Cuba, simply for the \u2018crime\u2019 of peacefully protesting. You can read more of his story on p.2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He was arrested after participating in peaceful protests that took place across Cuba in July 2021, and in December 2021 was convicted of \u2018disrespect\u2019, \u2018assault\u2019, \u2018criminal incitement\u2019 and \u2018public disorder\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pastor Lorenzo had joined the spontaneous peaceful demonstrations which took place in the context of Cuba\u2019s ongoing and severe economic crisis, a record surge in COVID-19 cases, and an ongoing crackdown on human rights and pro-democracy movements. Protesters called for political change, chanting \u2018Homeland and life\u2019, a twist on the Cuban Communist Party\u2019s slogan \u2018Homeland or death\u2019, \u2018Freedom\u2019 and \u2018We are not afraid!\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Police and state security forces responded with violence and mass detentions. Pastor Lorenzo told a lawyer that he was handcuffed, thrown to the ground and repeatedly kicked with force in his abdomen and face, resulting in the loss of a tooth. One of the guards who took part in the beating later confirmed this in a confession to another pastor and to Pastor Lorenzo\u2019s wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A cry for freedom<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll have noticed some common themes in the protests in Sudan and in Cuba. Protests that began small but quickly grew larger, courageous yet peaceful demonstrators violently attacked by police and military – and above all, an insistent cry for freedom, justice and human rights. A stubborn belief that we shall, one day, overcome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pray with us<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Use Week 10 of the Prayer Diary<\/b><\/a> to pray for God\u2019s Kingdom of freedom, justice and peace to come in these countries and many others around the world.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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