Response: January 2021

Your insight into religious freedom

January–April 2021

On the frontlines

& prayer diary

Forced from home because of their religion: Uriel and Adelina’s story

Also inside this edition: Perspectives: An impossible vision Your impact: The difference you've made in 2020 and more...

Turn to the back cover to start your new Prayer Diary

Lead story: The difference you've made in 2020

Photo Unsplash_Guido HN

The difference you've made in 2020

March & June: Cuba

■ Pastors released from prison

■ Throughout the past year we’ve celebrated a series of amazing

breakthroughs - and none of it would have been possible without you.

Your gifts, campaigning and prayers have seen captives released, unjust rulings overturned and families reunited! Your support is achieving real change for people who suffer injustice for their beliefs.

March & April: Iran

Photo Unsplash_Parastoo Maleki

Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made religious communities across the world more vulnerable and has exacerbated existing tensions, our God is still on the throne and is still answering the prayers of his people.

Adya Expósito Leyva was released in March after serving over 11 months of an 18-month sentence, and her husband Ramón was released in June after serving 14 months of a two-year sentence. They had both been imprisoned for removing their children, Ruth and Joel, from the state-run school system due to teacher-led bullying because of their family's faith.

For most of his imprisonment, Ramón was placed in a maximum-security unit where he was denied conditional freedom and was permitted only one visit per month.

■ Christian prisoners released Pastor Amin Khaki was sentenced to 14 months in prison for ‘spreading propaganda against the Islamic Republic of Iran’. Rokhsare Ghanbari (Mahrokh) was sentenced to one year in prison on charges of ‘spreading propaganda against the system’.

July: Mexico

■ Supreme Court rules in favour of Jehovah’s Witnesses The National Supreme Court of Justice ruled in favour of a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses who had been forced out of their homes because of their beliefs.

In December 2017 the group was violently removed from their homes in Tuxpan de Bolaños, Jalisco State, along with several Protestant Christians, after they refused to participate in some community activities because of their religious beliefs. They’d then had to live in temporary accommodation.

The Supreme Court ruled that they must be reintegrated into a different plot within the territory of their communities, and ordered the state authorities to guarantee their safety while that happens.

Both were released temporarily as part of efforts to control the rapid spread of COVID-19 in Iran’s prison system, and were subsequently informed that they did not need to return to complete their sentences.

Fatemeh Bakhteri (Aylar) was sentenced to one year in prison and was barred from social activities for two years after being found guilty of ‘spreading propaganda against the regime’. She was released temporarily after serving the first few months of her sentence, and was later informed she had been pardoned for Persian New Year.

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All images by CSW unless otherwise stated.

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Lead story: The difference you've made in 2020 July: Eritrea

Claire Denman United Nations Officer

■ Special Rapporteur’s mandate renewed The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) voted to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur (SR) on human rights in Eritrea for another year.

Eritrean officials are deemed to have been committing crimes against humanity, the most serious human rights violations, since 1991. Human rights, including freedom of religion or belief, are regularly violated – yet Eritrea is in its second year as a member of the HRC. The SR is the UN’s expert on Eritrea’s human rights situation, and their work is the only independent, international means of monitoring and exposing the truth about how Eritrea treats its citizens. Ultimately, this is how the government can be held accountable.

Every year the SR’s mandate comes up for renewal, and every year CSW staff and others work hard to persuade the 47 member states of the HRC to vote for the renewal. This involves meeting country representatives (currently via online video call) to present our latest findings on Eritrea.

The core group of HRC countries that took the resolution for renewal forward concluded that ‘independent HRC scrutiny is essential.’

■ Journalist and lawyer for the Rigals released

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■ Pastor A Dao released from prison Pastor A Dao was released on 18 September after more than four years in prison. He was not expected to be released until August 2021.

Pastor A Dao was arrested in 2016 while on his way to visit some members of his church following his return from a conference on freedom of religion or belief. In April 2017, Pastor A Dao was sentenced to five years in prison for ‘illegally taking people to Thailand’, a charge he denies. Pastor A Dao’s church has experienced ongoing harassment from the authorities.

In June 2020, Commissioner James Carr of the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom pledged to adopt Pastor A Dao as part of the Commission’s Religious Prisoners of Conscience Project.

In response to the pastor’s release, Commissioner Carr said: ‘I hope this release is a sign that the Vietnamese government is serious about improving religious freedom conditions and will release other individuals detained for their religious freedom advocacy, including Nguyen Bac Truyen.’

September: Eritrea

■ Christian prisoners conditionally released

Roberto Quiñones Haces, a journalist and lawyer, was released after spending nearly a year in prison for his work reporting on the trial of Cuban pastors Ramón Rigal and Adya Expósito Leyva (see ‘Pastors released from prison’).

Releases in August of 101 members of the Muslim community, who had been detained since 2018, were followed by the releases in August and September of at least 64 Christians. They had been imprisoned without charge or trial because of their religious belief in Mai Serwa and Me’eter prisons for between two and 16 years.

Mr Quiñones Haces, 63, was imprisoned on 11 September 2019 on charges of ‘disobedience’ and ‘resistance’ because of his work as an independent journalist.

The releases initially appeared to be linked to the spread of COVID-19. However, the prisoners had to provide guarantors and these guarantors could risk losing their properties, and even their own freedom, if one of the detainees leaves the country.

During his imprisonment, numerous international human rights organisations, including Article 19, the Institute for War and Peace Reporting and Amnesty International, called for his release.

Moreover, just two weeks earlier, several Christians, including five church leaders and around eight women had been arrested in Asmara and Dekemhare respectively. According to one of our sources: ‘They [the government] cannot detain everybody, so they keep you for some time, hoping that you will become weak or frightened. Then they put in other people.’

Photo Unsplash_mulugeta wolde

September: Cuba

September: Vietnam

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The difference you've made in 2020

“I knew I had to do something to help...”

■ I was listening to Premier Radio,

We spoke to two supporters, Ann and Ros, to find out what inspired them to support CSW's work for freedom of religion or belief.

“My giving is essential for the people who are suffering” ■ I came across CSW through my church – I had no idea there

was so much persecution. You just live in a bubble in the UK. I used to put money by for charities each month, and CSW was one of them. Then, I decided to give regularly. I keep giving because you report on so many persecutions and you support everybody. I wouldn’t dream of giving any other way.

When I tell others about CSW, I point out that you were reporting the Syria crisis before the world realised it was a crisis. The same with the Uyghur Muslims. I played the video about Rev Omar Gude Perez (the leader of a network of independent churches in Cuba, who was in prison) in church and it had some people in tears – it’s so relatable. The other story that moved me was Helen Berhane, the [Eritrean] singer who was in a [shipping] container for two years.

I can’t imagine what that’s like.

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For those who are thinking about giving regularly to CSW, you won’t regret it. They’re very good at keeping people informed. It’s easy to call someone at the office for a chat. The principle I’ve always applied is you won’t actually lose out financially by giving. That’s one aspect of trusting God – it’s part of your monthly budgeting like food. It’s essential – my giving is essential for the people who are suffering. Ann Small

to a show called Voice for the Voiceless with Mervyn Thomas and Stuart Windsor, talking about persecuted Christians around the world. I didn’t know anything about it before this, but I thought I had to do something about it. I thought there must be other people feeling the same way as I did and if we could get together to pray, that would be something positive we could do.

Sometimes it’s difficult, but I feel that the least we can do is to keep on praying. People who are being persecuted have to keep on going, and so should we.

You can do as little or as much as you like, but it’s better to do something than nothing. Even if there’s only two or three of you praying together regularly, it’s still so powerful.

Ros Dalton, CSW Ambassador

“I use the prayer diary for CSW and it is really good to feel a part of that work”

“I’d just finished my half hour slot praying [for Pastor Nadarkhani] and then found out he had been released.

It was amazing!”

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In focus: The United Nations

Challenges old and new: working with the UN during the pandemic

So, Claire, how have you found working at the UN since the pandemic?

I must admit, engaging with the UN remotely has been quite a challenge!

The UN’s had to make some adjustments to its operational functions and procedures, because of COVID-19 and funding issues. UN staff, member states and NGOs have had to find new and creative ways of working to ensure they continue to be powerful, outspoken voices for justice in an increasingly virtual world.

What exactly has changed about the way you work?

Well, travel to start with. In a normal year I would travel back and forth between the UK and Geneva for important meetings and events, and to address the UN’s Human Rights Council.

But, understandably, this isn’t possible at the moment.

■ Like many of you, our staff have had to get to grips with

working from home since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Claire Denman, who leads our work at the UN, has probably noticed more changes in her day-to-day role than most at CSW. We spoke to her to find out how her work has evolved, and to ask her about one of our biggest UN success stories last year: the renewal of the Special Rapporteur’s mandate on Eritrea.

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So much of our work at the UN depends on building relationships with country representatives and UN staff. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of this networking would take place in person – through meetings and seminars, and often in informal settings, such as over coffee. It’s been challenging not being able to do this.

That said, I thank God every day for the blessing of technology! It really has been a lifesaver for our work. It’s meant we’ve still been able to submit case information to UN experts and I’ve

been able to arrange online meetings and speak during Council sessions via video conferencing, when previously nearly all my interactions were required in person.

Many people have recognised some of the benefits of remote working since the pandemic began – have you noticed any in your work?

Yes, definitely!

In the past, we’ve brought expert witnesses to Geneva, but these opportunities have been limited, for financial or security reasons. Now, we’ve been able to invite human rights defenders from the countries we advocate for to participate in many of our online meetings, which has meant they can share their first-hand knowledge and experience directly with the UN much more easily.

In July the UN Human Rights Council voted to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea. Were you expecting this outcome?

The mandate comes up for renewal each year and it’s always a challenge to ensure we have enough countries on side to push for this. This year was certainly trickier than usual.

One of the difficulties we faced was that, at the time, relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea were thawing and the Africa Group was reluctant to take a stand against Eritrea’s human rights record.

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In focus: Challenges old and new The second major challenge was that we couldn’t travel to Geneva to lobby the various member states in person as we’d normally do. It was much more difficult to effectively apply additional advocacy pressure without being at the UN in person. So it was all the more of a victory that the mandate was renewed again this year!

And why is this mandate so important?

We’ve been lobbying for the UN Human Rights Council to take notice of the situation in Eritrea since 2009, and our first breakthrough came in 2012 when the mandate for the Special Rapporteur was introduced. The role is absolutely fundamental as it’s the only independent, international mechanism for monitoring the human rights situation in the country.

Since the situation in Eritrea remains dire – with religious groups facing severe repression and tens of thousands of people detained without charge or trial in the country’s extensive network of prisons – it’s essential that this mandate continues.

Why is it so important that CSW keeps engaging with the UN? The UN is one of the most important arenas for raising human rights concerns internationally, including the right to freedom of religion or belief.

The UN relies on information from NGOs like CSW when reporting on, monitoring and investigating violations taking place around the world, with the aim of 10

Around the world:

Latest news

securing accountability for perpetrators and justice for victims. While it’s great when the media pick up on important global issues, the UN won’t act unless it receives evidence that is verified, credible and as close to the source as possible. CSW’s consultative status at the UN means we are considered as holding specialist expertise that is valuable to the UN’s work on the right to freedom of religion or belief, so it’s crucial that CSW continues to speak up at the UN for everyone facing injustice because of their religion or belief.

There’s clearly been a lot of change at the UN this year. Do you think any of the changes are here to stay?

I hope so! The changes enabling remote participation were introduced as interim measures, but there’s been widespread support of them from NGOs and member states. In many ways the UN has become more accessible – both from a financial and security perspective – and I’m cautiously optimistic that some of these new systems will continue in a post-pandemic world. Not least as some of them should save the UN some money too!

Latest news updates India

Nigeria

Christian homes ransacked

Professor Tarfa released on bail

In September 2020, a large mob ransacked the homes of Christian families belonging to the Scheduled Tribes, who are an ethnic and religious minority, in Kondagaon District, Chhattisgarh. The mob also destroyed farmland and property. A few days before the attacks the families had refused to make a donation towards a Hindu festival.

Additionally, targeted violence against Christians in Jharkhand State has become a growing concern. Also in September 2020, seven Christians belonging to the Khariya tribal group in Bheri Kudar village were attacked by a mob who partially shaved their heads and forced them to chant ‘Jai Sri Ram’ (translation: ‘Long live Shri Ram’, a Hindu deity).

Pray

that the work of the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea would be effective, and the mandate renewed again this coming July.

Homes in Chhattisgarh, India

Professor Richard Solomon Musa Tarfa, the co-founder of orphanages for unwanted Christian children in Nigeria’s Kano and Kaduna states, was released on bail in December 2020 after nearly a year in pretrial detention.

He was arrested on Christmas Day 2019 at his home in the Du Merci Centre in the Christian district of the Kano State capital and charged with operating an orphanage illegally, which was later changed to criminal abduction of minors. Both charges are completely unfounded.

After repeated delays in hearings for a review of the original excessive bail stipulations, new bail terms were set in November 2020 and the professor was reunited with his family a few weeks later.

Professor Tarfa

Christians whose heads were partially shaved, India

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Around the world:

Feature: Burma

Latest news

Pakistan Ahmadi Muslim shot dead

The Sudanese Church of Christ Executive Committee

Charges against church leaders dropped Eight leaders of the Sudanese Church of Christ have had all charges against them dropped. The leaders were initially arrested in August 2017 for refusing to hand over control of the church to an unelected governmentbacked committee. Despite a dismissal of the case in August 2018 by the court of first instance, it was reopened in July 2019. Their three-year ordeal finally came to an end on 19 October 2020, when a criminal court in Omdurman acquitted the leaders of all charges.

Professor Naeemuddin Khattak

Photo: Toby Madden/CSW

Sudan

On World Teacher’s Day in October 2020, Professor Naeemuddin Khattak, an Ahmadi Muslim, was shot dead in Peshawar, northern Pakistan.

Professor Khattak was returning home after his lectures when he was killed by unidentified men on a motorcycle. He leaves behind his wife, two sons and three daughters. Initial information suggested that the murder was religiously motivated.

"Let our hearts be strengthened with the boldness of faith…"

■ There was widespread joy and celebration at the end of over 50 years of military rule, when Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy swept the board in Burma’s 2015 elections.

After decades of the oppression and violence of military rule, there was a promise of hope: the chance for a freer, brighter future - especially for the country’s religious and ethnic communities.

Sadly, the reality today stands in stark contrast to the post-election hopes of 2015. But we will never stop praying and campaigning for justice and freedom for all Burma’s people.

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Feature: Burma 'No one would have predicted where we would be today’ In the run-up to Burma’s elections last November, CSW’s Senior Analyst for East Asia, Benedict Rogers, explained: ‘Burma approached the crossroads of democratisation, peace-building and national reconciliation – and went into reverse…

ignored. Instead, the Union Election Committee unilaterally decided to cancel voting in 56 townships in ethnic areas, using the conflict as the pretext, disenfranchising more than a million people.

When you take into account the internally displaced, the refugees who are still on Burma’s borders and have not been able to return home,

"Burma approached the crossroads of democratisation, peace-building and national reconciliation – and went into reverse…"

‘The gains that were made in terms of human rights have largely been lost – today, once again, there is the tragedy of political prisoners, refugees, media censorship, religious intolerance, continuing military offensives against ethnic groups involving war crimes and crimes against humanity and, most shockingly, a genocide [of the Rohingya Muslims] that Aung San Suu Kyi herself went to the International Court of Justice in the Hague last year to defend...Most fair-minded people would acknowledge the limitations she was under. But almost no one would have predicted where we would be today.’

As the elections drew near Burma was battling with a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, making voting more difficult and more dangerous.

Calls for the elections to be postponed in the face of the pandemic were

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and the entire Rohingya population, the number of disenfranchised tops two million - and the disenchanted far exceeds it.

A cause for hope: ‘Be a good Samaritan to a wounded humanity…’

But there is still cause for hope. The Church in Burma has been a powerful force of love across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the risks and challenges, churches have given practical help to many in need, as well as undertaking their own advocacy. As part of Religions for Peace (an international interfaith NGO) church leaders issued a passionate appeal for a ceasefire by all parties.

CSW echoed their ceasefire calls in all of our advocacy in the UK, at the United Nations and European Union.

In the crowded camps for Internally Displaced Persons, the Church distributed protective equipment, helped with preventive measures and and sanitised the camps. His Eminence Cardinal Bo, Archbishop of Rangoon, told us, ‘Mercifully the camps are spared of the expected spread.’

And as the second wave hit, Cardinal Bo encouraged the Church to continue to ‘be a Good Samaritan to a wounded humanity’, reminding them that ‘love has no lockdown’.

‘Let our hearts be strengthened with the boldness of faith…’

As we reflect on what lies ahead for Burma, we hold fast to the words of Cardinal Bo in the run-up to the elections and in the face of COVID-19, saying, ‘During these challenging times, let our hearts be strengthened with the boldness of faith. Let us joyfully proclaim with Apostle Paul: “If God is with us who can be against us!”’

The last five years may have been disappointing, the challenges may seem insurmountable, but our prayer is that they are but a prelude to a brighter future for a country that has suffered too much for too long.

"When you take into account the internally displaced, the refugees who are still on Burma’s borders and have not been able to return home, and the entire Rohingya population, the number of disenfranchised tops two million - and the disenchanted far exceeds it."

Pray

with us for a brighter future for Burma using the prayers on p.26.

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Perspectives:

An impossible vision

Scot Bower, CEO

Striving after the impossible consciously, confidently and with complete conviction

■ As many of you no doubt know, CSW’s vision is ‘a world free

from religious persecution’. This may appear to be a reasonably straightforward mission, but if we stop for a moment to consider the subject more carefully, we can quickly find ourselves questioning how realistic a vision this in fact is.

'In this world you will have trouble’ ( John 16:33) Jesus forewarned his followers that they’d endure suffering and persecution – an inevitable part of the Christian life, for as long as they inhabit the world to which they don’t belong.

But if suffering for the sake of Christ is part of the course of life for believers, does this mean that we should be resigned to this reality and give up our mission now? If we believe our vision won’t be realised in this life – indeed that it’s contrary to Christ’s own teaching – are we wasting our time and energy in striving for the theologically unattainable?

Our CEO, Scot Bower, was recently asked this question in an interview with TWR-UK. When asked whether 16

he thought CSW’s vision of ‘a world free from religious persecution’ was achievable in our lifetime, after a few moments’ reflection Scot provided the only response he felt fitting: ‘Just because something’s impossible doesn’t mean you don’t shoot for it.’

‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest’ (Galatians 6:9)

"As Christians, we’re called to every work which sees us partaking in God’s mission on earth. At CSW that means speaking up for those denied their religious freedom." we’re only too conscious of our responsibility to those for whom we work, and to you, our supporters.

But we should also not fear working towards a goal which appears impossible. We advocate for those unable to practise their religion or belief freely, because it is good and right to do so. And we know that at the proper time we will reap a harvest as a result.

‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works’ (Ephesians 2:10) Christ teaches us, quite resolutely, that the poor will always be with us – but he in no way suggests that we ought to accept this state of poverty. Rather, he instructs us to offer practical and material support to those in need (Matthew 25:34).

And he was right. Our doing good – our striving for a world free from religious persecution – doesn’t depend on whether we think, theologically speaking, this ambition is attainable.

So too we can expect persecution, but we certainly can’t accept it.

That’s not to say that we should waste our time with work that has no direction or possible hope of success;

Scot’s full interview with TWR-UK at csw.org.uk/twr-interview

As Christians, we’re called to every work which sees us partaking in God’s mission on earth. At CSW that means speaking up for those denied their religious freedom.

Yes, there will be times when the work seems overwhelming and impossible.

But just because the journey is hard – and the ultimate destination unreachable in this life – we are no less determined to pursue this calling.

Our vision is indeed of a world free from religious persecution and we will continue to work towards this vision for however long it takes – not naively, but passionately, with conviction and knowing that there is no greater work in this life than to bring God’s heavenly kingdom to earth.

What’s more, we have every confidence that God will continue to reassure us of his presence along the way. With every prisoner released, every unjust sentence overturned, every gift received – he is encouraging us to continue to pursue this work.

For his kingdom and glory.

Watch

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On the frontlines: Mexico

Forced from home because of their religion:

Uriel and Adelina’s story ■ In July 2019 four Protestant Christians were forcibly displaced

from the village of Cuamontax Huazalingo in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico as a result of the ongoing harassment they had been experiencing since October 2018 on account of their religious beliefs. Uriel Badillo Lara and his wife Adelina Simón Pozos were among those forced to leave their homes. We spoke to Uriel to find out about the effect this has had on his family.

My name is Uriel Badillo Lara.

I’m originally from the Cuamontax community, in the municipality of Huazalingo, Hidalgo State, but I’m currently living in my sister’s house in Atlaltipa Tecolotitla, in the municipality of Atlapexco, along with my parents, my wife and our newborn.

What is the situation of religious freedom in Mexico?

There’s a lot of discrimination for belonging to a religion different from the majority, especially in Hidalgo.

The situation is difficult. When you’re a religious minority, the government doesn’t do much to support you.

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Have you experienced religious freedom violations?

Yes, in 2011 [Protestant] Christians were prohibited from entering and preaching in my community. Over the years, tensions rose; on 8 November 2018 the community cut off our electricity and on 25 November they cut off our water. Then on 28 July 2019 my family and I were expelled from the village... since then I’ve been prohibited from accessing the community.

done anything about it. The case was also submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Office [UN Special Rapporteur], but the government’s response didn’t address the specific questions raised. The discrimination against us is ongoing.

register our baby’s birth there. Instead we’ve registered our baby in the municipality of Atlapexco.

How has the coronavirus affected you?

We’d like to be able to return to our house, and that each individual can choose to believe whatever they like without being persecuted. We want people not to be harassed to pay for Catholic religious holidays that are celebrated in Mexico. That the persecution in my country would end, and that my daughter can choose her beliefs with all the freedom guaranteed by the Mexican constitution without her facing discrimination or persecution.

The coronavirus has affected us a lot economically, and even more so because I do not have a permanent job.

Here in Mexico, there are quite a few restrictions, we can’t congregate at church, and in my opinion, in practice, the guarantee of ‘religious freedom’ in Mexico is sometimes a dead letter.

You’ve had some good news recently.

Can you share that with us?

God gave me a wonderful gift, the best I would say, he gave us a beautiful baby, and now we have the happiness of being parents. Because of our displacement we’re no longer recognised as community members of Cuamontax and were unable to

If you could say one thing to our supporters about religious freedom in Mexico, what would it be?

Pray

Please pray for Uriel, his wife Adelina and daughter Zurisadai. Pray that their situation is resolved and that they’ll have a place to call home. Find more prayer points for Mexico on p.30.

Have you reported the case?

I’ve reported it to the Public Prosecutor, but the government hasn’t

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Get involved: How to take on a giant

How to take on a giant Repressed, Removed, Re-Educated: The stranglehold on religious life in China February 2020

■ We wanted to update you on our China campaign in 2020 and, at the same time, show how your campaigning fits into CSW’s broader advocacy strategy.

September

■ 1,449 of you wrote to high street

March

brands like Marks & Spencer, urging them to ensure they do not use Uyghur forced labour in their supply chains.

Within just a few weeks, many of you received a direct response from Marks & Spencer and we gave you guidance on how to respond, to keep up the pressure.

■ CSW published a report,

‘Repressed, Removed, Re-educated: The stranglehold on religious life in China’. As is so often the case, credible research is the foundation for our campaigning.

As a member of the Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region we are coordinating our efforts with over 180 other organisations; the campaign has received strong press coverage and we were able to apply much more pressure.

April

■ 1,648 of you wrote to your MPs

raising the Uyghur crisis and China’s ‘re-education camps’. Our Parliamentary Officer also met with ten MPs and provided over 60 briefings ahead of debates, and we submitted evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry into these camps. Thanks in part to these efforts, the Uyghur crisis has received significant action from MPs, with 130 MPs signing a cross-party letter to the Chinese Ambassador in September, condemning the treatment of Uyghurs.

June

■ CSW used its special consultative status at

the UN to highlight the plight of Christians, Uyghur Muslims and others, and briefed state representatives behind the scenes.

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October

■ CSW made submissions of evidence to a parliamentary inquiry on the ‘reeducation camps’ in Xinjiang, China.

A second inquiry explored the use of forced labour in UK supply chains.

November

■ Prayer underpins our work all year

round and, for IDOP (International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church), we focused on the case of Early Rain Church, mobilising thousands to pray.

Be a part

Be part of the next phase! Add your voice at csw.org.uk/campaigns

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Feature: Colombia

Left: A photographic series showing the faces of those disappeared and killed, in a museum dedicated to the memory of the victims of the armed conflict

According to one NGO there were 251 registered murders in Colombia in 2020.

Colombia: Planting seeds of hope amid conflict and COVID-19 ■ 30 November marked the fourth anniversary of the approval of

a peace agreement between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (the FARC-EP) by the Colombian Congress. Four years later the country still has a long way to go, as violence continues in several departments and those working in peacebuilding find themselves increasingly targeted by armed actors.

Add to this the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the picture is one of serious concern. CSW spoke to Pablo Moreno, Rector of the Unibautista Baptist Seminary in Cali and Director of the Colombian Council of Evangelical Churches Peace Commission (CEDECOL).

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected Colombia much like the rest of the world.

There have been months of upheaval, and periods of lockdown have shifted many areas of human life into the virtual realm.

In the midst of this, violence has increased. Illegal armed groups occupying territories abandoned by the FARC-EP are fighting among themselves for control over drug trafficking routes.

At the same time these groups are used to frighten the population to make them leave their homes.

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One of the most serious problems facing the country today is the murders of social leaders and human rights defenders (HRDs), including individuals who signed the 2016 peace agreement.

According to one NGO there were 251 registered murders in Colombia in 2020 [correct at the time of going to print], with the departments of Cauca and Antioquia most affected.

In Bajo Cauca Antioquia, an evangelical pastor who was targeted by a paramilitary group had to be relocated with her family after one of her children was targeted with threats and sexual violence.

On one hand, we recognise that the road to peace is long, tedious and dangerous, albeit encouraging.

For several years we have accompanied hundreds of victims of forced internal displacement (IDPs) who are active members of their churches in their new locations. We have learned that it doesn’t always end there. On several occasions, those we have helped have been displaced again just when they were achieving stability. In the midst of these circumstances, pastors, leaders, women and youth have emerged as leaders of their communities to maintain a hope of a better tomorrow.

Their testimony has motivated others to continue working for peace.

On the other hand, churches and their leaders face restrictions on their ability to develop cooperative community actions and emergency care and development projects. In a context dominated by

armed actors, unarmed civil society including the churches have lost their freedom to move from one location to another or to work on these types of projects. Those who don’t obey the orders of armed groups have been threatened, pressured, and prevented from holding religious gatherings.

Some IDPs migrate to cities as a result of the pressure from armed groups. Here various pastors have been threatened for coming alongside those who have been displaced, as IDPs are often monitored by informers who collaborate to ensure that they [the IDPs] are not recruited by a political or religious group that might prevent them [the armed group] from maintaining control.

Finally, it is important to highlight that progress has been made in the development of communities so that they can undertake initiatives that help them temporarily rebuild their economic situation. For several years now we have called these projects ‘seeds of hope’, which encourage churches and communities to maintain their faith and hope in the midst of the uncertainty produced by what they have suffered.

In these two departments there are a significant number of evangelical churches which are not immune to the effects of the worsening insecurity in their territories.

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We believe you can help. Get involved at csw.org.uk

We believe in the power of prayer to bring change.

Our manifesto #13

We believe your voice holds unimaginable power and can save lives.

CSW is a human rights organisation advocating for freedom of religion or belief. As Christians we stand with everyone facing injustice because of their religion or belief.

T +44 (0)20 8329 0010 @CSW_UK /CSWUK csw.org.uk Registered Charity No. 281836

PO Box 99 New Malden Surrey, KT3 3YF United Kingdom