Response: January 2022

The difference your support made in 2021

January-April 2022

Mervyn Thomas briefs the Prime Minister

Photo: RICARDO ROJAS/REUTERS -stock.adobe.com

Promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief

Also inside this issue: Feature: Amplifying voices at the UN Spotlight on Myanmar: Campaigning in the aftermath of the coup Feature: The struggle for freedom in Cuba

Cuban residents gather to protest against the Cuban government amid widespread shortages of basic goods, demands for political rights and the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Four years at the UN: Calling the world to action ■ On 19 April 2017, CSW became the first organisation with a

sole focus on freedom of religion or belief for all to be granted official United Nations accreditation. We have what is known as Consultative Status, thanks to our specialist expertise.

This was a huge boost for CSW: a vote of confidence in us as an organisation, as well as opening the doors to key advocacy platforms at the UN. Four years on, how have we made use of this valuable accreditation?

Gaining UN accreditation was a struggle in itself. After eight years of deferrals, it was finally granted by the UN’s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), following an appeal process, after our status was rejected by the UN Committee on Non-Governmental Organisations. The accreditation process was made so difficult because the committee responsible for accrediting NGOs included some of the countries we work on, whose governments naturally wanted to stop CSW from exposing their human rights violations at every opportunity. But we persevered because we know that freedom of religion or belief is a right worth protecting; it must be recognised as a priority by policymakers at the UN. We are thankful that the appeal was successful, and are grateful for the support we received from the UK Mission to the UN in New York, and others, along the way.

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What have we achieved since gaining Consultative Status?

‘Success can be hard to measure at the UN because so much of what we do is about being committed to the longhaul,’ says UN Officer, Claire Denman.

‘Government systems rarely change for the better overnight.’

However, one measure of success would be the amount of consistent reporting on freedom of religion or belief we have been able to do through the mechanisms of the UN. Between April 2017 and October 2021, CSW representatives have actively participated in every session of the UN Human Rights Council – even through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since gaining UN accreditation, we have delivered 129 oral statements and submitted 22 written statements, organised 13 side events, and raised over 23 cases of concern with the UN Special Procedures, and in 2021 alone, we participated in three emergency meetings of the Human Rights Council.

‘Although we may not always see the long-term change we desire in every case or country, each interaction at the UN helps build momentum and is a vital step on the journey to freedom.’

In addition, CSW has made 20 submissions to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and engaged with seven treaty body reviews of states.

Each of these figures represents an opportunity for people in power to hear the voices of victim-survivors and for CSW to raise critical concerns regarding the right to freedom of religion or belief.

Although we may not always see the long-term change we desire in every case or country, each interaction at the UN helps build momentum and is a vital step on the journey to freedom.

Amplifying voices One of Claire’s highlights has been using our status to amplify the voices of those suffering for their faith, especially being able to bring individuals to the UN to speak first-hand about their experiences.

‘For me, it’s one of the most powerful ways we can use our consultative status.’

It is also hugely encouraging to see CSW’s expertise and credibility recognised by numerous actors engaging with the UN. CSW has been called upon to join panel discussions to speak specifically into the situation for

freedom of religion or belief minorities alongside other rights experts, and in 2021 , we were the first specialist NGO to be featured in a social media campaign by the UK Mission to the UN, which allowed thousands more people to hear about what we do.

Looking ahead There are many more ways our accreditation has enabled us to advance our work, although not every achievement can be shared publicly.

But our team is working tirelessly to make use of every opportunity to protect, promote and uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief on the international stage.

In the years to come, we hope and pray that our calls for change will result in more concrete action from people in power – especially regarding China, where the UN has been slower to act.

Until then, Claire says: ‘We will roll up our sleeves and continue the work.’

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oral statements presented written statements submitted cases of concern raised submissions to Universal Periodic Reviews side events emergency meetings of the Human Rights Council

Get involved

Please keep praying for Claire and our work at the UN. You can find specific prayer points on page 9 of the prayer diary.

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Spotlight on: Latin America

Cuban residents gather to protest against the Cuban government amid widespread shortages of basic goods, demands for political rights and the handling of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The struggle for freedom in Cuba

■ 2021 was a significant year for Cuba. The handling of the

COVID-19 pandemic, general repression and major shortages of food and other basics triggered a spontaneous wave of peaceful protests across the island in July. Cuba’s citizens united with cries of ‘homeland and life’ and ‘we are not afraid’.

The calls for freedom rang through communities in an unprecedented way since 1959. For the first time we witnessed Christians praying openly on the streets: the hope of change bursting forth.

Then came the crackdown…

President Miguel Díaz-Canel went on television and gave an ‘order to combat’, commanding all ‘revolutionaries’ to go out to reclaim the streets. Police and state security met the peaceful protestors with violence and detained or forcibly disappeared over 800 people.

Church leaders were among those targeted – many were detained or ‘disappeared’ by police and state security. Meanwhile the families of those detained faced pressure from authorities: families were evicted, or warned not to speak to human rights organisations like CSW, wives were fired from their jobs, children celebrated birthdays without their parents.

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But we didn’t stay silent - and neither did you!

A wave of prayer, advocacy and campaigning You rose up in an incredible way to stand with CSW in campaigning and praying for the church leaders detained in the protests and to support their families. Thank you so much!

Photo: RICARDO ROJAS/REUTERS -stock.adobe.com

From pandemic to protests:

‘I pray to God for each one of the people who fights tirelessly for the victims' rights and freedom, you are true heroes. I give thanks to every member of the CSW team for your support…’

Maridilegnis Carballo, wife of Pastor Lorenzo.

Over 4,000 of you have campaigned, demanding the release of Reverend Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo, who was violently arrested in the protests. At the time of writing, Pastor Lorenzo is being held in a maximum-security prison, where he has been beaten and assaulted.

On 20 and 21 December, Pastor Lorenzo was put on trial, along with other protesters, and received a sentencing date in early January 2022. His wife, Maridilegnis described the trial as, ‘two days in which the truth did not prevail’.

Photo: Pastor Lorenzo and family

He is being targeted because he’s a church leader, and this case is part of a long-standing campaign against him that goes back to 2009, when his home, which was also where his church met, was confiscated.

But you have stood with him and his family when they needed it most.

Thank you for continuing to stand up for justice, no matter how long it takes.

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Spotlight on: Latin America

The impact of our advocacy and campaigning Although Pastor Lorenzo is still detained, the conditions in which he is being held have improved – in large part thanks to international advocacy, campaigning and, above all, prayer.

He is now permitted weekly visits or phone calls with his family, compared to only being allowed a handful of three-minute calls between August and October and being held completely incommunicado in July.

While we haven’t seen the victory of his unconditional release yet, we give thanks for the impact our advocacy, awareness-raising and campaigning have had: • High-level officials in a number of embassies in Havana are now in direct contact with Pastor Lorenzo’s family so they can monitor the situation directly.

• Senior US State Department officials have raised his case, including on social media.

• UN experts working on human rights issues have been briefed on his case.

• Over 13 media outlets have carried Pastor Lorenzo’s story using our case materials.

• Over 4,000 people have signed the petition calling for his release, and the international attention on his planned trial caused the Cuban government to suspend his trial.

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‘I received all these postcards that some UK brothers and sisters sent to cheer us up…’

Pastors Yéremi Blanco Ramírez and Yarian Sierra Madrigal were two of the church leaders you prayed for and encouraged in the aftermath of the protests. The two men were at the protests in Matanzas, when eyewitnesses reported police set dogs on Pastor Yarian, as he was filming violence being used against protestors. He was then violently detained, along with Pastor Yéremi.

The two men were detained incommunicado for two weeks, before being released into house arrest. Both have been fined for taking part in the protests, and have been warned that they will be imprisoned if they are involved in any future protests.

They sent us this message to thank you: ‘It's true that our family and friends were exposed to suffering because we were put in prison unjustly for 14 days for being in the protest that day… However, the difficult times we live in have been dimmed over the course of these months by the mercy God has shown us by reaffirming the friendship of many towards us and giving us new friends in different parts of the world. Today I received all these postcards that some brothers and sisters in the UK sent to cheer us up and let us know they are praying for us and our families. … God has wanted you to make our adversity a spring of joy.’

Thank you so much for praying for and encouraging Pastors Yéremi and Yarian - they are so grateful for your cards, prayers and support.

‘We started asking for international help and I want to thank you for all the support we received from you.’

Reverend Jatniel Pérez, President of the William Carey Bible Institute, Havana.

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Spotlight on: East Asia

Myanmar:

Campaigning in the aftermath of the coup ■ On 1 February, the Burma/Myanmar army seized power in a coup,

declaring a year-long state of emergency and placing the country’s leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and other civilian leaders under house arrest. The coup brought to an end a decade of civilian democratic rule which saw some limited positive political developments.

More than 1,300 people have been killed, over 11,000 people have been arrested and military airstrikes have displaced more than 70,000 people.

Many innocent civilians have been injured, or lost loved ones, and have lost everything they owned. A series of attacks on Christians and churches has killed innocent civilians and injured many more.

In December 2021, ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi was sentenced to two years in prison in the first of a series of verdicts on a total of 11 charges, which could result in her being imprisoned for life.

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Since the coup, CSW has: Photo: ANUSHREE FADNAVIS/REUTERS - stock.adobe.com

ince the coup, we’ve witnessed S the devastation that the military crackdown has wrought across the country. Anti-coup protestors have regularly been met with a violent response by the military and police.

In response to the crisis in Myanmar, our advocacy team mobilised with urgent advocacy interventions calling for targeted sanctions and a global arms embargo. Our supporters echoed those calls in their campaigning.

• Submitted evidence to the UK Foreign Affairs Committee inquiry into the crisis in Myanmar.

• Made an oral statement on the situation in Myanmar at the UN Human Rights Council session in March.

• Signed an open letter from 137 organisations to the UN Security Council and individual UN Member States, calling for a coordinated global arms embargo on Myanmar in response to the military coup.

• Joined over 200 international and Myanmarbased human rights organisations in calling for a global arms embargo on the country.

• Hosted a Global Day of Prayer for Myanmar/ Burma online event viewed over 28,000 times, which was covered in 14 media outlets.

• Led two campaigns through which over 2,180 emails were sent to the UK Foreign Secretary.

• Published over 14 articles and three blogs analysing the events, plus two radio interviews and 13 press releases covered in 16 different media outlets.

We’ve already seen breakthroughs • The UK and US imposed sanctions against Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (MEHL), owned by the military junta in Myanmar/ Burma.

• 119 countries supported a UN Resolution calling for the flow of arms to the military to be cut – a key ask of CSW’s advocacy and campaigning.

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In focus: South Asia

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas, was delighted to be able to meet with the Prime Minister, Mr Linden and Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for South Asia earlier this year.

Following this meeting, we were also asked to brief the India team at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office.

Pakistan European Union condemns ‘alarming increase’ in blasphemy laws

Mervyn Thomas

briefs the Prime Minister ■ Promoting the right to freedom of religion or belief through

advocacy interventions at the highest levels of Parliament is one of the many ways CSW has responded to the rising religious intolerance across South Asia in the last year - thanks to you.

India Just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the UK, we witnessed a rare moment at Prime Minister’s Question Time, when David Linden MP secured a meeting for himself and CSW with the Prime Minister to discuss religious freedom concerns in India.

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The escalating situation in India was of particular concern to Mr Linden, and we are grateful for his commitment not to allow fundamental freedoms and rights to be overlooked in ‘our rush to do business’.

An EU resolution adopted in April last year demanded Islamabad allow freedom for religious minorities and asked for a review of South Asia’s trade status.

The resolution highlighted an ‘alarming increase’ in the number of accusations of blasphemy in Pakistan, the most reported since 1987, saying, ‘Pakistan’s blasphemy laws are increasingly used for personal or political score settling...’

Many allegations are aimed at journalists, human rights defenders, artists and those on the margins.

Thanks to your support, CSW has been speaking out about one of the root causes of religious intolerance

in Pakistan – biased education policy – sending a letter demanding action from the Minister of State for South Asia and handing an evidence-based submission to the APPG on Pakistani Minorities. CSW’s reply from the Minister for South Asia re-stated his commitment that all UK funded programmes to Pakistan on education are inclusive and non-discriminatory.

Christian couple freed after death sentence withdrawn We are so grateful you persevered in prayer for Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar. The Christian couple were released from prison last June, after enduring eight years on death row for a crime they didn’t commit.

They were acquitted of all charges by the Lahore High Court on 3 June 2021.

CSW has worked with our partners advocating for their release since the pair were convicted under Pakistan’s notorious blasphemy laws in 2014.

They were condemned despite a lack of evidence, after being accused of sending text messages disrespecting Islam’s Prophet Mohammad. The couple are both illiterate and unable to text.

A lawyer representing the Christian couple says international pressure, particularly the EU resolution adopted in April 2021, played a ‘vital role’ in their sentence being overturned.

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Spotlight on: Sub Saharan Africa

Nigeria: Fighting for the Du Merci children to be returned home ■ On Christmas Day 2019, as Mrs Tarfa was preparing

Christmas lunch, armed policemen stormed the Du Merci orphanage in Kano, demanding Professor Tarfa and his wife come to the police station for interrogation.

rofessor Tarfa was detained and P informed days later he would be charged with illegally operating the Du Merci orphanages in Kano and Kaduna States, Nigeria, which he founded with his wife.

Professor Tarfa was eventually charged with abducting children from their legal guardians and confining them in an unregistered orphanage.

‘I, on behalf of Du Merci, want to appreciate the family of CSW for standing beside us…’

Professor Tarfa

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He was subsequently remanded in custody on bail terms that appeared deliberately excessive, facing repeated delays and cancellations of bail review hearings. Meanwhile, 27 children were seized from the Du Merci orphanages and placed in a government-run home, where reports soon emerged of their maltreatment.

‘Thanks for the wonderful work you and all the team in CSW have done and are still doing. You have no idea of the inestimable impact that you have made both spiritually, physically and materially.’

Du Merci board member

Advocacy in action Our advocacy team lobbied key policymakers and UN special mechanisms to take action on the professor’s behalf. We also rallied 2,600 supporters across the world to email the Nigerian High Commissioner in London, urging that the Nigerian government should ensure Professor Tarfa’s release.

Professor Tarfa’s case was raised by MPs in parliamentary questions and debates, several members of the UK FoRB Forum called for official interventions on behalf of the professor and Du Merci children in a letter to

the UK Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office, and a House of Lords Peer wrote directly to the Police Commissioner and the Attorney General of Kano State, as well as to the Nigerian High Commission in the UK. As a result, The British High Commission in Abuja raised Professor Tarfa's case with the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria and the Kano State authorities.

The UK Prime Minister's Special Envoy for FoRB also raised the case at a senior level within Nigeria’s Federal Government. Then, after almost a year in detention, Professor Tarfa was released on bail on 10 December 2020.

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Spotlight on: Sub Saharan Africa

Spotlight on: Middle East and North Africa

‘We danced with joy…’

Meanwhile Professor Tarfa had embarked on 150 days of prayer and fasting.

On the 149th day, he was released on bail. And on the 150th, he and his wife Mercy held a party. ‘We danced for joy,’ he said. On 24 June 2021, a court in Kano acquitted Professor Tarfa of abducting children from their legal guardians and confining them in an unregistered orphanage.

Answers to prayer in Iran ■ Imagine you and your close friends are worshipping at a gathering

in your home when you hear a bang on the front door and muffled voices. You look around the room hoping to find a hiding place, but you hear footsteps coming down the hallway. It’s already too late...

We give thanks for this wonderful news but continue to support and speak up for the family, whose ordeal is not yet over.

At the time of writing, Professor Tarfa is awaiting the outcome of a further trial on an unjust forgery charge.

The five youngest Du Merci children who were separated from their siblings are still in a remote orphanage, and we are informed that ten who remain in the original orphanage embarked on a 21-day fast for deliverance on 5 December.

We will continue to pray and to call for justice with Professor Tarfa until his final acquittal, and all of the children are returned home.

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This is what happened at a church meeting in Rasht, northern Iran, when secret police raided the house at which it was being held.

With your support, we have continued to be a voice for justice for the Professor and his family throughout their ordeal. Thank you.

More than 3,000 of you have campaigned on behalf of Professor Tarfa and his family, and so many have been praying over the last two years. Thank you!

Church leaders released from prison Two of three church leaders at this meeting were arrested, then released two weeks later on bail of around £69,000. Morteza Mashhoudkari and Ahmad Sarparast were held at a secret location before their release. The third Christian, Ayoub Pourrezade, was released on bail 12 days later. He was placed in solitary confinement at

Lakan prison for cross examination about church finances.

Although CSW is celebrating their releases, unfounded charges against the men are yet to be dropped.

Christians in the northern city of Rasht have faced intense harassment by the Iranian authorities for several years, and these arrests are emblematic of the regime’s effective criminalisation of Christianity and other minority religious faiths.

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Spotlight on: Middle East and North Africa

‘Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.’

Psalm 23:4

Supreme Court orders the review of sentences of imprisoned Christians In November 2021, the Supreme Court ordered a review of the five-year sentences that were previously handed down to Pastor Matthias Haghnejad and eight other Christian converts.

‘CSW welcomes the judges’ affirmation that proselytising and establishing home churches are not illegal activities, and the prospect that the case against these Christians will be reviewed.’

Mervyn Thomas, CSW Founder President

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The Supreme Court judges stated that they did not consider proselytising and establishing house churches to be illegal activities. The converts had been convicted of ‘endangering state security’ and ‘promoting Zionism’, but it appears the real reason for their imprisonment was their conversion to Christianity.

The Supreme Court also stated that establishing home churches and proselytising are not illegal activities.

A CSW source said: ‘Some judges refuse to take orders from the secret police. This new development does not necessarily mean that they will be released but probably there will be a new trial.’

We give thanks for this encouraging development, and continue to pray for the release and acquittal of all nine men.

Breakthrough with UN ruling over Pastor Nadarkhani A ray of hope shines for imprisoned church leader Yousef Nadarkhani, thanks to a UN finding. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention is asking the Iranian Government for the urgent release of the pastor, who it describes as ‘a target of religious discrimination’.

Pastor Nadarkhani was sentenced to ten years in prison for ‘acting against national security’ by promoting Zionist Christianity.

The pastor was arrested with four other Christians in 2016 during raids on homes in Rasht. Although they were released

on bail pending their appeal, they were re-arrested in 2018. After appealing, Pastor Nadarkhani’s term was reduced to six years.

CSW has regularly raised Pastor Nadarkhani’s case with UN experts, and we continue to campaign for his release and for all charges against him to be dropped.

‘This is an answered prayer, and we are grateful to CSW, Freedom Now and all those working on Pastor Nadarkhani’s case for so long.’

Iranian church leader

Your prayers make a difference!

Thank you for partnering with us in prayer and campaigning for Pastor Nadarkhani, Matthias Haghnejad and all others imprisoned in Iran. Although we are yet to see the final victory in all of these cases, we give thanks for the answers to prayer that we have witnessed during 2021, which have fueled our faith for even greater victories.

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Your Stories: A global movement for justice

Protesting outside the Nigerian High Commission in London, around a monument of children’s shoes, mirroring those left behind by children fleeing terrorists and armed gangs.

More Powerful Together ■ 2021 saw us come together to pray, campaign and give in new,

creative ways. Thank you for playing your part in this movement.

Whenever you pray in a small gathering, or write a letter to someone in prison, you are part of something so much bigger – a movement of people all over the world who are passionate for justice.

As the world comes together through online events and social media, we’re able to see that in a very tangible way. Two things stand out. Firstly, this movement is led by many, rather than just a few ­– leading us in prayer, sharing scriptures and encouragements, or even contributing a song.

Secondly, we can connect in a more immediate way all over the world with those on the frontlines. We began the year with a prayer meeting where 100

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of you met in prayer with Professor Tarfa and his wife. They were so encouraged to discover a family from many nations, praying and sharing scriptures with them.

Here are a few highlights of 2021…

On 14 May, to mark the 18th birthday of Leah Sharibu, we held Heroes of Faith, a series of five online prayer events on five continents across 24 hours.

Nigeria gospel star Panam Percy Paul wrote a song for this initiative and was joined by Sinach (writer of Way Maker), Muyiwa, Lou Fellingham, and many worship leaders from around the world.

In October we launched Sing for Freedom, a campaign to draw the next generation of activists into our work through the power of song.

Artists sang or lip-synced to raise awareness of the worsening crisis of mass abductions from schools in Nigeria. The campaign culminated with events in Nigeria, the UK, US and Mexico.

On 7 November we joined with Evangelical Alliance, Open Doors and Release International to host IDOP Online, where over hundreds of you joined in prayer for Christians in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Eritrea and India.

Over 2,000

people across the UK prayed with us at IDOP Online.

Ed Such incredible testimonies that pierce hearts and divide souls! Amazing production!

Glenda Clack Joining with you in praying for Eritrea and Tigray.

Debby Plummer God bless you who pray for Leah and all who are in captivity. Surround her with love and grace. xx Michelle C Thank you Father for the freedom and justice you will bring to Nigerian captives.

Margaret Curtis God bless Leah! God bless Rebecca! God bless Nigeria!

Vanessa Henegan May we never lose sight of these families being so cruelly torn apart.

Over 15,000

supporters joined to pray for 24 hours across five continents for the ‘Heroes of Faith’.

Over 11,000

campaign actions were taken in 2021 on campaigns calling for justice in Cuba, Myanmar, Nigeria and China.

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Looking ahead: Our vision

Hope for the Journey Ahead ‘The years go by but our vision doesn’t change: somehow always tantalisingly beyond that distant horizon, we picture a world without religious persecution. So, at the beginning of this new year, we fix our eyes on Jesus, and look, with hope, towards a world where all people, everywhere, experience freedom of religion and belief.’

CSW’s CEO, Scot Bower, shares his hopes for freedom.

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When Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 2537) he swept aside the societal conventions and cultural norms and commanded us to love our neighbour, whoever he or she might be. When we step over the threshold of our homes, when we choose to cross the road for the other, we step into our calling to move beyond conventions and expectations and show love to those who aren’t ‘like us’.

Just as in the parable, we at CSW choose to cross the road for all who are facing injustice because of what they believe. Why? Simply put, because it’s what Jesus would do.

Whether we are standing with an Orthodox church in Egypt, with a Pentecostal church in Nigeria, with Uyghur Muslims detained in China, or Christian and Hindu girls forcibly married and converted in Pakistan, we will not stand by silently in the face of suffering. In the words of that parable, we will not ‘pass by on the other side’.

Photo: Giulio Paletta/CSW

Photo: Afolabi Sotunde/REUTERS - stock.adobe.com

Freedom is fundamental to our identity as children of God, and it fuels the propulsion of the Gospel. This Gospel compels us to go into all the world and following hard after Jesus.

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Looking ahead: Our vision

Celebrating every victory in the long march to freedom

Stepping towards a new milestone

It’s incredible to look back over CSW’s 42-year history and see the advances that have been made in the fight for freedom of religion or belief.

As I look ahead into this year, I’m excited by the possibilities that lay before us. I can’t wait to get back out again after living so long with cancelled events and under lockdowns. We hope to be in more churches than ever before (please do let me know if you’d like a visit from one of the team). We will be back hosting our stage at Big Church Day Out and I hope we see many of you there. Then, in July, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) will host a global Ministerial to promote freedom of religion or belief in London. This is an invaluable opportunity to raise, discuss and formulate coordinated responses to pressing issues. We’re looking forward to participating in the Ministerial and will be letting you know how you can get involved too.

Internationally, we are seeing the issue of freedom of religion or belief highlighted to a degree previously unseen. The creation of roundtable working groups and networks of key stakeholders in many countries is serving to keep this vital issue at the forefront of political policy and societal change. Over 140 MPs are now members of the UK’s All Party Parliamentary Group for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and I was delighted when Mervyn was elected Chair of the UK FoRB forum, taking over from Rt Rev Philip Mounstephen this year. We celebrate and give thanks for the role that CSW has played over many years in raising awareness of violations of freedom of religion or belief and working to put these issues on the mainstream political, public andmedia agendas.

The need is becoming more widely understood, and we give thanks for that.

But we will not stop there. We need to see words turned into action: freedom of religion and belief must become a reality for everyone, everywhere.

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At the same time, I’m looking forward to seeing the advances our Press and Public Affairs team will make in raising critical issues at the United Nations, in the European Union, and with the UK, US and other governments. Our advocacy teams will be tirelessly raising the cases of Leah Sharibu, Pastor Keshav, Pastor Lorenzo and so many others, until we see their freedom.

Partner with us for freedom. Change lives.

As we start this new year, your gifts are critical in helping to make freedom a reality. Use the form enclosed or visit csw.org.uk/give to make a special new year gift or to commit to a regular gift.

Encouragement for the road One of the great lies of our age is that your voice doesn’t matter, but it truly does. Living as we do, in a democratic nation, we have almost unparalleled access to power. When you sign a petition you are using your voice to gain influence and help others. When we write to our elected representatives, or even to a state governor in Mexico, our voice is heard and is more powerful than perhaps we will ever know.

Your voice matters. Please join us as we pray and campaign for freedom and justice for all people everywhere.

In this coming year, we will redouble our efforts to bring freedom of religion and belief to all. I’m so grateful to you for partnering with us in that mission.

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Photo: Marcus Perkins/CSW

We believe we can all play a part in campaigning for freedom of religion or belief.

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.

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