Prayer Diary: July-October 2024

Your daily prayer guide

prayer diary July-October 2024

Solidarity protests in California, following the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran.

Photo: Craig Melville/Unsplash

Pray for Cuba.

Your prayers are needed for Vietnam.

‘All of this lets me know that I am not alone…’

Week 2: 14-20 July

– Pastor Lorenzo

Week 1: 7-13 July

Pastor Lorenzo on a visit home

‘We thank God for all the brothers, sisters and friends who always pray and are interested in me.

Thank you for your displays of affection and Christian love... All of this lets me know that I am not alone, nor forgotten in this tribulation.’

Pastor Lorenzo Rosales Fajardo wrote these words in a letter dated 31 March. He asked us to share it with all who have supported him and his family in different ways. We hope it serves as an encouragement to keep on praying for all the unjustly imprisoned in Cuba – and not lose heart. (Luke 18:1)

7–8 July

11–12 July

In his letter, Pastor Lorenzo described the emotional toll of imprisonment. He explained that there is another side to himself which no one sees; a man who ‘cries at night and wets the pillow with tears, thinking about his family.’

This week is the third anniversary of the 11 July protests – when Pastor Lorenzo, Loreto Hernandez Garcia, and many other Cubans were unjustly arrested for their peaceful participation.

Ask the Holy Spirit to continue drawing near – especially in moments of homesickness, loneliness or frustration. Pray for his wife, Maridilegnis, and their two children, David and Lorena.

9–10 July We’ve seen encouraging progress in Pastor Lorenzo’s case. Give thanks that he has been allowed some day passes to visit home, and that experts at the United Nations have confirmed that there is no justifiable reason for his detention.

The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention also called for reparations to be made, and for a full, independent investigation.

Maridilegnis said: ‘Whether Cuba complies or not, this decision is a great victory because they have been exposed internationally and they have been unable to maintain their lies and injustices.’

Pray that the Cuban government will put the UN’s recommendations into action – releasing Pastor Lorenzo immediately and unconditionally.

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There have been further protests since then, including in March 2024 due to the lack of freedom, scarcity of food and electrical blackouts. These protests were met with violence and mass detentions, but thankfully all those detained were subsequently released.

We know this because of the brave reporting of religious leaders, including local pastors. Please keep them in your prayers.

Saturday 13 July ‘I am sick with nostalgia, like a caged bird... eager for colours, for flowers, for songs; thirsty to hear good news, a word of human hope for justice.’

Lord God, through Pastor Lorenzo’s words we catch a glimpse of the pain of unjust imprisonment. We bring this pain before you and ask you to intervene – for Pastor Lorenzo, and many others like him in Cuba. Lord, bring strength for today and hope for tomorrow.

Amen.

In recent months, an alarming number of human rights defenders and religious leaders have been unjustly charged and imprisoned in Vietnam. At the same time, there’s been a marked increase in transnational repression, which means that the government is extending its oppression beyond the borders of Vietnam. For example, they are working to defame and intimidate human rights defenders who have fled Vietnam and are now living in Thailand and the United States.

Thach Chanh Da Ra, who was arrested and defrocked in March. Credit: VOV.

Find out more at csw.org.uk/vietnam

Sunday 14 July Pray for an end to the harassment of the Montagnard minority ethnic group, most of whom are Christians. On 22 January over 100 Montagnards were convicted on various terrorism-related charges, based on confessions which family members said were made under duress. Ten were sentenced to life imprisonment, while others received sentences of up to 20 years in prison.

Monday 15 July Pray that the Lord would comfort the loved ones of Y Bum Bya, an evangelist from the Central Highlands Evangelical Church (ECCCH). Mr Bya was found dead on 8 March after he’d been summoned to a meeting with local police. Pray for an impartial investigation into his suspicious, brutal death.

Tuesday 16 July Mr Bya’s death was no accident. It was clearly a targeted attack against a prominent member of the ECCCH, which the government has systematically sought to silence and oppress.

Pray protection over other members of the church, and that the Vietnamese authorities would be held to account.

Wednesday 17 July In March, five Khmer-Krom Buddhist monks were unjustly arrested and defrocked (removed from office by government officials).

This violates the Theravada Buddhist

tradition that a monk may only be defrocked by his immediate religious superior. Pray that the charges are dropped, and that the government would release the pressure on the Khmer-Krom community.

Thursday 18 July In February, pupils at two ethnic boarding schools in Nam Nhun District, Dien Bien Province, were forced to sign a pledge that they would not attend Christian prayer services outside the school. But no prayer services are permitted in school either. Pray that the pupils would be allowed to practise a faith of their choice.

Friday 19 July Today, pray for the safety of those who have fled Vietnam to neighbouring countries. In recent months, Vietnamese security police have increasingly targeted Hmong and Montagnard Christians who have fled to Thailand to seek asylum.

Saturday 20 July Lord, today we lift up to you the nation of Vietnam. Bring peace and justice to all the peoples of this land, especially the religious and ethnic minorities facing increased repression.

Lord, soften the hearts of the authorities, that they would grant all citizens the freedom to follow their conscience and faith of choice, without fear. Amen.

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Pray for CSW.

This week please pray for Sudan.

Week 3: 21-27 July

Week 4: 28 July-3 August

This week, we give thanks for the many hands working together for justice. CSW is based in the UK, Nigeria, the USA and beyond. And we are blessed to count dedicated supporters like you as members of this global team – including several of you who have been praying for decades!

Sudan has been in acute crisis since conflict broke out between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in April 2023.

We hope you’ll be encouraged by the words below from a Cuban pastor. It made a difference just to receive a letter; to know that Christians around the world are standing with him in his time of need: ‘Many times, the devil and his minions want to make you feel as if you are alone in your struggles, but it is one of his great lies. We are a great army that fills the all the earth.’

Sunday 21 July This September an enthusiastic team of CSW supporters will be running The Big Half in London. Give thanks for their commitment to justice in taking on this fundraising challenge.

Pray for protection from injury as they prepare to run the half marathon.

Monday 22 July Our Ambassadors are CSW’s hands and feet in mobilising churches and Christian Unions across the UK. Some have been representing CSW in their communities for decades! Praise God for their faithfulness in all they do; for leading those around them to respond to injustice in ways that will make a difference.

Tuesday 23 July CSW-Nigeria does incredible work in a particularly dangerous situation. Lift up Rev Yunusa, the team in Kaduna State and all the volunteer state coordinators in prayer, asking

the Lord to keep them and their families safe as they continue to fight for freedom of religion or belief for all.

Find out more at csw.org.uk/sudan

Damage to the Sheikh Qarib Allah mosque in Omdurman, attacked by an Islamist militia affiliated with the SAF in March 2024.

Photo: Facebook/Al-Fateh Hassan El-Sheikh

Today, thank God for our team in the US and celebrate the advocacy that we’ve been able to do in Washington, D.C. Ask God to increasingly pour wisdom upon the whole team as they decide how best to campaign.

Sunday 28 July

Wednesday 31 July

Thursday 25 July

There is growing evidence that the SAF is relying on the support of extremist Islamist groups, raising concerns that they could embed their position further in Sudan.

There are also grave concerns over the RSF assault on El Fasher in Darfur, where civilian casualties are high and there is a risk of ethnic targeting of civilians – similar to crimes perpetrated in the region 20 years ago.

Today is African Women’s Day. With heavy hearts, we remember the estimated four million women and girls who are currently believed to be at risk of sexual and gender-based violence in Sudan.

Please pray for their safety, and for the healing of those who have been subjected to such atrocities.

Impulso18 is our Latin America office. One of the challenges they face is to improve understanding of freedom of religion or belief – including the concept of being free to change religion. Give thanks for the expertise of our advocates and contacts in Mexico and Colombia, who not only understand how to navigate the situation, but have a heart for seeing change in both countries.

Friday 26 July

Saturday 27 July Gracious Father, we thank you for giving us a part to play in campaigning for freedom of religion or belief for all. Help us to continually respond to your call to ‘speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves’ (Proverbs 31:8). Amen.

Rev Yunusa Nmadu, CEO of CSW-Nigeria

Additionally, there are significant concerns of atrocity crimes being committed in Darfur. The RSF have launched an attack on El Fasher, where there is the largest camp for internally displaced people in the country.

Wednesday 24 July

Praise God for all the messages of hope and solidarity sent through Connect & Encourage.

Could you send a letter to someone today, and pray for the person you write to? View the latest edition at csw.org.uk/connectencourage

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Few places in the country have been spared the large-scale hostilities that have at times been described as a war on civilians, given the catastrophic impact on those not party to the conflict. At least 13,000 people have been killed, more 33,000 have been injured, and the number of those facing hunger is now estimated to be as high as 20 million.

Please pray that there would be a halt to the current assaults on civilians. Pray that extremist groups’ efforts to embed within the state would be thwarted, and that military assaults on El Fasher would come to an end without the RSF gaining ground.

Monday 29 July Give thanks for the human rights defenders, humanitarian workers and community leaders who have bravely continued their work in the midst of the conflict. Ask God to provide, protect and re-energise them today.

Tuesday 30 July ‘But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.’ (Psalm 3:3). Pray that Christians in Sudan would know God’s all-encompassing protection in whatever they are facing today.

Thursday 1 August A UN independent fact-finding mission for Sudan was established in October last year.

This was good news, however it continues to face operational delays and under-staffing – undermining its critical role in documenting human rights violations. Please pray that the fact-finding mission would be adequately resourced to work effectively.

Friday 2 August Most of all, Sudan needs an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire. Pray urgently that efforts to bring an end to the conflict would be successful, and that civilian groups are included in any peace process to ensure the creation of a genuinely inclusive post-conflict Sudan.

Saturday 3 August Lord God, we know that you see all that is happening in Sudan – that which is reported and that which isn’t. Deliver this nation from violence, and uplift, equip and protect those who will lead it to an inclusive, peaceful and democratic future.

Amen.

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Your prayers are needed for Afghanistan.

This week please pray for Nigeria.

Father Alberto Reyes Pías

Week 6: 11-17 August On 14 May we marked Leah Sharibu’s 21st birthday with a protest in Kaduna State; a panel discussion on X (Twitter); and a worldwide wave of prayer, culminating in a global online prayer event led by CSW-Nigeria.

Many readers will know that Leah was the sole Christian in a group of 110 girls abducted from their school in Dapchi in February 2018. She was denied her freedom because she refused to renounce her faith, and is one of hundreds currently held in terrorist captivity in Nigeria.

As one of our supporters wrote: ‘Our hearts are sad, but we believe in the power of God, that God will set all these girls free!’

Find out more at csw.org.uk/nigeria

Week 5: 4-10 August ‘My name is Mahtab. I’m from Kabul…

Many years ago, my father accepted Christianity. In our house, my father conducted worship like an underground church. We were living a prosperous life.

When the Taliban government came to Afghanistan, because many people knew my father was a preacher, the Taliban came to our house and threatened us. Then one day they stormed our home and shot and killed my father in front of our eyes.

Despite that, their threats did not stop.

They continued to harass us and used to come to our house and threaten us. Then one of the men from the Taliban threatened to abduct my sister as he wanted to marry her. We instantly fled Afghanistan and entered Pakistan without any documentation.

With the support of some Pakistani Christian organisations we have settled here and were able to save our lives. Life in Pakistan is also not easy or safe, but we feel we are safer here than in a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan.’

Last year we released a report on the plight of refugees fleeing Afghanistan. Mahtab bravely shared his testimony about the 2021 Taliban takeover, and the devastating impact on his family as Christians.

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Afghan refugees

It is heartbreaking to read, and we surround them in prayer this week.

We remember, too, the countless others who were forced to flee terror and targeting. Among them are the Shia Hazara, Ahmadiyya and Jewish communities.

Find out more at csw.org.uk/Afghanistan Please pray: • For those under oppression in Afghanistan – especially for religious or ethnic minority communities; women and girls; and others who are particularly vulnerable.

• For those who have fled and are still not safe or settled, including those at risk of being sent back to Afghanistan.

Since February 2024, the Pakistani government has once again stepped up their efforts to round up Afghan refugees and repatriate them. Amnesty International said the decision ‘endangers the lives of over 800,000 Afghan refugees across Pakistan.’

‘He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.’ (Deuteronomy 10:18)

Leah Sharibu

Sunday 11 August

Wednesday 14 August

Please continue to pray for Leah’s release.

Ask God to comfort her mother Rebecca, her father Nathan and her brother Donald, and that next year they would celebrate Leah’s birthday together in the light of his peace and protection.

There are persistent allegations that elements within the army are complicit in the violence. Pray that any such elements would be exposed, that they would be brought to justice, and that God would put in place leaders and soldiers committed to ending the terrorist threat.

Monday 12 August Give thanks for the rescue of 137 children abducted from their school in Kuriga, Kaduna State on 7 March, and 24 students abducted from Confluence University of Science and Technology in Kogi State on 9 May. Pray that they would recover from their ordeal quickly, and for the rescue of the countless individuals who remain in terrorist captivity.

Thursday 15 August Pray today for the abolition of Nigeria’s blasphemy laws, which fuel extremism and embolden perpetrators of religionrelated violence. Pray for the release of all those currently imprisoned on blasphemy charges, and for an end to the impunity currently enjoyed by those who take the law into their own hands.

Tuesday 13 August

Friday 16 August

Violence perpetrated by Fulani militia continues relentlessly in central Nigeria, especially in Benue, Kaduna and Plateau states. Religious leaders, congregations and churches are particularly targeted for abduction and murder. Ask God to send his divine protection to protect vulnerable communities today.

Give thanks for our colleagues at CSWNigeria. Ask God to keep them and their families safe, and to equip them with wise and effective strategies to promote freedom of religion or belief and support vulnerable communities.

Saturday 17 August Lord Jesus, we cry out to you on behalf of the people of Nigeria today. Deliver the nation from violence, and from those in power who are either unwilling or unable to prevent it. Amen.

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Pray for the people of China.

This week please pray for victims of enforced disappearance.

Li Jie and family.

Week 8: 25-31 August 30 August: International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance

Week 7: 18-24 August

Wang Qiang and family.

‘My children were terrified that night… they still suffer from that traumatic experience.

They are frightened whenever they hear police sirens.’

On 19 August 2022, police stormed a summer retreat gathering of around 70 members of Covenant Home Church in northern China’s Shanxi Province. Everyone was searched and interrogated, including pregnant women and about 40 children. Two preachers – Li Jie and Han Xiaodong – have been detained ever since. A third church member, Wang Qiang, was arrested in November 2022. All three were falsely charged with ‘fraud’ in June 2023.

Find out more at csw.org.uk/china

Sunday 18 August

Wednesday 21 August

Li Jie and his wife Li Shanshan were among the earliest members of Covenant Home Church. They have two young sons, whom Li Jie has not seen for two years. Ask God to comfort and reunite this family today.

In Isaiah 54:17 the Lord promises that no weapon formed against his servants shall prosper. Claim this promise for the members and leaders of Covenant Home Church today.

Monday 19 August Han Xiaodong’s daughter told her mother that Han Xiaodong with she is growing his daughter Xixi. her hair like Rapunzel so that she can use it to rescue her father. Thank God for this young girl’s hope, and pray that she knows his love as she waits for her dad to come home.

Tuesday 20 August Wang Qiang was arrested and tortured because he refused to give false evidence against Li Jie and Han Xiaodong. Give thanks for his integrity, and pray for his health and immediate, unconditional release today.

Thursday 22 August The experience of Covenant Home Church is not unique; Golden Lampstand Church is based in the same city and has a long history of being persecuted by the authorities. Pray for an end to the targeting of this church, and the countless others like it in China.

Friday 23 August There is a growing trend of church leaders being prosecuted on fraud charges – like those levelled against Li, Han and Wang – in an effort to undermine their reputation and credibility.

Pray that these efforts would not succeed, and that truth and justice would prevail.

Saturday 24 August Father God, we lift the families and friends of Li Jie, Han Xiaodong and Wang Qiang to you today. Rise up and defend your faithful servants. See that justice is served and these men are released. In your mighty name, Amen.

‘We don’t want people to forget. We want them to remember and to continue to pray.’

– Susanna Koh Hundreds of thousands of people have been forcibly disappeared in 85 countries across the world. Victims are often subjected to torture and severe physical and psychological abuse.

The families and communities left behind also experience anguish, not knowing the fate of their loved ones. Let us take the opportunity this week to remember those who have been taken and disappeared because of their beliefs, or the actions it inspires them to take. Lift them up in prayer to the one who brings both comfort and can work miracles.

Pastor Méndez Ruiz Pastor Aarón Méndez Ruiz and his colleague Alfredo Castillo de Luna were kidnapped in 2019 from the migrant shelter which they ran. The men had bravely stood up to a criminal group who were trying to kidnap Cuban migrants from the shelter and hold them for ransom. Neither man has been seen or heard from since, and little seems to have been done in the way of investigation by the Mexican government.

Please pray for the truth of their fate to be brought to light and justice done.

Pastor Raymond Koh It took just 42 seconds to abduct Pastor Raymond Koh in 2017. An eyewitness described it as ‘something out of a movie’, as five black SUVs, two motorcycles and 15 men wearing balaclavas took Pastor Koh from a street Malaysia in broad daylight. His whereabouts remain unknown.

The Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) found that the Special Branch of the Malaysian police were responsible for the pastor’s disappearance. But despite an investigative task force launched by the government in 2019, there has been no update. Pray that Pastor Koh’s wife Susanna and whole family will be strengthened and kept safe from harm. Cry out to God for his safe return.

Gao Zhisheng The Chinese human rights lawyer, Gao Zhisheng, was disappeared multiple times between 2006 and 2011. He was subsequently disappeared again in 2017. His whereabouts for the past seven years have been unknown, though it is believed he is some form of detention. His family – living in exile in the United States – have continued to call for Gao’s release and for further information on his whereabouts.

Pray that the rule of law will be upheld, and the government of China will disclose Gao’s whereabouts and set him free without delay. We also pray for his family in the US, for their continued safety and comfort.

All photos courtesy of Covenant Home Church.

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Pray for Nicaragua.

Granada Cathedral Nicaragua.

Photo: Unsplash

Week 9: 1-7 September

Week 10: 8-14 September

‘Currently in our country, Nicaragua, the general population is under repression, direct and indirect threats and persecution. They have silenced us and our voices…’ – Nicaraguan defender of freedom of religion or belief

Where local solutions may be ineffective – or even biased against religious minorities – we can use our expertise to urge the international community to exercise the pressure required for change.

Sadly, there has been no positive change to the situation in Nicaragua over the last year. Under the leadership of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice-President Rosario Murillo, violations of freedom of religion or belief have continued to grow – in both number and severity.

Claire and Jonathan are instrumental in bringing CSW’s research and recommendations into international spheres like the UN and EU. Meanwhile, Chibuzor equips UK Members of Parliament so that they can confidently speak out against situations of injustice.

Hope seems hard to come by as the stories of individuals paint a dire picture. However, we believe in the power of prayer, and so we lift up this nation with hope and faith.

We give thanks for every opportunity, and especially for the positive changes seen in Pastor Lorenzo’s case. Our team has consistently raised his case across different arenas, and as a result, UN experts and EU representatives have raised his case directly with the Cuban authorities. Pray that we would see many more wins like this.

Find out more at csw.org.uk/nicaragua

Sunday 1 September Pray that the international community will speak up and strengthen independent voices speaking out about the situation in Nicaragua.

May links be made between those inside and outside the country, standing in solidarity for the defence of human rights.

Monday 2 September Many people, including religious leaders, have been separated from their communities and loved ones over the past year due to arbitrary detentions, forced exile or migration. Pray that all affected would find comfort in the shadow of his wings, and that the disaster will soon pass (Psalm 57:1).

Tuesday 3 September As of January, over 600,000 Nicaraguans have fled the country, some under threat. Their journeys can be fraught with danger. Ask God to have mercy and keep them safe from harm. May he pave their way with peace, and change the situation so that no more Nicaraguans feel they have no choice but to abandon their country.

Wednesday 4 September Civil society networks continue to work underground in Nicaragua to document and inform the world of human rights violations.

Ask the Holy Spirit to uphold them, reminding them that the Lord sets a table in the 10

Pray for our work in national and international arenas.

presence of enemies (Psalm 23). Pray that they would be able to carry out their work without government harassment or fear of being detained.

Thursday 5 September Pray for the political prisoners, including many Christians, both Roman Catholic and Protestant. In some cases, they are blocked from receiving the medication they need or they aren’t allowed to keep their medicine refrigerated. Some have experienced serious infections due to the unsanitary conditions in prison and lack of medicine.

Friday 6 September Conditions in La Esperanza Women’s Prison are poor. Cells lined with bunk beds hold up to 75 prisoners, and there are shortages of drinking water, beds, medicine and medical care. What’s more, political prisoners aren’t allowed a Bible or any writing materials. Pray for the release of all political prisoners and improved conditions in the prisons.

Saturday 7 September Lord Jesus, you are the one who leads justice through to victory (Matthew 12:19-21). You are the God of miracles, who is making all things new. Bring freedom where freedom seems impossible! Awaken the consciences of men and women in positions of power, and hold them to account for their actions. Amen.

CSW’s Brussels Team outside the European Commission building.

Sunday 8 September

Wednesday 11 September

Pray Galatians 6:9 over CSW advocates working in national and international arenas. May they be strengthened, and may our cause find favour and respect in the eyes of authorities.

‘Last week, newly-elected Members of the European Parliament arrived in Brussels, along with their advisors and assistants. As we work to engage with this group, pray for minds and hearts that are receptive to the cause of freedom of religion or belief; to a European Union that pursues justice and human rights abroad, as well as at home.’

– Jonathan, CSW’s Senior EU Advocate.

Monday 9 September ‘The Human Rights Council, the UN’s foremost body for addressing human rights issues, begins a new session today. It will be discussing important issues including a report from the UN Fact-Finding CSW’s UN Officer at the UN. Mission on Sudan. Please pray for energy, strength and wisdom for the CSW team as we engage with diplomats, UN staff members and other key stakeholders.’

– Claire, CSW’s UN Officer

Tuesday 10 September CSW’s office in Brussels remains as vital as ever.

They’re working hard to brief key diplomats, inform policy decisions and advocate ahead of key human rights dialogues and trade deals.

Join us in praying that human rights would be prioritised in all EU dialogues and trade deals.

Thursday 12 September Closer to home, CSW is engaging with both new and returning UK MPs as they resume work after the elections and summer recess. Pray that these MPs will faithfully represent their constituents and use their positions to speak up for religious minorities around the world.

Friday 13 September ‘I am deeply committed to enhancing CSW’s presence and advocacy in UK Parliament.’ – Chibuzor, CSW’s Parliamentary Liaison Officer.

Give thanks and pray for Chibuzor as you read about her role on p.7 of Response.

Saturday 14 September Thank you, Lord, for everyone working to promote and protect the right to freedom of religion or belief in international arenas. Give them courage and strength and bless the work of their hands as they strive to bring about justice. Amen.

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Pray for the people of Eritrea.

Pray for North Korea.

Week 12: 22-28 September Almost a year ago, credible reports emerged that over 500 North Korean refugees had been forcibly repatriated to North Korea from China. Most were civilians and many held religious beliefs.

Prayer and protest vigil for Eritrea, 2024

Week 11: 15-21 September The People's Front for Democracy and Justice, headed by President Isaias Afwerki, is the sole political party in Eritrea. It has been in control since 1991. The situation today is a far cry from the nation its citizens dreamed of when they voted joyfully and overwhelmingly in favour of independence 30 years ago.

In January 2024, over 30 evangelical Christians were arrested at a child’s birthday party. In March, three families were detained. In April, over 30 Christians were arrested. In May, 83-year-old Rev Ghirmay Araya died after almost three years in prison. The reverend’s son has been detained arbitrarily for seven years. Each of these illustrate the government’s merciless, continuing and comprehensive crackdown on the rights of citizens.

Sunday 15 September Today is the International Day of Democracy.

Pray earnestly for peaceful, free and fair democratic change in Eritrea, as well as for the 1997 Constitution to finally be implemented.

Monday 16 September Pray for all people of faith who are unjustly imprisoned on account of their religious beliefs in Eritrea – including six Christian leaders who are marking their 20th year detained incommunicado.

Ask God to strengthen and console them, and return them to their loved ones.

Tuesday 17 September As devastating news emerges from Sudan of refugees dying due to lack of food, pray for protection, provision and deliverance for Eritrean refugees there and in Ethiopia.

Remember especially Eritrean women and girls in Sudan who are particular targets for sexual and gender-based violence.

Wednesday 18 September On this day in 2001, the Eritrean government closed all independent media outlets and arbitrarily detained 11 independent 12

journalists, as well as 11 of the 15 prominent ruling party members who had called for democracy, along with their family members. On the anniversary of their enforced disappearances, pray that justice would prevail.

Thursday 19 September Praise God for the longstanding CSW team members who are tirelessly committed to advocating for the rights of Eritreans, including our Africa and Middle East Team Leader, Dr Khataza Gondwe. Pray for her as she undertakes her work and speaks truth to power with knowledge, excellence, wisdom and compassion.

Friday 20 September ‘See...I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’ Pray Isaiah 43:19 over Eritrea today.

Saturday 21 September Lord Jesus Christ, on the International Day of Peace, we pray for all Eritreans, and especially remember those who have been forcibly conscripted. Be their strength and shield, we pray, and their very present help in times of trouble. Amen.

Those returned to North Korea frequently face torture, imprisonment, and in some cases even public execution. Those found to have had contact with Christians are known to face particularly harsh punishment.

Praying for North Korea can sometimes feel impossible, given the gravity of the widespread human rights violations in the country. But we believe in a God who can move mountains, part oceans and – even more incredibly – move human hearts.

Find out more at csw.org.uk/NorthKorea

Sunday 22 September

Thursday 26 September

‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.’ (John 1:5)

The inquiry found ‘an almost complete denial of the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion’. Pray that citizens would have their fundamental freedoms restored and be able to practise a religion or belief of their choice without fear.

Pray that Christ’s transformative light will overcome the darkness of the North Korean regime.

Monday 23 September Today is Save North Korean Refugees Day. Pray for the protection and safety of those who have been forcibly returned to North Korea or who remain at risk in China. Pray that countries like China would have a change of heart and stop repatriating refugees.

Tuesday 24 September Many North Koreans have a window to the outside world through foreign media smuggled into the country, including by radio and on USB sticks. Pray that God would keep these information flows open and secure.

Friday 27 September Many Christians end up in kwanliso (prison camps) in conditions that are, as you can imagine, utterly appalling. Though these Christians have vanished from the eyes of the world, pray they would know and feel that God’s presence is with them.

Saturday 28 September Lord, today we pray for the people of North Korea. Move powerfully to protect them and grant them true freedom, peace, justice and opportunity. Amen.

Wednesday 25 September Ten years ago, the UN Commission of Inquiry reported that there was no parallel in the world to the human rights abuses happening in North Korea. Today, the situation is even worse. We thank God for those who are shining a light on the grave abuses taking place in the country, and pray that the international community would not shy away from holding North Korea to account.

Statue of Kim Il Sung.

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Pray for Pakistan.

Pray for Iran.

Week 13: 29 September-5 October The situation for religious minorities in Pakistan remains challenging. We grieve for those who are suffering the loss of loved ones, like the family of 73-year-old Lazar Masih, a Christian who died after being violently attacked by an extremist mob. As we continue to pray for change, we also want to praise God for some positive developments we’ve witnessed in Pakistan in recent months.

Even in our sorrow, we thank God for the small victories we’ve seen and for all the individuals whose lives will be changed for the better as a result. We trust that our Lord will multiply these glimmers of hope, and ultimately bring about a full and lasting change for all of Pakistan’s citizens.

Sara Hossain, chair of the fact-finding mission

Find out more at csw.org.uk/pakistan

Sunday 29 September During the country’s general elections in February, nearly a dozen candidates from religious minority communities were nominated by their respective parties to stand in the elections. Although not all were successful, analysts believe that the 2024 general elections mark a positive shift for the country and pave the way for a more inclusive political landscape. Praise God for this.

Monday 30 September

been framed by two other individuals who had a personal grudge against them.

Thursday 3 October Notan Lal, a Hindu principal, was also acquitted of blasphemy on 1 March. In February 2022 he’d received a 25-year prison sentence following a false accusation of blasphemy, which was levelled against him by a student. Thank God that the Sindh High Court ruled in Mr Lal’s favour.

Friday 4 October

Tuesday 1 October

Praise God for the encouraging display of goodwill shown towards the country’s Christian community over this year’s Easter weekend. The newly-elected Chief Minister of Punjab attended Easter Sunday Mass in the town of Mariamabad, where she praised various distinguished Christians for their past contributions to Pakistan. Other parliamentarians also took part in Easter celebrations throughout Punjab.

On 26 February the outgoing Senate passed the Christian Marriage (Amendment) Bill 2023, which increases the minimum age of marriage for both Christian men and women from 16 to 18. The Chrisitian community has long been pushing for this change in law to protect underage girls from abductions, forced conversions and forced marriages. Give thanks for this positive outcome.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for each of these individual breakthroughs we’ve seen in Pakistan in recent months. May these positive changes be replicated and multiplied throughout the country, and may we see greater representation and greater freedom for the country’s religious minorities. Amen.

A ‘fatwa’ (an Islamic ruling or opinion) was circulated on social media ahead of the polls, which called for all votes to be cast only in favour of Muslim candidates. Despite this, a number of religious minority candidates won seats in the elections. Thank God for this opportunity to represent their communities and model peaceful co-existence.

Wednesday 2 October

Saturday 5 October

On 1 March, Christian brothers Rocky Masih and Raja Masih were both acquitted of blasphemy charges that were levelled against them on 16 August 2023. Thank God for this victory! The court ruled that both brothers had 14

‘We urge the government to immediately halt the repression of those who have engaged in peaceful protests, in particular women and girls.’

Rocky and Raja Masih with lawyer Tahir Bashir. Photo: Facebook/Tahir Bashir.

Week 14: 6-12 October In April this year the Iranian government launched a new campaign to promote stricter enforcement of the country’s hijab rules, which dictate that all women must cover their heads in public in accordance with the Islamic Republic’s strict interpretation of Shi’a Islam.

Reports soon emerged of women being dragged from the streets, detained by security forces, and subjected to violent beatings and insults in detention. The Iranian regime demonstrated once again that citizens are not free to live in a manner that corresponds with their beliefs.

Readers will likely remember the story of Zhina ‘Mahsa’ Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who was arrested, physically assaulted and ultimately killed in September 2022, because she was deemed to have failed to properly adhere to the dress code of the majority faith .

Mahsa’s death in custody sparked unprecedented nationwide protests, to which the Iranian authorities responded with excessive force. In March 2024 a UN fact-finding mission established by the Human Rights Council reported that

Protests after Mahsa Amini’s death sparked solidarity protests around the world, such as in California, pictured here. Photo: Craig Melville/Unsplash

violations committed by the authorities while suppressing the protests amount to crimes against humanity.

This week, join us in praying for Iranians across the country whose fundamental rights and freedoms continue to be curtailed, often violently, by a theocracy that imposes a homogenous identity on all citizens.

Please pray: • For women and girls who have been arrested, detained or subjected to mistreatment in the renewed crackdown on ‘violations’ of the hijab rules.

• For Christians – especially those who convert from Islam – who continue to be arrested, imprisoned and even tortured on account of their faith.

• For communities which do not enjoy official recognition and face extensive discrimination as a result. Pray particularly for the Baha’i community, whose mistreatment is increasingly seen as amounting to persecution, which is a crime against humanity under international law.

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Our manifesto #13

We believe in the power of prayer to bring change.

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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