The Disappeared: Out of sight, but not out of mind.
Introducing: Pastor Rogelio Leader of a small church facing fierce persecution in Mexico.
‘Sorrow is a defeatist movement’ Interview with the wife of a disappeared activist.
Out of sight, but not out of mind.
‘It’s terrible to be taken and killed or unjustly put in prison. But to be disappeared is to be left with this big question mark... With a disappearance, there’s always a possibility that they’re alive.’
Across the world, people are being disappeared because of their religion or belief. Anna Lee Stangl (CSW’s Director of Advocacy) explains what this means and what we can do in response.
What do we mean by ‘disappeared’?
When someone is disappeared – such as a pastor or human rights defender – they may be detained somewhere, without charge or trial, but their whereabouts are unknown. Will the truth ever be revealed?
It is a tactic used by governments as well as armed groups. It’s a way of targeting not just one person, but also their extended family, their loved ones or even their entire community. If people are disappearing, it puts everyone on alert that they could be next.
Where does it happen?
Enforced disappearance happens in many of the countries we work on: China, Kenya, Laos, Nicaragua and North Korea, to name a few.
Pastor Aarón Méndez Ruiz disappeared six years ago in Mexico. He was abducted from a migrant shelter which he ran on the Mexico-United States
border – a dangerous area where organised criminal groups operate.
Meanwhile in Eritrea, some church leaders disappeared into the prison system more than two decades ago. Each year we hold a prayer and protest vigil, to let the Eritrean authorities know that we are still watching and waiting for answers. And as Christians, we have a special hope: that nothing and no-one is hidden from God’s sight. We believe he sees and cares for the disappeared, and that one day, no injustice will go unpunished.
How are their loved ones affected?
All the unknowns can cause huge emotional stress and trauma to those who are trying to find them. Should they believe the worst, or hope for the best? It is without a doubt a form of emotional torture that can impact generations.
Perhaps the most important thing is not letting these people be forgotten.
Should they
believe
the worst, or hope for the best? It is without a doubt a form of emotional torture that can impact
generations.
International day of the disappeared
30 August is the International Day of the Disappeared. Here are three ways to mark it:
Reflect and pray:
They may also be targeted themselves. Geng He’s husband (the Chinese human rights lawyer, Gao Zhisheng) has been missing since August 2017. Speaking in 2021, she said:
‘It’s not just that there is no news of Gao Zhisheng, the authorities’ persecution of his family has been very severe too… The ID cards of everyone in the family have been confiscated by the authorities over the past 10 years, so that they aren’t able to leave their local area, let alone go looking for him.’
What can we do?
Perhaps the most important thing is not letting these people be forgotten. And for their loved ones to know that they’re not alone – to know that we won’t tire with them. We can keep pushing for investigations, asking ‘Where are they?’ and calling those in power to act now.
‘The Disappeared’ is a five-minute film, telling the stories of those who are disappeared for their beliefs. We’ve also created a slideshow to help you remember their faces. Could you share it with your church or small group?
Find all resources at csw.org.uk/ TheDisappearedResources
Raise your voice:
Call on the Nicaraguan government to provide an urgent proof of life for Carmen and Lesbia; to free them immediately and without condition: csw.org.uk/ WhereAreThey
Support our work:
Could you make a gift to stand with the disappeared, their families, and other people facing injustice and persecution? Your gifts enable our vital advocacy to continue – day in, day out. csw.org.uk/donate
Our advocates gather evidence and raise their cases with national and international authorities. We also walk beside their loved ones, offering support, compassion and expertise. And through your faithful praying, campaigning and giving, you are walking beside them too.
Mexico: introducing
Pastor Rogelio
Pastor Rogelio leads a small church in Mexico, which has faced fierce persecution. Thanks to your support, our advocates have been able to stand alongside them, documenting a decade’s worth of violations and calling for action.
When Rogelio returned home at the end of 2015, something inside him had changed.
He had spent several months working in the fields of Coahuila (northern Mexico) as there were no work opportunities in his own village (Rancho Nuevo, Hidalgo State). While he was away, a colleague invited him to a local Baptist church, where he converted to Christianity.
Radical transformation
Having struggled for years with alcohol addiction and anger management, Rogelio returned to Rancho Nuevo transformed. People noticed such a significant change in him that they began to wonder what had happened! With the little understanding that he
had, Rogelio explained that his radical change was due to what he had read in the Bible.
Rogelio started inviting people to Bible studies in his home, and by 2016, three families were attending regularly. Every week they met in a different house. They shared coffee and whatever was at home, without much preparation. With only a couple of months in his previous church, and although he had never been able to complete primary school, Rogelio became the pastor of a new church in Rancho Nuevo. They called it ‘The Great Commission’.
In the years that followed, the church continued to grow. But so did the opposition from the village leaders, who are Roman Catholic.
Community leaders threatened to use violence against all members of the church – including women – if they continued to speak about their faith in the community.
Sadly, it became normal for Rogelio and some of the church leaders to be confronted in the street – or for drunken men to bang on the fragile wooden doors of the church and on members’ houses with sticks and machetes –seeking to intimidate those they considered to be the cause of the disunity within the community.
By 2024, 35 families formed part of the church. In April that year, the violence and discrimination escalated to a level that made it impossible to stay. Community leaders threatened to use violence against all members of the church – including women –if they continued to speak about their faith in the community. A group of 176 people (more than half of them children) were forced from the villages of Coamila and Rancho Nuevo.
Progress and setbacks
They spent months living in an overcrowded sports complex before an agreement was finally reached with village leaders in September 2024. We were hopeful that this would mark the turning of a page. However, village leaders made it clear that they had no intention of honouring the agreement. Villagers destroyed the doors of the church and several members’ houses, looting furniture and stealing the church’s electricity cables again. The families’ water tanks were pierced with machetes, their land was occupied, and a water well was appropriated. Unable to return home, and under pressure to leave a sports complex that was never meant to be lived in, the group of displaced Christians decided to move elsewhere to start again. They’re now in the neighbouring state of Veracruz, where they have named their new community ‘Peace’ – their dream since 2015.
Pray
Prayer Diary Week 1
Sunday 20 July
Lift up the group of Protestant Christians who were displaced from Coamila and Rancho Nuevo last year. Pray for provision as they rebuild their lives in a new area. Ask the Lord to bring healing and restoration after the years of violations they have suffered.
Monday 21 July
Pray that Pastor Rogelio and The Great Commission Church from Rancho Nuevo will be strengthened by 1 Peter 2:9 today: ‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.’
Tuesday 22 July
Give thanks and pray for CSW’s team members in Mexico, who were able to be there in person to support the displaced Christians from Coamila and Rancho Nuevo. They liaised with government officials and created an extensive body of evidence, proving that the families were being targeted because of their religious beliefs.
Wednesday 23 July
Similar to the situation in Rancho Nuevo, three Protestant families in Contepec (a nearby village) have been pressured to participate in Roman Catholic activities. Pray for an end to the pressure, discrimination, threats and violence so that no one will be forced to leave their community.
Thursday 24 July
Ask God to help religious leaders who are under pressure from organised criminal groups. They extort churches, attempting to coerce them into paying protection money or allowing their churches to be used for money laundering. Those who resist these efforts become targets. Both Roman Catholic and Protestant leaders are affected.
Friday 25 July
Sunday 3 August marks six years since an organised criminal group abducted Pastor Aarón Méndez Ruiz and his colleague Alfredo Castillo de Luna. We haven’t forgotten them. Watch our short video and pray for answers: csw.org.uk/TheDisappeared
Saturday 26 July
Would you like to encourage someone facing injustice in Mexico? You can write a message to the following address and let our contacts distribute your cards to those in need:
Pablo Vargas Jiménez
Elisa 351, Nativitas
Benito Juarez
CP 03500
Ciudad de México
México
Aaron Mendez Ruiz.
For Pastor Rogelio and others facing injustice in Mexico.
refugees.
Elsa Chyrum (Director of Human Rights Concern Eritrea)
The level of repression in Eritrea has generated a significant refugee exodus. By the end of 2023, over 623,000 Eritreans were registered refugees or asylum-seekers – that’s around 17% of the population. Among many other dangers, they risk a shoot-to-kill border policy to flee their country.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/eritrea Many people have died in prison.
Dr Berhane Asmelash (Director of Release Eritrea)
Prayer and protest vigil 2025.
Scot Bower, CEO.
Prayer Diary Week 2 Eritrea
Sunday 27 July
The Eritrean regime continues its relentless crackdown on Christians in Eritrea. So far over 200 Christians have been arrested this year, many leaving behind families with no one to support them. Pray for God’s provision and the unconditional release of those who were detained.
Monday 28 July
Those who are imprisoned face inhumane, and often lifethreatening conditions. In one case, medical treatment for aggressive cancer was withheld. Ask God to move the authorities’ hearts towards compassion. Pray that they would respect the human dignity of detainees.
Tuesday 29 July
Today we remember the Eritreans who have fled the comprehensive repression and are seeking refuge across the world. They risk kidnapping, detention, torture, sexual violence, forced return or even being killed. Pray for their protection, and that they would find a welcoming and safe place to call home.
Wednesday 30 July
‘The regime does not just persecute Christians in Eritrea; it doesn’t just persecute Eritreans in Eritrea. The persecution is in fact transnational. It has crossed borders.’ (Selam Kidane, Release Eritrea) Raise your voice for those enduring persecution beyond the borders of Eritrea. Pray for their wellbeing and safety, and for host governments to take urgent steps to protect them.
Thursday 31 July
Ten years ago, a United Nations (UN) Commission of Inquiry concluded that the severe mistreatment suffered by unrecognised religious and belief communities in Eritrea constitutes a crime against humanity.
Dr Khataza Gondwe (Director of Advocacy, CSW)
Take a moment to reflect on Romans 12:12 and its call for persistent prayer. Then pray for the release of six senior church leaders who are marking 21 years in incommunicado detention in 2025, and a seventh who is marking his 20th year. All are held without charge or trial. We will continue praying until all prisoners of conscience are free.
Friday 1 August
Since 1991 the Eritrean government has been committing crimes against humanity, including religious persecution. Boldly pray for the regime to cease its human rights violations and be held accountable.
Saturday 2 August
God of justice, we lift up the nation of Eritrea with its many challenges – many of which have been continuing for decades. We long for freedom, reconciliation, and healing for all who are suffering the brutality of the regime. We will not lose hope or confidence in your justice and deliverance. Amen.
‘Sorrow is a defeatist movement’
An interview with Ng Shui-Meng, wife of a disappeared activist.
On the evening of 5 December 2012, Sombath Somphone was stopped at a police checkpoint in Laos. It was a busy street in the capital, Vientiane. Within minutes, unknown individuals forced Sombath into another vehicle and drove him away – all in the presence of police officers, all caught on CCTV. He hasn’t been seen since.
Sombath was a leading democracy activist, perhaps the most prominent member of Laos’ small civil society. He specialised in advocating for education of all Laotians, particularly in poor rural areas. Ever since his disappearance, his wife Ng Shui-Meng has led a tireless campaign in search of truth and justice. The following interview with her has been edited for length and clarity.
How has your life and your work changed since your husband’s disappearance?
Since his disappearance, I lost my partner, and I also lost my greatest love. It’s like you have lost something. It’s something which is missing, and for the last 12 years, this loss has remained. It says I’m not complete, and I have to carry this burden. I know I must carry on, and I will have to continue living. And one way to address this is to ensure that how he was disappeared and the circumstances under which he disappeared is made known.
I work with other victims from the region, and I draw support from them. I call them my sisters in pain, because they’ve all lost their husbands, their sons or someone they love very, very dearly, and they understand what it is. And so, we as a group have always spoken up against enforced
disappearance. We hope that the world is listening, and more and more people join forces to counter this heinous crime.
To disappear someone, take someone outside the realm of the law, and to never reveal what had happened to them, leaving their family in great distress and loss without ever knowing the truth – this is worse than you could ever know.
A government can arrest a person wrongly and put them in jail, but at least you know that person is in jail. At least you can use the judicial system to try and right the wrong. But when you disappear a person, the person is not available and is hidden from the truth and has no recourse to justice whatsoever.
By removing one, you warn all the others who are trying to work in the area of social justice, or community justice, and it puts fear not only in the family, but in the entire community, so that other people will not stand up if they see any wrong, because they know that if they stand up, they could be targeted. It is a targeted crime, targeted to silence, and targeted to induce fear in the community and in the society.
Despite the passing of time, the pain, the suffering does not go away. It remains as time passes because the fear that he will not come back looms larger and larger. And the hope that he will return also fades. That is why enforced disappearance is the most difficult criminal act against human rights.
What has changed in Laos since your husband’s disappearance?
Nothing very much, though I still appeal for his case, and his case is now with the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances. His case is one of the iconic cases that the working group has been working on. And they raise it every time that Laos goes to the UN and presents its human rights report or [during] the UPR [Universal Periodic Review] process, for example.
...the fear that he will not come back looms larger and larger. And the hope that he will return also fades.
People who had fought for their own community against abuses including land grabbing, persecution or even speaking up against injustices – the government has come down very, very heavily on them. Again, it is used as a fear tactic to induce fear and to ensure compliance from the rest of the population.
Laos: interview
Laos rarely makes it to international news headlines, why do you think this is?
I think Laos is hardly in the international news for several reasons. One, Laos is a very small country. It is big geographically in terms of land size, but population wise it is only about eight million people. And so, what happens in Laos is not raising the attention of many other countries, partly
because it is a small country, and also it is a country of little economic significance in terms of trade.
I think the world should pay attention, especially to smaller countries where human rights abuses or other kinds of abuses are kind of swept under the carpet. I don’t think you need to have a major genocide before the world cameras come in and focus on the issue.
What can our readers do to help?
is not good all around the globe. We should not look at the bad stuff and despair. And I’ve used that in my own life. I could give up, I could just wallow in my own sorrow, [but] sorrow is a defeatist movement.
It is a targeted crime; targeted to silence.
I think we shouldn’t get too distracted. I think we shouldn’t also be too depressed by what we see. There’s a lot of bad news in the world. The situation
We have to have hope. We have to have aspirations, and we have to have compassion for the suffering of the world. We may not be able to change the world, but if you change ourselves and the people around us for the better and help the people around us or the community around us for the better, I think we can.
Sombath Somphone training students in Laos on human rights issues.
We hope that the world is listening, and more and more people join forces to counter this heinous crime.
Prayer Diary Week 3 Laos
Sunday 3 August
Most Protestant Christians in Laos live in rural areas where village chiefs operate semi-autonomously and are free to harass, evict and arbitrarily detain them with no accountability. Pray for greater collaboration between provincial and national officials to uphold freedom of religion or belief.
Monday 4 August
Lift up churches across Laos that have had their registration denied or revoked by the Ministry of Home Affairs, or that are still waiting for approval. Ask God to encourage and sustain them, regardless of their status in the eyes of the authorities.
Tuesday 5 August
Last year, six Christians were detained for over a month in Khammouane Province. They had hosted a small church service which was deemed ‘illegal’ as the church is not officially registered. Please pray that they would be protected from further harassment.
Wednesday 6 August
‘And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ (Matthew 28:20b). Pray that Christians in Laos would be inspired by these words of Jesus today.
Thursday 7 August
Pray for justice for the families of Pastor Sy Sengmnay, who was murdered in October 2022, and 40-year-old Pastor Thongkham Philavan, who was shot dead in his garden in July 2024 by gunmen wearing motorbike helmets. No arrests have been made to date in either case.
Friday 8 August
Please pray for Ng ShuiMeng. She is the wife of Sombath Somphone, a leading democracy activist who was disappeared at a police checkpoint in Vientiane more than 12 years ago. Ask God to bring her comfort and answers as to her husband’s whereabouts.
Saturday 9 August
Lord Jesus, thank you that recent years have seen some improvements in the situation of freedom of religion or belief in Laos’ urban areas. We ask that this would now spread to Laotians of all religions and beliefs across the country. Amen.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/laos
Ng Shui-Meng holding a photo of her husband, Sombath Somphone.
‘Today
they[...]silence me. Tomorrow it will be your turn.’
Diamond Tema is a thirty-yearold agnostic and secularist content creator in Türkiye. Last year, he took part in an online debate and later had to flee the country. His case illustrates the restrictions on both freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief in Türkiye.
On 14 June 2024, Diamond Tema took part in a YouTube debate about Shari’a law with another Turkish social media content creator, Asrin Tok.
During the discussion, Diamond (who holds both Turkish and Albanian citizenship) read a text describing the Prophet Mohammed’s marriage and consummation of the marriage to his final wife, Aisha, when she was six and nine years old respectively, from the Sahih alBukhari hadith collection.
He stated that he believed such actions were immoral and incompatible with human rights. He asked Asrin Tok if he believed that the text was accurate and for his views on its morality. During the debate, Diamond also criticised the
ruling Justice and Development (AKP) Party, the Republican People’s Party, Good Party, and other opposition parties for what he called their Islamist leanings.
Death threats and warnings
Three days later, Diamond relocated to Albania after receiving death threats and warnings that he would likely be arrested if he remained in Türkiye. He posted a video on YouTube explaining why he was leaving, stating:
‘There is no justice, there is no law, unfortunately there is no secularism ... It’s all just on paper. I will not be defeated by their order and system…I am defending secularism and
the (Turkish) republic against a man who says that Shari’a must come to this country. I am defending this country. Today they [...] silence me. Tomorrow it will be your turn.’
The following day, on 18 June 2024, a warrant was issued for his arrest for violating Criminal Code Article 216. At the time of writing, the criminal charges remain in place and Diamond is still in Albania.
There is no justice, there is no law, unfortunately there is no secularism ... It’s all just on paper.
Diamond Tema, on leaving Türkiye after death threats
‘A Matter of Control’
Türkiye is one of the countries we analysed in our recent report: A Matter of Control: Challenges to freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression. It reveals that protections for both of these rights have been rolled back significantly under the leadership of President Erdoğan. There has also been a significant and deliberate erosion of Türkiye’s secular identity in recent years. This should be of grave concern to its neighbours and the wider international community.
At the same time, it’s clear that many living in Türkiye are resisting the government’s attempts to reshape the country. Many continue to promote secular values and an environment where individuals can freely express themselves and peacefully follow the religion or belief of their choice.
Prayer Diary Week 4 Türkiye
Sunday 10 August
According to its constitution, Türkiye is a secular state. However, the current government has increasingly moved the country towards a Sunni Muslim identity. Religious minorities are more and more vulnerable to hate speech, discrimination and intolerance. Among them are Alevi Muslims, atheists, Baha’is, Christians, Jews, and Shi’a Muslims. Pray for their protection today.
Monday 11 August
Under the leadership of President Erdoğan, there has been a surge in anti-Christian sentiments in progovernment media. Pray that the government will address hate speech and discrimination against religious minorities, including in the media and in schools.
Tuesday 12 August
There have been increasing reports of Christian students being bullied and intimidated in school. Pray for an end to the intimidation and discrimination they currently face. May they know the Lord as their friend and defender today.
Wednesday 13 August
Educational books add fuel to the hostility against religious minorities, for example by describing missionary work as a means of dividing the nation. Pray that these seeds of distrust would not take root, and that the next generation would grow up to respect people from minority faith and belief communities.
Thursday 14 August
It is impossible to train Christian leaders legally in Türkiye. The seminaries of historical Christian communities have remained closed since the 1970s, so only unofficial training can take place. Ask God to make a way for this to change.
Friday 15 August
Government administrative institutions and the security forces routinely discriminate against non-Muslims when it comes to employment. Pray that people of all religions and beliefs would be treated equally and respectfully.
Saturday 16 August
Ask God to watch over Türkiye’s refugee population, which includes Iranian and Syrian Christians. Many refugees work 16 hours a day for only half the average earnings of a Turkish employee. Many reported having to hide their faith to keep their jobs, while others were sacked once their employers discovered their religion. Find out more at csw.org.uk/turkey
Around the world
Facts and stats
Cuba
In 2024, CSW documented 624 separate cases involving attacks on freedom of religion or belief, almost of all of which involved multiple types of violations. The total number of violations recorded was 1,898.
Facts and stats
China
Due to the strict information censorship by the Chinese government, the persecution of Falun Gong practitioners cannot always be reported on time, nor is all the information needed to document such cases readily available.
• Thirteen new deaths were reported in March 2025, which took place from 2019 –2025.
• 2,828 Falun Gong practitioners were arrested and 2,864 experienced harassment in 2024.
Source: Minghui.org
Facts and stats
Kenya
June, July and August 2024 saw at least 72 documented cases of abductions and releases.
That may amount to involuntary or enforced disappearances. Some of those targeted are prominent campaigners and opposition politicians, many of whom are believed to have been taken by security forces in unmarked vehicles. Their families searched numerous police stations, hospitals and even morgues, trying to ascertain their whereabouts.
In December 2024 the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) issued a report noting that the number of documented enforced disappearances is high and not limited to one geographical region. They reported that 82 people were disappeared between June and December 2024, with 29 still missing at time of publication.
Facts and stats
North Korea
80,000 to 120,000 people are estimated to be detained in prison camps, where they endure dire living conditions and brutal torture.
Source: The Korea Institute for National Unification
Prayer Diary Week 5
Sunday 17 August
Pray Psalm 34:7 over Christians in the Central African Republic: ‘The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.’ Pray for the Lord’s protection over all of CAR’s citizens from armed groups, Russian mercenaries and the Central African Armed Forces – all of whom are responsible for violence against civilians.
Monday 18 August
Russian mercenaries continue to commit severe human rights violations with impunity – eroding trust between citizens, especially those from minority religious communities. Pray that those responsible for these violations would be brought swiftly to justice.
Tuesday 19 August
CAR is due to hold presidential elections in December. Violence escalated significantly ahead of the country’s last elections in 2020, and the current president has supported a constitutional amendment that allows him to run for another term. Please pray that the election process is peaceful, transparent, inclusive and democratic.
Wednesday 20 August
The town of Zemio in the southeast saw a significant outbreak of sectarian violence and hate speech in March 2025. Muslims and members of the Puel or Fulani ethnic groups were particularly targeted. Ask God to bring reconciliation and a lasting peace in Zemio, and throughout the country.
Thursday 21 August
Pray today for those working for the UN Peacekeeping Mission in the country (MINUSCA), particularly after the killing of a Kenyan peacekeeper in March this year. May their presence in the country bring security and stability for communities in CAR.
Friday 22 August
Today is the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. Pray for the families of all those who lost their lives in CAR’s violent civil war because of their religion or belief, asking God to bring them justice and comfort.
Saturday 23 August
Lord God, raise up peacemakers and democratically elected officials who would lead the Central African Republic to an inclusive and conflict-free future – one where the rights of all Central Africans are upheld and protected. Amen.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/car
‘The Peace Dove of Bangui’ by US Institute of Peace. Licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Dr Sheikh Mahmood, Pakistan Remember their names
On 16 May, he arrived at Fatima Hospital in Sargodha, Punjab Province, where he worked for the past seven years. On this day, an unidentified gunman opened fire on him from behind before fleeing the scene, openly brandishing a pistol.
Sadly, the doctor did not survive his injuries. He leaves behind a mother, wife, two daughters and two sons.
Explainer:
Local police have yet to confirm the motive behind the killing, but recent developments in Pakistan give reason to believe that he was likely targeted because of his faith – that is, because he was an Ahmadi Muslim. His murder marked the third faith-based killing of an Ahmadi in the space of a month.
Dr Sheikh Mahmood (58) was a highly respected gastroenterologist and hepatologist. He was widely known for his dedication, professional excellence and compassionate nature.
Pray
• That the Pakistani government will take urgent action stop the trend of targeted violence against Ahmadi Muslims.
• For the safety of all religious minorities, including Ahmadis and Christians.
Who are the Ahmadiyya?
For decades, the Ahmadiyya community has been the most institutionally and constitutionally persecuted religious group in Pakistan.
It is illegal for Ahmadis to even call themselves Muslims.
They face discrimination in virtually every area of life.
Ahmadi children are bullied and discriminated against at school, while adults suffer similar hostility in the workplace.
Prayer Diary Week 6 Colombia
Sunday 24 August
Many religious leaders in Colombia are working in conflict zones, under pressure from illegal armed and criminal groups. If they refuse to meet their demands, such as storing weapons or illegal drugs in their churches, the cost is high. Pray that the Lord would protect and sustain them, that they would be able to serve their communities in peace.
Monday 25 August
In April, eight people were summoned to a meeting by an illegal armed group and never returned. Seven of them were church leaders. When their family sought them out, they were told to ‘consider the case closed’. On 1 July, their bodies were found in a mass grave. We remember them: Isaíd Gómez, Maribel Silva, Carlos Valero, James Caicedo, Maryuri Hernández, Nixon Peñalosa, Jesús Valero and Oscar García. Ask the Holy Spirit to comfort their families.
Tuesday 26 August
The Colombian government removed religious leaders from their list of categories of vulnerable individuals in 2023, despite the situation remaining dangerous. Ask God to reverse this decision so that religious leaders can access protection programmes once again.
Wednesday 27 August
Pray for understanding, reconciliation and healing within indigenous communities. Those who have converted away from traditional religious beliefs may be arbitrarily detained, physically punished, excluded from certain benefits (including university), or forcibly displaced.
Thursday 28 August
Illegal armed and criminal groups in Colombia aggressively recruit young people, often by force, and threaten anyone who provides support for those who resist. Pray for the families, religious leaders and communities of these young people – for safety and wisdom to protect them.
Friday 29 August
Our training workshops in Colombia have been a powerful tool for equipping human rights defenders, indigenous groups, church leaders and others. For example, we taught people how to recognise when their rights have been violated, and how to tell their story to government officials. In this way, those who have sometimes been perceived as ‘voiceless’ are able to speak for themselves. Praise God!
Saturday 30 August
‘The LORD will keep you from all harm – he will watch over your life.’ (Psalm 121:7) Lord God, would you preserve your people in Colombia, and help all who are suffering because of their beliefs. Guard those living and working amid the ongoing conflict, and bring them peace. Amen.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/colombia
Top to bottom: James Caicedo, Carlos Valero, Maryuri Hernández, Isaíd Gómez, Nixon Peñalosa, & Maribel Silva.
How long have you been supporting CSW?
I first heard of CSW at a conference some 25 years ago, when the late Bishop Richard Hare was speaking. I admired him greatly, so when he said that, if there was only one charity he could support, it would be CSW, my ears pricked up! I signed up as a CSW supporter to receive news and information about Christians persecuted for their faith – for whom I was deeply concerned.
Through my 11 years as vicar of Whitefriars Church in Rushden, CSW was one of our mission partners, supported by our giving. Two or three times we were blessed by visits from the amazing Stuart Windsor (CSW’s National Director at the time).
Stuart riveted our congregation with his first-hand stories
‘Better informed and more able to
pray…’
Rev Philip Evans is the associate vicar of Moulton Parish Church in Northamptonshire, and a long-term CSW supporter. He shares how his church decided to take action following a visit from one of our advocates.
from around the world about Christians standing up for their faith in difficult circumstances. He became a good friend, and his death in 2017 saddened us all.
What happened when you invited a speaker?
In February we welcomed Cecil, CSW’s Asia Deputy Team Leader, to our two morning services, also to talk with parishioners over lunch. Once again, I saw how his first-hand experience and deep knowledge gripped our congregation’s attention. His visit was spoken of for a long time after – it left a deep and lasting impact.
We learnt a great deal about discrimination towards religious minorities in Pakistan – Christians in particular, but also Ahmadiyya Muslims.
Cecil told us how the education system discriminates seriously against non-Muslims in Pakistan. Islamic studies are compulsory, and there is insufficient provision for courses which could be an alternative. Minority students are often forced to take Islamic studies, either because an alternative is not available, or because pursuit of an alternative course (typically Ethics) would result in lower grades being given.
How did you respond?
Recognising that a proportion of UK overseas aid goes to Pakistan, many in our church spoke of how this support needed to be reflected in fair treatment of Christians and other religious minorities.
Equip your church
Our team of speakers is made up of lawyers, pastors, journalists and advocacy experts, coming from many different backgrounds and church traditions.
Visit csw.org.uk/ inviteaspeaker to find out more.
Our church council wrote to our two local MPs, asking for these concerns to be put to the Secretary of State.
Since then, Stuart Andrew MP most helpfully replied to say he shares our concerns about these serious challenges, noting that the misuse of blasphemy laws and the lack of fair and inclusive access to education are matters of significant concern. It is so important to keep advocating and raising awareness.
I have seen, time and again, that when local churches engage with CSW, especially welcoming a guest speaker, they become better informed and more able to pray. It helps us all as Christians to become more committed and active in defending the fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief for all.
Prayer Diary Week 7 Kenya
Sunday 31 August
‘The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad...’ As we pray for the people of Kenya this week, take heart that the Lord is king over every nation, ruling with righteousness and justice (Psalm 97:1-2).
Monday 1 September
Pray against violations of freedom of religion or belief in Kenya, perpetrated by the Somali terrorist group al Shabaab. Since October 2011, the group has attacked churches, security installations, infrastructure and villages.
Tuesday 2 September
In predominantly Muslim areas of northern Kenya, non-Muslims have had difficulties opening places of worship and buying land. Their businesses have also been targeted and undermined. Pray that this discrimination would be dealt with and for harmony between people of all religions or beliefs.
Wednesday 3 September
Pray specifically for the areas of Kenya that border Somalia, which continue to suffer terrorist violence. On 23 March, police personnel were attacked in the northeast as they were preparing for morning prayers. Six were killed and four were hospitalised. Pray also for the local communities that report discriminatory treatment at the hands of the police while also being targeted by al Shabaab for cooperating with the government.
Thursday 4 September
In June 2024, nationwide protests erupted in Kenya as youth demonstrated against the proposed Finance Bill that would’ve placed heavy taxes on the most vulnerable citizens. Peaceful protestors sought refuge in the Anglican Cathedral in Nairobi, but were by followed by armed police who fired live rounds. Pray against such use of excessive force and for the sanctity of places of worship to be respected.
Friday 5 September
The 2024 Religious Organisation Bill proposed by the government may be a well-meaning attempt to protect citizens from abusive cult-like organisations. However, it could allow for significant overreach and monitoring of religious activities. Pray that, instead of passing additional restrictions, existing laws would be used to ensure the safety of congregations and penalise corruption.
Saturday 6 September
2024 saw a high number of enforced disappearances. Some were prominent campaigners; many are believed to have been taken by security forces in unmarked vehicles. Pray for the safe return of those who are still missing. Pray that the government would no longer use enforced disappearance to target its critics.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/kenya
When tragedies turn into trials India
A terror attack shook the nation in April 2025. And once again, India’s Muslims were left not only shaken but defending their very existence. As CSW’s in-country researcher writes: we must not let terror turn into collective punishment of religious minorities.
Twenty-six people were killed when terrorists attacked tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on 22 April. The attackers reportedly singled out non-Muslims, even asking some to recite the Islamic Kalima (Islamic prayers derived from hadiths that are often used to aid South Asia Muslim children to memorise key beliefs) to prove their faith.
When
terror
seems to spread like wildfire, we must not let it justify collective punishment.
It was horrifying. And yet, amid the horror, ordinary Kashmiris – Muslim men and women – risked their lives to save strangers. People like Nazakat Ahmad Shah (a tour guide) and Rayees Ahmad Bhatt (President of the Pony Owners’ Association) pulled survivors from danger. A local pony guide Syed Adil Hussain Shah gave his life while trying to protect a
little girl. But instead of being praised for their efforts, the Muslim community – especially the Kashmiri Muslim community – was vilified.
Their bravery was quickly forgotten. The national mood shifted from mourning to suspicion, and the blame – as it so often does in India – landed on an entire community.
Every time India suffers a terrorist attack such as this, especially one linked to Kashmir or with ‘Islamist’ connotations, Muslims across India are forced to prove their innocence.
Within hours of the massacre in Pahalgam, hate speech began to spread.
In Dehradun (Uttarakhand State), a leader from the farright Hindu nationalist group Hindu Raksha Dal posted a video ordering all Kashmiri Muslims to leave the city by 10am the next day. Dozens of students fled overnight, terrified. Many had to borrow money for their flights home, some locking themselves in hostels until they could escape.
In Mussoorie (also in Uttarakhand), 16 Kashmiri shawl sellers left town after two were assaulted by locals.
In Punjab, Kashmiri girls were attacked in their hostels. One video showed a girl sobbing as she described being called a terrorist.
In Uttar Pradesh, members of the Kshatriya Gau Raksha Dal (another Hindu nationalist group) allegedly killed a Muslim man and wounded his cousin in retaliation for the Pahalgam violence.
The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) released a comprehensive report detailing the disturbing surge in anti-Muslim and anti-Kashmiri hate crimes across India after the attack, covering 22 April-8 May. The report documents 184 incidents affecting at least 316 individuals. It listed 84 cases of hate speech, 64 instances of intimidation, 42 of harassment, 39 assaults, 19 acts of vandalism, 14 threats, 7 verbal abuses and 3 murders.
This is part of a familiar pattern, and it isn’t just about Kashmiris. It’s about what it means to be a religious minority in India today. It’s about how, when India’s Muslim community faces the same terror as every other Indian citizen, someone will still question where their loyalties lie.
JAMMU & KASHMIR
PUNJAB
UTTARAKHAND
UTTAR PRADESH
INDIA
Even voices of reason experience this.
Himanshi Narwal is a Hindu whose husband (Vinay Narwal, a navy officer) was killed in the Pahalgam attack. She tried to do her part to stop the hate, saying she didn’t want people turning against Muslims or Kashmiris, and speaking about how Kashmiri Muslim men helped her after her husband was killed.
It should have been a unifying moment. Instead, she was trolled online and stripped off her dignity, even amid her grief. She was told she wasn’t honouring her husband’s memory. Inappropriate remarks were made about her association with Muslim men. Why do we love to hate so much?
Such developments have echoes of the aftermath of the February 2019 terror attack in Pulwama, in which a suicide bomber killed 40 members of India’s Central Reserve Police Force. In the weeks that followed, Kashmiri students faced violent reprisals, evictions and humiliation.
After every major communal flashpoint, whether it’s a riot or a terrorist attack, minorities pay a price – regardless of their involvement.
In times such as these, when terror seems to spread like wildfire, we must not let it justify collective punishment. Not let a beard, a hijab, or an accent become a target. Because when that happens, we are no longer fighting terrorism but feeding it. We are doing exactly what the attackers want: turning people against each other.
Prayer Diary Week 8 India
Sunday 7 September
Since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in 2014, there’s been heightened hostility towards religious minorities in India. Pray that the government would implement protective measures for vulnerable communities, particularly Christians and Muslims, and ensure legal protection for places of worship.
Monday 8 September
Let Psalm 22:19 inspire your prayers for Christians in Chhattisgarh: ‘But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me.’ According to the United Christian Forum (a helpline for persecuted Christians), Chhattisgarh has emerged as a hotspot for targeted attacks on Christians.
Tuesday 9 September
On 12 April, six Christian families refused to renounce their faith under pressure from the village council in Sukma District, Chhattisgarh State. They were expelled from their homes for two days. Pray that this will not happen again; that the village council will respect the rights of everyone in this indigenous community.
Wednesday 10 September
Arunachal Pradesh is one of the latest states to adopt a controversial anti-conversion law across India. Pray for the repeal of all anti-conversion laws, which are currently in force in 11 states. As well as being unconstitutional, they are frequently used by far-right groups to justify harassment and attacks on religious minority communities.
Thursday 11 September
The radicalisation of India’s youth is of serious concern. Most extremist Hindu nationalist groups have student wings, and young people are a major presence in many communal clashes between Hindus and Muslims. Pray for a generation of peacemakers and reconcilers to arise.
Friday 12 September
Censorship of the media and newspapers by political parties in India suppresses the realities of violations against minorities. Independent journalism often lacks adequate funding for advocates to speak out the truth. Pray for truth to prevail against any political ideology which would seek to conceal violations.
Saturday 13 September
Lord, we call for constructive relationships between different religious groups to be restored and for a renewed sense of unity. Please protect all who are in danger because of their beliefs in India. Thank you for all who advocate for their safety and freedom. Amen.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/india
The Tip of the Iceberg: Iran’s Hidden Crackdown on Christians
In April, we were in the UK Parliament alongside Article 18, Open Doors and Middle East Concern. Together we shared the findings of a joint report, which shines a light on the violations experienced by Iran’s Christians during 2024.
Last year saw The combined sentences totalled 139 Christians arrested and 96 sentenced. 263 years in prison – six times more than the previous year.
But this is only the tip of the iceberg.
Many more cases go unreported – either because no-one raises awareness (the authorities frequently issue threats against publicity) or because the victims request confidentiality. Whether reported or unreported, we believe God sees and cares for them all.
Learn more at csw.org.uk/iran
Chibuzor and David Smith MP.
Facts and stats
Pakistan
At least
344
people were accused of blasphemy in 2024, up from 329 in 2023. Of the accused:
70% were Muslims, 14% were Ahmadis, 9% were Hindus, and 6% were Christians.
Source: Centre for Social Justice (CSJ)
Six Ahmadis were murdered for their faith in 2024
A significant increase on one religiously motivated murder in 2023.
22 Ahmadi mosques were attacked and 308 Ahmadi graves desecrated in the same period.
Source: International Human Rights Desk (IHRD) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community in the UK.
The situation appears to be deteriorating further still this year:
• 269 Ahmadi graves have reportedly been desecrated across 11 separate attacks in 2025 alone.
• On 28 February, in three separate incidents, at least 28 Ahmadis were arrested and 23 others had a criminal case registered against them in Punjab. This happened two days before the start of Ramadan.
Prayer Diary Week 9 Iran
14 –20 September
Laleh Saati is an Iranian convert to Christianity. She spent several years seeking asylum in Malaysia before returning to Iran in 2017, frustrated at the lengthy process, and wishing to be reunited with her elderly parents.
On 13 February 2024, Laleh was arrested in Tehran and interrogated for around three weeks. Photos and videos of her baptism and Christian activities in Malaysia were shown to her as evidence of her supposed ‘crime’.
On 16 March 2024, Laleh was sentenced to two years in prison and a two-year travel ban for ‘acting against national security by connecting with Zionist Christian organisations’. She reportedly spent three weeks in Ward 209 of Evin Prison, which is run by the Ministry of Intelligence, before being transferred to the women’s ward.
• Give thanks for Laleh’s release. Pray for the swift improvement of her mental health, and total healing from any trauma from the interrogations she endured in Ward 209.
• Ask God to protect Laleh’s entire family. Her mother also faced interrogation and was reportedly threatened that she would be charged alongside her daughter because of the publicity surrounding Laleh’s case.
• Pray for the perpetrators of injustice and persecution. Laleh’s sentence was pronounced by a notorious judge, Iman Afshari, who has been sanctioned by the UK government for serious human rights violations.
• Pray for the safety of all religious and ethnic minority communities (including Baha’is, Christians, Sufi Dervishes and Sunni Muslims) who face similar discrimination, imprisonment and violence.
Laleh Saati. Photo: Article 18
CSW: connect & encourage
For someone who is experiencing discrimination, harassment, violence or imprisonment because of their religion or belief, a letter from you can be a lifeline of hope. Find out more at csw.org.uk/connectencourage
Cuba
Rev Roberto Rodríguez
Reverend Rodríguez and his family continue to live in difficult circumstances, and are grateful for continued prayers and cards of encouragement.
Rvdo Roberto Rodríguez y Familia
Princesa No. 52 e/ Laborde y Gene Cardenas, 42110 Matanzas Cuba
Yaguajay Baptist Church
As part of a dispute over the ownership of this church’s property, the local authorities claimed that the church’s land had been nationalised in October 1980. Subsequently, the church property was confiscated and handed over to government businesses. The historic church building belonged to the Western Baptist Convention prior to the Revolution.
Pastor Yuri Castellanos Pérez
Yaguajay Baptist Church
Calle Quintín Banderas #15 Yaguajay
Sancti Spíritus CP 65100 Cuba
Malaysia
Susanna Koh
Pastor Raymond Koh was abducted from a street in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia in broad daylight, in February 2017. He has not been seen or heard from since that day four years ago. His wife Susanna and their children are still seeking answers, fighting for justice and continuing to trust that God will help them find the truth.
Susanna Koh
#107, Lot LG109B, One Utama Shopping Centre, No 1, Lebuh Bandar Utama 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
West Malaysia
Email: liewsusanna@yahoo.com
I received several letters of encouragement from the UK... They are such a blessing and encouragement. Thank you.
Cuban pastor
Important
Please don’t mention CSW or make any political comment in your cards to Cuban people – this could endanger them.
Nigeria
The Most Rev
Dr Benjamin Argak Kwashi and Dr Gloria Kwashi
Archbishop Emeritus of Jos, Benjamin Argak Kwashi, is a prominent and eloquent advocate for Christians in northern and central Nigeria. His resilient family has experienced several attacks, but continues serving. His wife, Dr Gloria Kwashi established and runs Zambiri School, which educates over 400 primary and secondary students from deprived backgrounds. The students receive free education, uniforms, food, and medical attention, and around 70 of them live with the Kwashis.
The archbishop underwent successful treatment for cancer in the US following a recurrence. Please pray for the family’s continued health, safety and strength, and for provision for the school amid the ongoing tensions in central Nigeria.
The Most Rev Dr Benjamin Argak Kwashi and Dr Gloria Kwashi
Anglican Diocese of Jos PO Box 6283
Jos Plateau State 930001 Nigeria
Prayer Diary Week 10 North Korea
Sunday 21 September
We continue to remember three South Korean missionaries who are serving life sentences in North Korea: Pastor Kim Jungwook, Pastor Kim Kook-kie, Pastor Choi Chun-gil. All three were charged with spying for South Korea and have been held incommunicado for more than a decade. Pray that their whereabouts would be made known, and lead to justice.
Monday 22 September
In January 2024, after a public trial in front of their classmates, two teenage boys were sentenced to 16 years of hard labour for watching K-Dramas (Korean-language TV shows, made in South Korea). Pray for their freedom, and for the tens of thousands of others detained in the dire conditions of North Korea’s prison camps. Many are Christians.
Tuesday 23 September
Pray that China would stop repatriating North Korean refugees. They know that this is illegal, and that they are returning them to certain danger. Those found to have had contact with Christians face especially harsh punishment.
Wednesday 24 September
Lift up North Korean refugees in your prayers, asking for divine safety and provision. Remember those who have been sent back to North Korea from China, like Kim Cheol-ok. Her fate and whereabouts remain unknown since she was repatriated in 2023.
Thursday 25 September
Ask God to strengthen all those who work on the human rights situation in North Korea. Pray that advocacy efforts would be effective at revealing the truth and holding the regime to account.
Friday 26 September
Pray especially today for the organisations that have been impacted by the US government’s funding cuts. Among them are independent news sources, human rights organisations, and those providing humanitarian assistance. Some crucial organisations have ceased to exist entirely. Pray for provision that allows advocacy to continue.
Saturday 27 September
Dear Lord, our prayer is simple: work a miracle in North Korea today. Only you can transform this nation from oppression to freedom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/northkorea
Top left to bottom right,
Pastor Kim Jung-wook, Pastor Kim Kook-kie and Pastor Choi Chun-gil.
Prayer Diary Week 11 Cuba Prayer Diary Week 12
Sunday 28 September
Pray for Pastor Alain Toledano Valiente and his family. The Cuban authorities have repeatedly prevented the exiled Protestant pastor from returning to the island to be with his adult daughter, Susana, who has been battling cancer since August 2022.
Monday 29 September
Give thanks for the Ladies in White and all those who bravely stand up for human rights in Cuba – even as the government continues to harass, detain and fine them, and blocks them from attending religious services on a weekly basis. Pray that the harassment would cease and they would be able to worship and pray with others in peace.
Tuesday 30 September
Over the past two years, we’ve noted a concerning increase in fines being imposed on religious leaders, generally for leading ‘unauthorised’ religious activities. Many of them already earn much less than the average national salary. What’s more, most groups have tried to legally register but been rejected, leaving them vulnerable to these fines. Ask God to cancel all unjust fines and provide a way for them to legally practice their faith.
Wednesday 1 October
‘Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ (Joshua 1:9) Pray that children who face harassment, discrimination and threats in schools because of their beliefs would be strengthened and comforted by this verse today.
Thursday 2 October
Give thanks for the religious leaders and congregations that have helped to meet the increasingly acute humanitarian needs on the island, often by collecting and distributing aid in their communities. Pray that the authorities, who often punish them for doing so, would have a change of heart and support these much-needed efforts.
Friday 3 October
Pray today for Cuba’s political prisoners. Jorge and Nadir Martín Perdomo are brothers who are currently serving seven-year sentences because of their participation in the 11 July 2021 protests. They have repeatedly been denied the right to be visited by a pastor. Ask God to bring about their miraculous, immediate and unconditional release.
Saturday 4 October
Lord Jesus, we ask that you strengthen everyone who speaks out for freedom of religion or belief and other fundamental human rights in Cuba. We pray in faith for powerful and lasting breakthrough in the nation today. Amen.
Sunday 5 October
‘For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.’ (Matthew 18:20) Pray that even smallest and most secretive unregistered ‘house’ churches in China would be deeply moved and encouraged by the presence of Jesus in their gatherings today.
Monday 6 October
Pastor Ma Yan, a Christian belonging to the Hui ethnic group, was released from prison in April. He spent more than eight months unjustly detained for ‘organising illegal gatherings’. Give thanks for his release, and pray that he and his family would be able to enjoy his freedom in peace.
Tuesday 7 October
The wives of preachers Li Jie and Han Xiaodong – both of whom were detained on unfounded fraud charges in August 2022 – have reportedly been stalked, harassed and intimidated while their husbands are in prison. Ask God to be a shield around them and all members of Linfen Covenant Home Church.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/cuba
Marta Perdomo, mother of Jorge and Nadir Martín Perdomo, with a photo of her two sons. Credit: Marta Perdomo.
Hui Christian Pastor Ma Yan. Photo: China Aid.
Lie Jie and his wife Li Shanshan. Photo: Linfen Covenant Home Church.
Pastor Alain Toledano Valiente & his daughter Susana Toledano Benitez.
China Prayer Diary Week 13 Pakistan
Wednesday 8 October
Even churches that are registered with the government, like the Xinyi Village Church in Anhui, have experienced raids and detentions. Today, let’s pray ambitiously for an end to the crackdown that affects every major religion or belief group in the country.
Thursday 9 October
This year marked the tenth anniversary of the infamous ‘709 crackdown’ in which over 300 human rights defenders and their family members were detained, interrogated or imprisoned. Many continue to face harassment today. Pray that God would protect them and strengthen their vital work.
Friday 10 October
Pray that governments around the world would stand up to China, despite its economic and geopolitical influence. Pray for increased efforts to hold the Chinese Communist Party to account for its flagrant and widespread violations of fundamental human rights.
Saturday 11 October
Father God, we continue to ask for radical transformation in China today. May we see prisoners released, churches free to operate, and ultimately a change in leadership such that the rights of all are upheld and respected. Amen. Find out more at csw.org.uk/china
Sunday 12–Saturday 18 October
Praise God! In February 2025, a civil court in Bahawalpur, Punjab, annulled the ‘marriage’ of an abducted Christian woman, Shahida Bibi.
Shahida was forced to convert to Islam and marry her abductor, a Muslim man, who had been sexually exploiting her since she was 11 years old. Now 25 years old, she has been given a new identity card with her marital status cleared and her status as a Christian restored.
Lord Most High,
We praise you for this good news of freedom! Thank you that Shahida’s ‘marriage’ was recognised for what it truly was: forced, abusive, and wholly unjust.
Please continue bringing restoration and healing to Shahida’s life after all she has suffered. As we read in Psalm 91, we ask you to be a fortress of protection around Shahida and her family; a shelter from fear and danger.
Thank you that the judge boldly made this ruling, even in a very hostile environment. We pray that others would judge with similar courage and integrity – especially in cases of abduction, forced marriage and forced conversion.
We pray that other victims’ families would not be intimidated into silence, but would be well supported in their search for their loved ones. May authorities be swift to investigate so that perpetrators do not escape justice.
Lord, bring freedom to many more women and girls like Shahida.
Amen.
The number of cases of abduction, forced conversion and forced marriage of Christian and Hindu girls have increased in recent years, particularly in Punjab and Sindh provinces. Girls from ‘low’ caste Hindu communities are particularly at risk.
In 2024 there were 83 registered cases, according to the Centre for Social Justice. However, the true figure is assumed to be much higher as many cases are not reported due to fear of backlash from the abductors or extremist groups.
