Latest CSW Response Newsletter

OCTOBER 2016 - JANUARY 2017

Response Your insight into religious freedom

Your support builds a path to freedom in Nepal

It was an act of love and kindness to traumatised children.

Yet it resulted in eight Christians being arrested.

In June 2016 seven men and one woman in Charikot, eastern Nepal were detained by police – they had been carrying out trauma counselling for children affected by the earthquakes that hit Nepal last year. At the end of the session the organisers gave out gift packs including a comic called The Great Story, telling the story of Jesus. A few days later they were arrested and charged with attempting to convert the children to Christianity.

See inside:

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Inside a refugee camp

In search of sanctuary

On behalf of humanity

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www.csw.org.uk

/Cswuk

@csw_UK

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Country in focus:

NEPAL

The inside track: Continued from page 1 The accused were held in custody for nine days and treated very badly before being released on bail – the woman was questioned so intensely it made her sick. It was a very distressing time for all of them.

Population 29 million Main religions Hindu 81% Buddhist 9% Muslim 4.4% Christian 1.4% Capital city Kathmandu

But thanks to your support, we were able to meet three of the Christians who’d been arrested, encourage them and pray with them. We also gave them practical advice on what they should do next.

Life for Christians in Nepal It’s one year since Nepal got a new constitution, and controversial parts of this legislation are making it increasingly difficult for Christians and other religious minorities to practise their faith.

On The FRONTLINES

“I always have a Bible or other Christian books in my car – which I often distribute. If the current culture of discrimination against us continues, this might be enough for the police to stop me and accuse me of trying to convert others.” Pastor Tanka, a church leader in Nepal, told us of his concerns after the Christians were arrested for handing out the story of Jesus. Authorities in Nepal have been cracking down on Christians recently, and this case is just the latest example.

Human rights training has always been a key part of our work – so on our latest visit to Nepal we held a training course for 12 religious leaders and journalists from across the country. They learned how to document incidents where religious freedom has been violated, so they can take this to authorities as evidence. We trained them to use this to lobby effectively – as an exercise, they wrote letters to the Prime Minister of Nepal, asking him to protect religious freedom.

Three of the attendees were able to meet staff at embassies in Kathmandu, the capital, to raise their religious freedom concerns.

Without your support, these leaders and journalists would never have had the chance to meet such powerful diplomats!

How your support helps Your support has enabled us to keep working in Nepal – in fact, we’ve been working there for decades! This means we’re well equipped to respond to the latest challenges.

As we go to print, the Christians who were arrested in Charikot are awaiting their next hearing. Please keep praying. When the pressure increases, one of the things that helps people most is knowing that supporters like you are praying for them.

With your support and God’s grace, we’ll see God’s justice reign in Nepal!

Please pray • For God to protect Christians, Buddhists, Muslims and other religious minorities in Nepal as it becomes harder for them to live out their faith • For safety for the eight Christians as their trial continues

Janet Wilkinson Janet joined CSW this year as our new Ambassadors Coordinator. She’s been all over the UK meeting our wonderful Ambassadors – apparently this has involved eating a lot of cake…

Hi Janet! How did you come to join CSW? Last December I decided to return to work, and CSW was the first organisation that came to mind. I hadn’t had an interview in over 20 years but my husband encouraged me to apply, and here I am.

Now you’ve been with CSW for a few months what’s a typical day like?

One day I could be in a buzzing office, producing our Ambassadors’ newsletter. Next day I could be at a prayer group somewhere in the UK – all of which usually involve coffee and cake I might add!

• That the Nepali parliament would amend a recent bill that’s made it much harder to share or change your religion.

So what’s the best part of your job?

Watch Pastor Tanka talk about life as a Christian in Nepal www.csw.org.uk/2016-Nepal-Charikot

My children keep me pretty busy. I find golf a great distraction, and I also enjoy visiting the theatre and the ballet.

As much as I love all my colleagues in the office, I really enjoy being ‘out and about’ meeting Ambassadors and recruiting new ones.

What do you get up to outside of CSW?

If you had to describe CSW in three words, what would they be?

Justice-focused, passionate and professional.

I’d seen the same pictures of the refugee crisis as you have, but even that didn’t prepare me.

I travelled to Ethiopia with CSW to meet Eritrean refugees in person – to help document their stories and find out what lies behind the images that have filled our TV screens. I’d seen in the news the boatloads of refugees crossing the Mediterranean, the children’s bodies washed up on beaches and the jungle camp at Calais. But still, meeting the refugees myself, I was truly shocked.

Around 3,000 Eritreans flee every month, risking their lives to reach safety. They’re desperately trying to escape the horrific suffering inflicted on them by the brutal dictatorship in Eritrea. They risk their lives as they cross the border – there’s a shoot to kill policy, meaning border guards can shoot anyone trying to leave – and often have to leave friends and family behind. All in search of sanctuary.

What many of them find is not sanctuary, but desperate uncertainty. They hoped for a new place to call home, but few countries are willing to take them in. They hoped

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How we’re helping

to build a new life, but being a refugee makes it almost impossible to find work.

The church is a haven, a community and a place of hope.

I found it heartbreaking that camps in northern Ethiopia that were supposed to be temporary are now filled with permanent buildings – symbols of giving up. Forced to acknowledge this may not be a brief stopgap, the refugees build homes out of wood or bricks.

My lasting memory will be the days I spent with the children in the church we stayed with in Addis Ababa. The church has done its best to create a comforting routine for the children despite the circumstances, and it was so moving to see them being playful and joyful.

It’s a sombre place and you can feel the air of desperation: it feels like the end of the earth.

But there is light in the darkness. I saw how the church had become a sanctuary for so many refugees – their faith is their lifeline, giving them the strength they need to survive. There’s no special building, music equipment or worship band. The church looks just like any other house, but it’s so much more. It’s a haven, a community and a place of hope.

You’ll see overleaf some of the photographs I took – as you look at them, please pray that God will speak to you about what you can do to bring real change for refugees.

Joshua Brown Documentary Photographer

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In search of

sanctuary We visited a refugee camp in Ethiopia to meet Eritreans who have had to flee their homes.

These are some of their stories.

Robel is 26. When he was just 16, he was arrested while worshipping in an underground cell group with eight others. They were beaten and interrogated repeatedly, then taken to a series of prisons. In each prison he found ways to communicate with Christians outside, and was tortured each time he was caught. He refused to give up his faith despite constant pressure, and miraculously escaped in 2010.

He’s been in a refugee camp ever since.

During Eritrea’s struggle for independence Solomon, 47, fled to Sudan aged 13 after being caught by a rebel group and trained to fight. He was a refugee in Sudan until 2015, when it got too dangerous. His wife had an Ethiopian passport, so the family moved to a camp there.

Solomon and his family don’t want to be resettled; they have decided to stay and improve the lives of other refugees.

He told us, “I asked the Lord to bless us where we live.” He has opened a restaurant in one of the camps.

Yonas, 30, became a Christian a few months before his mother died. While he was doing his compulsory military training, he was mistreated and imprisoned several times once it was discovered that he was a Christian. Even his own brother, who was a soldier, treated him very harshly. In 2011 he risked his life crossing the border into Ethiopia.

TAKE ACTION FOR REFUGEES AT www.cSW.ORG.UK/REALCHANGE

All photos: Joshua Brown

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Get

Perspectives

INVOLVED

Diversity

Protecting the freedom to choose As Christians we believe that humanity was created by God in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). Not only was all humankind created equal, but it was also endowed with an intrinsic freedom of choice. That choice is to be celebrated, respected and protected.

Looking at the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ during His time on earth we clearly see that He was an advocate not only for those who were oppressed, marginalised, and outcast by society, but He made Himself the chief Advocate for humankind as a whole.1

Out of His deep love and concern for His children, God cannot stand to see any of them suffering oppression or marginalisation,6 regardless of their faith. He calls us to be ambassadors,7 following in His footsteps,8 to help those in need: the poor, the broken-hearted and the captive.

At the start of His ministry, our Lord clearly defined His role and mission on earth in the Gospel of Luke 24:8 saying:

Based on this calling, it is the responsibility of Christians, and the Church as a whole, to imitate the life of their Shepherd. Indeed, it is our responsibility and calling to advocate on behalf of all humanity, especially those who are in no position to speak for or help themselves.

‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.’

1. 1 John 2:1; Rom 8:34 2. John 4 3. Mt 9:9-11 4. Lk 8:2; Mt 27:56

When looking at the people with whom our Lord interacted and sought to help, we see characters such as the Samaritan woman,2 Matthew the tax collector,3 Mary Magdalene,4 the paralytic5 and so many more, a selection of people rejected and marginalised and rejected by society, yet chosen by Him to defend and to help.

The fabric of our society is made up of a variety of people in various circumstances, but underneath the surface differences, at the core of each and every person, within us all, and intrinsic to our nature, is that common image and likeness.

His Grace Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop of the Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, and member of CSW’s Board of Reference

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5. Mt 9:1-8 6. 2 Cor 7:6; Dt 31:6; Ps 146:7 7. 2 Cor 5:20 8. Mt 16:24; Jn 12:26; 1 Pt 2:21

It’s that time again! On Sunday 20 November we’re marking the annual International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church.

In the past God has powerfully answered our prayers – releasing prisoners, moving the hearts of politicians, and protecting people who are persecuted for their faith.

“One thing I can bring to you is the voices of those who are saying thank you for praying for us. We have survived and will survive on the wings of prayers from those around the world whom we may never know until we meet at the feet of Jesus.”

THE MOST REV BENJAMIN KWASHI, ANGLICAN ARCHBISHOP OF JOS

r e b m e v o N 0 on 2 r e y a r p f o ing r u o p t u o n join us in a Burma Aung Ko Latt,

Cuba Yiorvis Bravo

Mexico Families

Vietnam Nguyen Van

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners.

Luke 4:18

And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night?

Luke 18:7

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm.

Psalm 20:7-8

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

Matthew 25:40

China Li Heping, in

Bangladesh

Nigeria Hundreds

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings…

Isaiah 52:7

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.

Psalm 6:9

a Christian human rights activist serving an 11-year prison sentence, after being falsely accused of bombing a market

prison for defending the rights of religious minorities Defend the cause of the weak and the fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and the oppressed.

Psalm 82:3

Denis, still under pressure from the government to surrender his home (and church headquarters) to them

Leaders of religious minorities who are being targeted by violent extremists

who have been forced to flee their homes

Dai, human rights lawyer in prison for defending religious freedom

of young girls who are abducted and forcibly married and converted to Islam

rch at u h C d e t u c e r the pers o f r e e c y i a t r s p f u o j s y r a u r o p h / g.uk e the world! r o part in 24 . e w k a s t c . o t w p u w w Sign an chang c r e y a r p f so five minute 7

Going to

SCHOOL

gives children

a future

And no child should be denied a future because of their faith.

Make a gift to our campaign and help ensure every child gets an education, whatever their beliefs.

Donate online at www.csw.org.uk/donate or call 0845 456 5464 Photo: Joshua Brown

Christian Solidarity Worldwide is an organisation working for religious freedom through advocacy and human rights, in the pursuit of justice.

PO Box 99, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3YF, United Kingdom T: +44 (0)845 456 5464 F: +44 (0)20 8942 8821 E: admin@csw.org.uk www.csw.org.uk /cswuk @csw_uk Registered Charity No. 281836