Britain’s new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has pledged to follow through on the government’s promise to protect persecuted Christians.
Mr Johnson has announced (Friday August 23) that the UK will do ‘everything possible’ to champion religious freedoms around the world.
In his statement he said he would implement recommendations by the Bishop of Truro that could pave the way to sanctions against religious persecution.
Premier Radio’s News Hour asked Andrew Boyd for Release International’s reaction to the news…
Last month, Release CEO Paul Robinson called on the Prime Minister to follow through on the persecution proposals. He said: ‘The Government’s decision to champion persecuted Christians and put their plight front and centre of government policy will send a vital message to governments everywhere that this violence has to stop.
‘We are immensely grateful that the UK government is saying that the world will no longer be able to turn a blind eye to discrimination and violence against Christians.’
In his letter to the Prime Minister he identified four countries of growing concern where Christians were suffering violence:
‘In Nigeria, thousands of Christian villagers are being slaughtered by militants opposed to the Christian faith, in China churches are being closed and their leaders arrested and detained, in North Korea they are imprisoned for their faith, and in Pakistan falsely accused under blasphemy laws… The recent case of Asia Bibi is just one example.’
Paul Robinson added: ‘Release is delighted that the plight of persecuted Christians is now front and centre of government policy.’
Through its international network of missions Release International is active in more than 30 countries around the world, supporting pastors, Christian prisoners and their families; supplying Christian literature and Bibles, and working for justice.
This link will take you to the Prime Minister’s statement.
This link will take you to the Bishop of Truro’s report for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
And you can read the Tenth Annual Pew Research Center Report on persecution in full here.