Throughout the past year we’ve celebrated a series of amazing breakthroughs - and none of it would have been possible without you.
Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has made religious communities across the world more vulnerable and has exacerbated existing tensions, our God is still on the throne and is still answering the prayers of his people.
Your gifts, campaigning and prayers have seen captives released, unjust rulings overturned and families reunited! Your support is achieving real change for people who suffer injustice for their beliefs.
Just as we were writing this email we heard that Professor Tarfa in Nigeria has been released on bail! This is wonderful news for Christmas – read more here.
Cuba, March and June: Pastors released from prison Adya Expósito Leyva was released in March after serving over 11 months of an 18-month sentence, and her husband Ramón was released in June after serving 14 months of a two-year sentence. They had both been imprisoned for removing their children, Ruth and Joel, from the state-run school system due to teacher-led bullying because of their family’s faith.
Eritrea, July: Special Rapporteur’s mandate renewed
The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) voted to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur (SR) on human rights in Eritrea for another year.
Eritrean officials are deemed to have been committing crimes against humanity since 1991. The SR is the UN’s expert on Eritrea’s human rights situation, and their work is the only independent, international means of monitoring and exposing the truth about how Eritrea treats its citizens.
Every year CSW staff and others work hard to persuade the member states of the HRC to vote for renewal of the SR’s mandate, by presenting our latest findings.
Mexico, July: Supreme Court rules in favour of Jehovah’s Witnesses
The National Supreme Court of Justice ruled in favour of a group of Jehovah’s Witnesses who had been forced out of their homes in 2017 because of their beliefs.
The Supreme Court ruled that they must be reintegrated into a different plot within the territory of their communities, and ordered the state authorities to guarantee their safety while that happens.
Vietnam, September: Pastor A Dao released from prison
Pastor A Dao was released on 18 September after more than four years in prison. He was not expected to be released until August 2021.
Pastor A Dao was arrested in 2016 following his return from a conference on freedom of religion or belief. In April 2017, he was sentenced to five years in prison for ‘illegally taking people to Thailand’, a charge he denies.
