Compassion.

 Everyone should be free to practise their faith without fear.

Hi, Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. (Proverbs 31:8-9) Last November, a group of Christians gathered for Sunday service in Koshalnar villager in Chhattisgarh, India.    Unbeknown to them, a mob of 50 villagers armed with sticks was gathering outside. The mob demanded that the pastor and his brother come outside. When they did, hoping to resolve the situation peacefully, they were beaten and cursed for abandoning their religion.    The group then barged into the church and started beating up the rest of the congregation, leaving at least nine of the 15 Christians seriously injured and requiring hospital treatment. Christians from tribal backgrounds in Chhattisgarh are often attacked for choosing Christianity over Hinduism.    Your gift of £4 will help people like the Christians in Koshalnar – and others suffering for their beliefs around the world – to practise their faith without fear.   Sadly, similar assaults are being reported on an almost weekly basis as thousands of Christians in Chhattisgarh have been forced to flee their homes. In some cases, attackers summon Christian families out of their homes and give them an ultimatum to renounce their faith or leave the village.    Many of these attacks – and other injustices against religious freedom around the world – would go unnoticed and unchecked without CSW’s rigorous monitoring.  We collect first-hand testimonies, conduct analysis and write reports highlighting patterns of violations. We then present these in places such as the United Nations, UK Parliament and EU, where decision-makers seek accurate, detailed accounts of injustices. Give £4 and help us to keep gathering evidence and telling the stories of people who have been targeted for their beliefs – until they are free to practise their faith without fear. What we do together works – two years ago we gathered first-hand accounts from indigenous religious minority women in Mexico. One of them, Consepción, had her water, electricity and sewerage services cut off because of her beliefs, along with others. Through the courage of these families in speaking out, our advocacy efforts and your campaigning, change is happening. Water is now being delivered every fortnight to these families and the national human rights office have asked our staff in Mexico to train them on freedom of religion or belief.  This is a step in the right direction, and we want to see breakthroughs for the Christians in Koshalnar and others suffering for their beliefs too. Let’s keep working together until everyone is free to practise their faith without fear. Thank you so much for your compassion and generosity.  Scot Bower CEO P.S. Give £4 and help share the stories of people suffering for their beliefs – until they are free to believe.