Laos: Pastor and Five Other Christians Imprisoned Following Arrest During Prayer Meeting
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Continuing a systemic crackdown on Christianity in Laos, authorities in Khammouane Province arrested a pastor and five other evangelical Christians on Saturday as they gathered in a home to pray for the next day’s Sunday service at their church, Christian Daily International (CDI) reports.
On Saturday, June 29, Pastor Mum was praying with five church members in Tahae village, Xaibouathong District, Khammouane Province, when village authorities and security officials arrived and arrested them for holding an illegal worship gathering.
“The arrests took place on Saturday at Mr. Mum’s home while they were meeting for prayer in preparation for Sunday morning worship on the following day,” Sirikoon Prasertsee, director of Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF), said in a statement.
“The new main village chief was appointed to govern Tahae village, and the crackdown on Christian freedom and practices became severe that led to the arrest of Mr. Mum and five Lao believers,” Prasertsee explained. “They are currently being imprisoned in Xaibouathong District prison.”
In a current website report about the situation facing Lao Christians, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization says: “Communist authorities heavily monitor religious activities in some parts of the country.
In these areas, church leaders reported cases of local authorities closing down house churches…Evangelical church congregations must worship in homes, which authorities consider illegal since worship gatherings are only allowed in approved religious buildings.”
Ruled by a dictatorial post-communist regime, Buddhist-majority Laos ranks 21 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
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