Prime Minister and Shadow Foreign Secretary renew commitment to persecuted Christians

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry renew their commitment to persecuted Christians, in statements made over Christmas and the New Year.

In his Christmas message, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has called for the British public to remember persecuted Christians around the world.

"Today of all days, I want us to remember those Christians around the world who are facing persecution. For them, Christmas Day will be marked in private, in secret, perhaps even in a prison cell," said Boris Johnson in his message on 24 December 2019. "As Prime Minister, that’s something I want to change. We stand with Christians everywhere, in solidarity, and will defend your right to practice your faith. So, as a country let us reflect on the year, and celebrate the good that is to come."

It’s very encouraging that Johnson has recognised the hardships and persecution faced by many of your family around the world. Open Doors welcomes the indication that he will deliver on the commitment he made during his leadership campaign, to ‘prioritise protecting religious freedoms and stand up for those facing persecution’.

A similar pledge has been made by Emily Thornberry, Shadow Foreign Secretary and one of the candidates running to be leader of the Labour, among her ‘five wishes for 2020 on the foreign policy front’. She highlighted Christians in China among a list of people who urgently needed protection from human rights abuses.

We hope that all political parties in the UK keep the issue of freedom of religion or belief high on their agenda, and the Parliamentary launch of the World Watch List is a great opportunity for MPs to hear more about the urgency of this matter. If you haven’t done so, please invite your MP to attend the World Watch List launch, where they can hear first-hand from people who are following Jesus no matter the cost.

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