Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt welcomes World Watch List report ahead of Parliamentary launch

Open Doors presents the 2019 World Watch List in Parliament at 4pm today, giving Parliamentarians information on the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution, and how they can support international freedom of religion or belief.

Open Doors presented the 2019 World Watch List in Parliament today (16 January), giving Parliamentarians information on the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution, and how they can support international freedom of religion or belief.

Speaking ahead of the World Watch List launch in Parliament, Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “People of all faiths and none should have the freedom to believe what they choose, but that is clearly not the case across too much of the world. Today’s figures published by Open Doors show that persecution of Christians has risen across the world in the last year, and more than 245 million Christians are experiencing persecution. I look forward to receiving the results of the review being carried out by the Bishop of Truro, to see how the UK can better support persecuted Christians wherever they are. Faith isn’t a crime, believers shouldn’t be treated as criminals, and the UK must fight for that to be the case across the world.”

We will have a full update on the event tomorrow (17 January), but for now here are a few highlights from twitter:

Impassioned plea from @Jeremy_Hunt at @OpenDoorsUK parliamentary launch on Christians facing persecution across the world: 245m people, being 80% of everyone facing religious persecution. Jeremy pledges more @foreignoffice support. pic.twitter.com/qMGJR7Bh94

— Greg Hands (@GregHands) 16 January 2019

Gender violence and religious hatred combine with horrific consequences for women. Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP. @world_parish @MethodistWomen pic.twitter.com/jVZn4zInQb

— Carolyn Lawrence (@markcarolyn1983) 16 January 2019

@OpenDoorsUK 2019 World Watch List launch. The List helps raise awareness of challenges facing Christians and other persecuted minorities and promotes FoRB around the world. Great to see many in attendance #FoRBmatters

— Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon (@tariqahmadbt) 16 January 2019

Always proud to support @OpenDoorsUK , in solidarity with their campaign for Christians who face persecution for their faith. Today they launch their 2019 World Watch List pic.twitter.com/tsd6heN0c8

— Kate Green (@KateGreenSU) 16 January 2019

We would love for you to pray with us for the outcome of the event and for lasting impact that will produce real, positive change for our persecuted church family.

PLEASE PRAY:    

• That Parliamentarians would be impacted by the message of the World Watch List, and that they would connect with the plight of persecuted Christians on an emotional and compassionate level
• That the launch and the impact on MPs would influence the review that's been commissioned by Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt
• That the review would bring about real, lasting change for our persecuted church family on the ground.

"When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say." (Luke 12:11-12)

Thank you for all of your prayers!