Laos: Pastor and Five Other Christians Arrested

Source: Morning Star News, June 27, 2024

Village officials in central Laos on Saturday, June 22, arrested a pastor and five other Christians as they prayed in preparation for worship services the next day, according to Sirikoon Prasertsee, director of Human Rights Watcher for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF).

“The arrests took place on Saturday at [Pastor] Mum’s home while they were meeting for prayer in preparation for Sunday morning worship on the following day,” Prasertsee said. “They are currently being imprisoned in Xaibouathong District prison.”

She identified the other five Lao Christians as Liang, a 40-year-old man; Pa, a 24-year-old man; Laen, a 50-year-old woman; Lan, a 23-year-old woman; and Khoon, a 28-year-old woman.

After Pastor Mum put his faith in Christ in 2019 upon experiencing God’s healing, he established a church that worshiped freely in his home until a new village chief, identified only as Lang, took office in May, she said.

Article 30 of the Lao Constitution recognizes the right and freedom of Lao citizens “to believe or not to believe in religion,” she noted.

Read the full story or a related article from International Christian Concern. Can we pray for these believers? We looked for an update to see if they have been released but did not find one.

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