Recant your faith or get out - that's the ultimatum issued recently to 50 Christians living in a rural community in central Laos.
On August 30, leaders of Nongdaeng village summoned representatives of 11 Christian families to the government headquarters building for an official meeting instructing them to recant their Christian faith and return to their village's traditional animist religion.
According to a report from the Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF), on August 30 the leaders of Nongdaeng village summoned representatives of 11 Christian families to the government headquarters building for an official meeting concerning religious affairs in the village.
During the meeting officials ordered all 11 families, comprising 50 men, women, and children, to recant their Christian faith and return to their village's traditional animist religion.
"They charged these Lao Christians with believing the religion of a foreign Western power, which is considered destructive to the Lao nation," stated HRWLRF. "Officials expressed their intention that no Christian faith can be adhered to or practiced in Nongdaeng."
The order took effect immediately, and the Christians were given three days to comply. However, on Sunday, September 1, this committed group of believers continued to practice their faith and conducted worship in one of their homes. The Lao Christians insisted they have the religious right and protection under their country's constitution to practice their faith in the village. Keep reading
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