Christianity is viewed as a “Western ideology” in Laos, and those who adhere to it are considered foreign agents and enemies. The Marxist-Leninist government monitors all churches, and its permission is required for all conversions, evangelism and church activities. Christian converts from Buddhism or animism are seen to bring shame to their community. Several Laotian Christians have faced physical assaults or even expulsion from their communities.
Officials force Christians to recant for burial
Officials this week forced Christians in a Lao village to give up their faith in order to bury a family member in the village graveyard, according to advocacy group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF). In Huey, Ad-Sapangthong district of Savannakhet Province, where immediate burial is essential in […]
Lao officials: give up your Christian faith or face eviction
Nearly 50 Christians await their fate today after officials in Natoo village, southern Laos, on Wednesday (Dec. 21) summoned four of their leaders and warned that they would evict the entire church “within 24 hours” if they refused to give up their faith. Officials told the Christians they had forfeited […]
Lao officials arrest eight Christian leaders
Police early this morning traveled to Boukham village in Laos’ Savannakhet Province to meet with officials about the arrest on Friday (Dec. 16) of eight Christian leaders who had gathered some 200 church members for a Christmas celebration, an advocacy group reported today. Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom […]