Press Releases
26 March 2014
MPs ALERTED TO INCREASING PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS
This month, Members of Parliament will receive a copy of the latest Advocacy Report from Open Doors. Freedom of Religion and the Persecution of Christians is the 2014 report based on the extensive research behind Open Doors annual World Watch List, which highlights the 50 countries where it is hardest to be a Christian. Read more...
8 January 2014
FAILING STATES LEAD TO INCREASED PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS
Fragile or failed states where militant Islamic movements flourish are some of the hardest places for Christians to live, shows an annual report on Christian religious freedom. Pressure on Christians intensified in a number of countries in 2013. The situation deteriorated most rapidly across northern Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf, in countries where sectarian violence has advanced unchecked by impotent central governments. Read more...
11 December 2013
TURNING UP THE VOLUME FOR SYRIAN CHRISTIANS
On International Human Rights Day, as the world mourned a great champion of freedom, justice and reconciliation, Open Doors, an international charity supporting persecuted Christians worldwide, spoke up for Christians in Syria, presenting a petition signed by 309,195 people from 99 different countries. The petition urges all those with influence and power to do everything possible to protect the lives, livelihoods and freedoms of all the people of Syria and in particular safeguard the future of the Christian communities. Read more...
02 May 2013
OPEN DOORS TO HOLD PENTECOST FESTIVAL VIGIL TO MARK DAY OF PRAYER IN SYRIA
A unique prayer meeting on the steps of Westminster Abbey will form the focus of a prayer vigil in support of the people of Syria. Earlier in the evening, as part of the annual Pentecost Festival Launch in Parliament Square on 11th May, Open Doors will lead a time of public prayer for the people of Syria. This will be followed by a worship concert featuring Rend Collective and Graham Kendrick at Westminster Central Hall. The evening will conclude with a 15 minute prayer vigil outside Westminster Abbey at around 10.15pm. Read more...
08 January 2013
INCREASED PERSECUTION AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN AFRICA HIGHLIGHTS GLOBAL TRENDS, SAYS OPEN DOORS 2013 WORLD WATCH LIST
The persecution of Christians in Africa has increased dramatically in 2012. This is evident from the new Open Doors World Watch List ranking of the top 50 countries of the world where Christians are persecuted, which is published today. This significant trend is demonstrated by the inclusion, for the first time, of Mali in the top ten countries where it is hardest to be a Christian, but also by the appearance of Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Niger in the World Watch List. Read more...
20 December 2011
CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS AS UNITED NATIONS SAYS "NO" TO DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS RESOLUTION
Twelve months ago, over 400,000 people from more than 70 different countries signed a petition organised by Open Doors to say 'YES' to Freedom of Religion and 'NO' to the concept of defamation of religions. This year, all these people got what they called for: for the first time for many years there was a NO resolution on defamation of religions at the United Nations General Assembly. Open Doors celebrates this news from New York as a wonderful vindication of its 2010 Right to Believe campaign. Read more...
26 April 2011
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY PARTNERSHIP CALLS UPON UNITED NATIONS TO ASSIGN REFUGEE STATUS TO
PAKISTAN'S CHRISTIAN MINORITY
The Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP), a coalition of religious freedom organisations have joined together to call upon the UN High Commissioner for Refugees to recognise the plight of the endangered Christian population and assign them refugee status. In addition the RLP have also called upon the government of Pakistan to renew its commitment to reforming the country's notorious blasphemy laws and work towards their abolition. Read more...
04 April 2011
UNITED NATIONS MOVES AWAY FROM DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS FOLLOWING OPEN DOORS' RIGHT TO BELIEVE CAMPAIGN
In a significant change of direction, a new resolution in place of the controversial Defamation of Religions Resolution has been adopted by the Human Rights Council in Geneva after it was tabled by Pakistan, on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (the OIC). Following Open Doors successful Right to Believe campaign and petition, the new Resolution reaffirms the right to freedom of religion or belief, including an individual's right to change religion and their right to freedom of expression. Read more...
06 January 2011
ISLAMIC COUNTRIES DOMINATE OPEN DOORS 2011 WORLD WATCH LIST
Although Communist North Korea tops Open Doors annual World Watch List (WWL) for the ninth consecutive year, the most dangerous places for Christians to live are overwhelmingly Muslim majority countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq. Read more...
08 December 2010
OPEN DOORS GLOBAL PETITION IS PRESENTED AT THE UNITED NATIONS: 428,856 PEOPLE FROM OVER 70 COUNTRIES URGE UN TO VOTE YES TO RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND NO TO THE DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS RESOLUTION
On Monday this week representatives of Open Doors delivered a petition to the United Nations in New York. It was received by Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Mr Ivan Simonovic. Read more...
02 November 2010
MOBO AND URBAN MUSIC AWARD WINNERS JOIN TOGETHER TO SUPPORT PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS
MOBO and Urban Music Award winners Jahaziel and Guvna B, have united with a number of Christian Hip Hop artists for a new charity single aimed to raise awareness of countless Christians who face injustice, persecution and discrimination simply because of their faith. Read more...
23 August 2010
OPEN DOORS LAUNCHES EMERGENCY APPEAL FOR CHRISTIANS HIT BY PAKISTAN FLOODS
Open Doors is launching an urgent appeal to help Christians affected by the floods that have devastated many parts of Pakistan. Pakistan is facing an unprecedented disaster with the floods in the north of the country, in the Punjab and in Sindh. An estimated 1600 people have died and around 20 million have been affected. Read more...
18 November 2009
CHINESE AUTHORITIES RELASE UYGHUR CHRISTIAN LEADER, OSMAN IMIN, FROM PRISON FOLLOWING INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY
Uyghur Christian leader, Osman Imin, in China's troubled Xinjiang region has been released after serving two years in a labour camp for alleged 'illegal proselytizing' and 'leaking state secrets'. Read more...
18 November 2009
IRANIAN CHRISTIANS MARYAM AND MARZIEH FREED FROM JAIL!
Iranian Christians, Maryam Rostampour (27) and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabond (30), have today been released from prison following nine months incarceration in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran. Read more...
13 February 2009
'NEW RESEARCH SHOWS CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE FACING INCREASING HOSTILITY IN PRACTISING THEIR FAITH', SAYS OPEN DOORS
2009 World Watch List shows persecution worsening in Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq. Christians worldwide, both in the UK and overseas, are today facing increasing levels of persecution. That is the keynote finding of Open Doors' annual World Watch List report of the worst 50 nations for persecuting Christians which was published today. Read more...
14 November 2008
OPEN DOORS PUBLISHES NEW PRAYER FOR SECRET BELIEVERS TO MARK INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH
International Christian charity Open Doors, which was founded by Brother Andrew, today published two prayers in support of secret Christian believers in Muslim countries, i.e. those who have turned from Islam to follow Jesus Christ. One is to be used by supporters in the UK and elsewhere, the other is to be prayed by those persecuted Christians who are forced to keep their faith covert for fear of severe persecution. Read more...
21 October 2008
LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES RE GAYLE WILLIAMS
"The extensive media coverage of the appalling death of Gayle Williams in Afghanistan is welcome, but your readers must not be fooled into thinking she died because she was a foreign national. Gayle Williams died because she was a Christian." Read more...
12 September 2008
OPEN DOORS CALLS ON CHRISTIANS TO ADOPT PRACTICAL APPROACH TO LOVING MUSLIMS
Following the successful launch of its A Call to Prayer campaign for Muslims during the month of Ramadan, international Christian charity Open Doors is calling upon Christians to build upon the major prayer focus by embracing a very practical approach to loving their Islamic friends and neighbours. Read more...
2 September 2008
OPEN DOORS LAUNCHES 'WALK TO THE WATER' CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT CHRISTIAN WOMEN PERSECUTED FOR THEIR FAITH
The excitement and razzamatazz of the Olympic Games may be dying down. But British Christians need to remember that many women of rural China, as well as India, Africa and the Middle East, have to walk an average of five miles each day – just to get water for their families. Read more...
12 August 2008
OPEN DOORS LAUNCHES NEW PRAYER CAMPAIGN I.S.L.A.M –'I SINCERELY LOVE ALL MUSLIMS'
International Christian charity Open Doors will launch its month-long A Call to Prayer campaign on Sunday 31st August – the day before the start of Ramadan. The campaign, which urges Christians to adopt a fresh and dynamic approach to Muslims, is characterised by the acronym I.S.L.A.M. – I Sincerely Love All Muslims. Read more...
