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.
Laos: Law on associations ‘skewed to target religious minorities’
A law that came into effect in Laos last November “has already been skewed to target religious minorities, especially in rural areas”, according to Mission Network News (MNN). The Decree on Associations requires all groups, whether religious or otherwise, to acquire government approval for holding meetings and other activities. It […]
Laos government agrees to religious freedom education
The government in the Southeast Asian nation of Laos has agreed to sponsor religious-freedom education in the country. The US-based Institute for Global Engagement (IGE) will roll out a series of seminars focusing on “religious freedom as a human right, Lao government policy on religious activity and encouraging dialogue between […]
Pressure on Laos Christians continues with arson attack
An arson attack on a family’s home in Laos is the latest incident reported by the country’s minority Christian community. In January, the home of Yeng*, a church leader, was burned to the ground. He and his family were away when the attack happened at 1am. It wasn’t possible for neighbours to put out the fire before […]
Laos Christian ‘denied medication’ dies
Human Rights Watcher for Lao Religious Freedom has called on the Laotian government to accept responsibility for the death of a Christian man, who was reportedly denied access to his diabetes medication during nine months in prison. Tiang Kwentianthong, 61, died on 20 Sept., six months after his release from […]
Laos pastor murdered ‘in cold blood’
Christians in Laos are treating the killing of a Protestant pastor as a “cold-blooded murder” based on his profession. “Local Christians ruled out robbery as a possible motivation for this ruthless and cold-blooded murder,” reports Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF). “They believe that his death was the […]
Laos Christians arrested for attending church
UPDATE: Six of the seven Christians arrested at the end of September have been released from the detention center in the village of Boukham, in the province of Savannakhet on October 3 . Pastor Sompong Supatto and six other Christians were arrested for ‘exercising religious freedom in gathering for religious worship’ […]
Three Lao, two Thai Christians arrested in Laos
Lao officials arrested two Lao and two Thai Christians in Luang Namtha Province earlier this month, seizing them from a private residence in Long district, according to Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF). Officials also arrested a pastor in Luang Namtha and dismissed two civil servants in Savannakhet […]
Lao police arrest pastor for proselytism
A 53-year-old Lao pastor remains behind bars today after Lao police arrested him on Wednesday (June 6) for encouraging others to convert to Christianity, a spokesman from the group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF) confirmed to World Watch Monitor this morning. The arrest of Asa, identified by […]
Lao officials confiscate church buildings
Lao officials on Thursday (April 5) confiscated and sealed a church building in southern Laos after holding a two-day seminar warning against religious belief, according to advocacy group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF). Besides sealing the church building in Khamnonsung village, Saybuly district, they also warned that […]
Laos: five Christians arrested in southern village
Officials in a village in southern Laos on Sunday (March 25) arrested and detained five Christians during worship and charged them with leading a religious movement without official approval, according to advocacy group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom (HRWLRF). The five Christians from Palansai district were attending a […]