Death sentence issued following conversion

Death sentence issued following conversion

LAOS — Christians in Laos continue to suffer persecution from a government crackdown on believers, and they cannot visit friends or travel freely because the secret police follow them everywhere. Some have been forced to recant their faith.

“Even when we are in our homes, they are trying to find something against us. If they see us traveling around anywhere, they will arrest us,” said one believer.

Christians are usually arrested on the pretext of illegal activity rather than for their faith. A letter from a Christian in Laos detailed the persecution in the northern province of Luang Prabang. The letter said a committee of officials detained 12 Christians from March 11 to April 10 and forced them to sign an affidavit recanting their faith.

Officials told the believers that being a Christian is illegal because Christianity is a lying religion, it violates Lao custom and the Bible teaches deception. Dozens of Christians are currently in prison in Laos.