Police arrest grandmother, three other Christians during worship

KEOVILAI, Laos — Police in Laos arrested a grandmother and three other Christians while they were worshipping, according to the advocacy group Human Rights Watch for Lao Religious Freedom.

Raiding a church service in Keovilai village, Vilabouly District in Savannakhet Province, local police arrested the 78-year-old woman identified as Grandma Bounlam and three men for believing in Jesus. Police also evicted the worshippers from their homes and property. The four Christians have since been released from prison. 

Area Christians said police have threatened more severe punishment if the Lao Christians do not renounce Christianity, which is considered an enemy of the
single-party, Marxist-Leninist country, 

Laos ranks 19th on Christian support organization Open Doors’ 2019 World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. (MS)