As in previous years, Open Doors will be launching their World Watch List in Parliament on 14th January this year.
This is an opportunity for Parliamentarians to receive an update about the state of freedom of religion around the world. The World Watch List details the 50 most dangerous countries for Christians to practice their faith and to highlight countries where repression and persecution of Christian believers (as well as those from other faiths) is most severe.
This is important because parliament is the place where as a nation we decide which countries we want to do business or have diplomatic relations with and there are many countries which we would consider as allies and trading partners which are also very repressive and the World Watch List Launch is able to highlight this and to encourage our politicians to take action.
It is also an opportunity at the local level to invite your MP to the event. MPs will usually attend events which they believe are important to their constituents, so the more invitations they receive, the more likely they are to go. Last year 2 of our local MPs attended, Cat Eccles from Stourbridge and Mike Wood from Kingswinford and South Staffordshire.
If you go to the Open Doors website you will be able to invite your MP online.
– Hugh Shepheard-Walwyn