Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said its ‘Cut the Chains’ campaign focuses "on those incarcerated for the peaceful expression of their beliefs" and comes on the heels of the appointment of a new ministerial team at the UK Foreign Office.
"It aims to secure commitments from politicians to exert diplomatic pressure in order to help secure the release of thousands of prisoners of conscience worldwide," CSW said in a statement.
The campaign urges freedom for all those incarcerated "for the peaceful expression of their beliefs," as well as a fair trial and fair treatment of prisoners, including "as far as practicable the freedom to assemble to worship, access to a minister of religion and access to religious texts."
POSTCARD PETITION
CSW said that the ‘Cut the Chains’ will launch with a postcard petition to the Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, requesting that he will “commit to continue exerting diplomatic pressure for the freedom, fair trial and fair treatment of prisoners of conscience” around the world. "This will be followed by lobbying of the UK and European Parliaments."
CSW said it "continually takes up new cases of Christians" detained around the world, including in Eritrea where over 2000 Christians are believed to be behind bars. Elsewhere, in Vietnam, a crackdown on human rights activists earlier this year included the imprisonment of a Catholic priest and two lawyers who defended religious freedom cases.
In addition, CSW said, it has been closely monitoring the case involving a Pakistani Christian, Younis Masih, who was sentenced to death "under the notorious blasphemy laws" which are regularly used to target religious minorities or settle personal scores."
CSW’s National Director, Stuart Windsor, said he there are "thousands of prisoners worldwide who have been detained" for the faith. "We are dedicated to ensuring that their individual cases are not forgotten by those in a position to help them. With a new ministerial team in the Foreign Office, we are launching this campaign to ensure a commitment from our government…"
