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Previous Campaigns
China - Repatriation of North Korean refugees
Over 6,800 wrote to the Chinese Ambassador in London regarding the Chinese government's refusal to give refuge to North Korean refugees or allow them safe passage to another country.
Millions in North Korea face desperate poverty and persecution so many flee to China. China forcibly repatriates them back to North Korea to face torture, imprisonment and sometimes execution. Refugees who had contact with Christians or admit to becoming a Christian face particularly severe treatment. Chinese Christians and other citizens who assist the refugees are harassed or detained. China is contravening its obligations as a signatory to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
Eritrea - Prayer Vigil in London
On Thursday 26 May 2011 supporters from Open Doors, Release International, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Church in Chains and Release Eritrea gathered outside the Eritrean Embassy in London to stand in solidarity with Christians in Eritrea. There was a time of worship and prayer for our brothers and sisters held without charge in Eritrea; imprisoned, mistreated and left to suffer illness without treatment because of their faith.
Metropolitan Seraphim of Glastonbury presented a letter to the Eritrean Ambassador on behalf of the participating organisations, urging the government to cease their persecution of Christians in Eritrea and calling for the release of all Christians imprisoned without charge.
The vigil was followed by a prayer meeting at a nearby London church.
Pakistan - Murder of Shahbaz Bhatti
Over 3,900 people wrote to Pakistan's High Commissioner in London following the assassinations of Mr Shahbaz Bhatti, Pakistani Federal Minister for Minority Affairs, on 2 March 2010, and Mr Salman Taseer, Governor of Punjab, on 4 January 2010, offering condolences, prayerful support and asking that special attention be given to the protection of the Christian minority.
Over 2,100 people also seized the opportunity to email Alistair Burt MP, Foreign Office Minister responsible for Pakistan, to thank him for speaking up for the rights of minorities - including Christians - in Pakistan, and assure him of their prayers. Mr Burt responded: "Your concern is much appreciated and your personal prayer support is quite overwhelming."
UN - Saying YES to religious liberty and NO to the Defamation of Religions Resolution
A staggering 428,856 people from over 75 countries signed the Right to Believe global petition to say YES to religious liberty and NO to the United Nations Defamation of Religions Resolution. Here in the UK and Ireland we contributed a wonderful 148,715 signatures. The petition was presented to the United Nations in New York on 6 December, and all 192 member nation delegations were emailed with the news of this global expression of concern.
The Resolution was passed by the United Nations General Assembly by the narrowest margins on 21 December 2010, and not tabled again in 2011 confirming the decreasing level of support for the concept of the 'defamation of religions'. Open Doors will continue to make representations on this issue should the Resolution be reintroduced - backed by this level of support given to the petition.
UK - Asking your MP to say YES to religious liberty
Over 6,000 people took action in the UK over five weeks as part of the Right to Believe campaign, raising the awareness of their Members of Parliament regarding the Defamation of Religions Resolution.
Nearly all MPs were alerted to the Resolution, and many responded saying that they support religious liberty.
134 MPs signed Early Day Motion 864, thereby saying YES to religious liberty and NO to the Defamation of Religions Resolution.
Campaign Archive
Eritrea - Prayer vigil in London
On Thursday 3 June 2010 approximately 70 people gathered outside the Eritrean Embassy in London for a time of worship and prayer for Christians imprisoned for their faith and without charge in Eritrea. They joined Open Doors, Church in Chains, Release International, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Release Eritrea and the British Orthodox Church and travelled from areas as far afield as Ireland and Scotland to stand in solidarity with prisoners in Eritrea who are imprisoned, mistreated and left to suffer illness without treatment.
The Anglican Bishop of Woolwich, Orthodox Seraphim of Glastonbury and Dr Berhane Amelash of Release Eritrea hand-delivered a letter to the Eritrean Embassy expressing the concerns of all participating organisations and calling for the release of all Christians imprisoned without charge.
UK - Religious liberty and your MP
Over 4,000 people took action in the space of six weeks prior to the calling of the General Election 2010, asking their MP to add their name and support to Early Day Motion 877.
Early Day Motion 877 about 'the treatment of Christians and religious liberty' urged the government to raise concerns about human rights and religious liberty when dealing with foreign governments.
As a result of the efforts of supporters, 315 MPs signed EDM 877 making it the second most-signed EDM of the parliamentary session. Thank you for helping us to put the persecuted church on the government's agenda.
China - Osman Imin Released after 2 years
Osman was released after serving two years in a labour camp for 'revealing state secrets' and 'illegal proselytising'. A house church leader in the troubled region of Xinjiang in northwest China, Osman was freed on 18 November 2010 having spent two years in detention. Local sources said his arrest was related to his church work.
Over 1,400 people sent letters to the Chinese Ambassador to the UK urging for the release of Osman and Alimjan Yimit, another Uyghur Christian. Alimjan is still in prison.
India 2009 - Christians in Orissa one year after violent attacks
Over 25,000 people joined our three-month-long campaign and wrote to the Indian Prime Minister and to the Chief Minister of Orissa, speaking up on behalf of thousands of Christians in Orissa. Many of you also wrote to your MPs through our website and at least 120 MPs took the time to personally respond to you on this issue.
On 23 November 2009 Open Doors arranged for a briefing in Parliament, hosted by Mark Pritchard MP, to give an update on the situation in Orissa and urge MPs to act upon our recommendations. Thirteen MPs attended the briefing. Briefing paper on Orissa 
Please uphold Christians in Orissa, and those with the authority to improve their situation, in your prayers. Open Doors continues to meet the needs of Christians in India by providing practical and spiritual assistance. We want to offer material support, emotional and spiritual encouragement to thousands who are in great need.
Iran - Maryam and Marzieh
Maryam Rostampour and Marzieh Amirizadeh Esmaeilabad were freed from prison without bail having been in prison for 259 days because of their faith. They are both believers from a Muslim background who were detained in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran and put under severe pressure to deny their Christian faith.
Our advocacy campaign for Maryam and Marzieh ran for just over one month until their release and in that time over 3,500 messages of concern were sent by supporters to the Iranian Ambassador in London. Thank you if you added your voice to this campaign.
Exclusive interview »
China - Shi Weihan
Shi Weihan was released and reunited with his family on 9 February 2010.
On 10 June 2009 Chinese Christian Shi Weihan (40) was sentenced to three years in a labour camp.
Thank you if you sent one of the nearly 7,000 letters to the Chinese Ambassador in London over the last year, speaking up on behalf of Shi Weihan. Please uphold Shi and his wife in your prayers.
Shi Weihan »
India 2008 - Christians in Orissa violently attacked
The murder of Hindu extremist leader Laxmanananda Saraswati in August 2008 sparked an outburst of violence against the Christian community that claimed the lives of at least 127 people.
Over 1,200 people added their voice to the Orissa advocacy campaign, writing to the Indian High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, asking him to urge India's government to deploy sufficient forces to prevent further violence, protect Christians and ensure compensation for the victims. 850 people also wrote to their local MPs and many received replies from their MP and letters of response from the Foreign Office.
2008 attacks on Christians »
Algeria - Church strong under pressure
Around half of Algeria's Protestant churches were ordered to close between November 2007 and April 2008, and many Christians experienced harassment and were arrested by the authorities. But since the launch of Open Doors' advocacy campaign in June 2008, there have been no more closures, although many individuals have been charged and have cases against them going through the courts.
Church strong under pressure »
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