Highest Court Re-examines Case Against New Life Church

The Presidium of the Highest Economic Court of Belarus has cancelled all previous court decisions against the New Life Church in Minsk and will re-examine the case against the church within two weeks, according to a November 4 report from the New Life Church website (www.newlife.by). This is an unusual action by a court body which normally examines matters of state importance, according to the church's legal adviser. Pray for a positive decision by the court.

Diplomats' vehicles at New Life Church Photo from New Life Church

International attention has been centered on the church because of pressure placed on foreign governments as well as a hunger strike by two hundred church members. On November 2, diplomats from nine European countries and the USA visited the church to better understand the situation. Stephan Eriksson from the Swedish Embassy told them, "During the last weeks we have been observing the things going on in this church. That's why we decided to come here and express our solidarity with the believers' legal demands. Everyone has the right to assemble in the church freely."

To learn more about the persecution of Christians in Belarus, go to the Belarus Country Report.