At least 90 Christians were arrested throughout Laos in recent weeks, according to an August 8 report from Compass Direct.
On July 21, residents of Katin village in Saravan province killed a Christian man by pouring rice wine down his throat. Eighty local Christians were then arrested by authorities. On July 25, officials rounded up 17 Christian families in the village and detained them in a local school compound, denying them food for three days in an attempt to force the adults to sign documents renouncing their faith. Ten families eventually signed the documents and were allowed to return home. The remaining families were evicted from the village.
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Six local Christians in Boukham village, Savannakhet province were arrested in the first week of August, including the pastor of a house church. On August 1, two believers were arrested and detained in a prison in Ad-Sapangthong district on the charge of "believing in Jesus and worshiping God." The next day, a Christian woman was also arrested and imprisoned on the same charge. The following day authorities arrested Pastor Sompong and two young believers during a worship service in his home.
Pray that those detained will be released. Pray that Christians in Laos will be strong and bold in the face of severe persecution (Revelations 2:9-10).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in Laos, go to the Laos Country Report.
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