MPs express concern at church closures in Burma

More than 30 MPs have expressed serious concerns over recent forcible church closures in Rangoon, Burma, by signing an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons.

The motion, proposed by the Co-Chair of the All Parliamentary Group for Democracy in Burma John Bercow MP, calls on the UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion and Belief, Asma Jahangir, to investigate violations of religious freedom in Burma.

The call follows reports received by Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) of the closure of at least 100 churches in Rangoon in January.

The church closures mark the most significant crackdown on Christian activity in Burma in recent years, affecting as many as 80 per cent of churches in Rangoon. Fifty pastors were forced to sign documents promising to stop holding church services, under threat of prison for non-compliance. Some local Christians believe that the immediate cause of the oppressive measures is church involvement in relief provision for victims of Cyclone Nargis.

The motion has drawn cross party support, with MPs David Drew, Alistair Carmichael and Stephen Crabb adding their signatures.

Burma is categorised as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ by the US State Department, for its violations of religious freedom. In 2007, CSW published a report revealing a 17-point document allegedly from an organisation affiliated to the Ministry of Religious Affairs, stating that, “There shall be no home where the Christian religion is practised.”

CSW’s Advocacy Director, Tina Lambert welcomed the support of the MPs and called on Jahangir to investigate violations of religious freedom in Burma and hold Burma's military regime accountable "for their many human rights abuses".

“This recent crackdown on Christian activity in Rangoon is a worrying development and a serious violation of religious freedom," she said.