Anti-persecution groups call for worldwide prayer, religious freedom for China

International organisations engaged with the persecuted church in China have pulled together in a historic statement calling on the world to pray for religious freedom in China.

"The Zurich Statement" was issued this week by the Religious Liberty Partnership (RLP), whose member organisations include China Aid Association (CAA), Open Doors International, Christian Solidarity Worldwide, the Voice of the Martyrs (Canada), and the Religious Liberty Commission of World Evangelical Alliance.

In the statement, the organisations acknowledge that the Chinese Government has made some progress in the area of religious freedom and put their hope in the Chinese Government to remove remaining obstacles to the full expression of faith.

"This historic statement reaffirms the solidarity of the international Christian community with the Chinese faithful especially the persecuted House Church," said Mr Fu who represented China Aid at the Zurich meeting. "We pray the true religious freedom in China will finally be realised soon."

They also call for an end to serious violations of religious freedom called the worldwide Christian community to pray for China during the Summer Olympics year.

Earlier in March, CAA published an open letter calling on the international community to help China improve what it called the "worsening" human rights situation ahead of the Games. In the letter, CAA President Bob Fu highlighted the kidnapping of a distinguished Chinese human rights lawyer Teng Biao in front of his apartment on March 6. He was released two days later after being interrogated for 41 hours with a bag over his head.

The Zurich Statement went on to recognise the key role that China had to play in regional and global peace.

"The call for prayer is rooted in the fact that the RLP felt it was time to acknowledge some progress in China's attitude toward religious liberty and also the part Christians play at all levels of Chinese society," stated Mervyn Thomas, CEO of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and Chairman of the RLP leadership team.

"There is still a very long way to go and religious freedom is something very alien to many Christians in China.

"However, Christians all over the world have been praying for their Chinese family for many years and I believe we are beginning to see the impact of those prayers today."

Johan Compajen, of Open Doors International in Holland and a member of the RLP leadership team, also testified to the progress that China has made in establishing full religious freedom.

"What a change we have seen in the nearly 30 years since my first visit to China," he said. "In spite of many obstacles, the church in China has multiplied.

"What seemed impossible in the past has happened because around the world we joined the Chinese Christians in prayer and our Chinese brothers and sisters have been willing to pay the price for following Jesus.

"If we continue to pray, we may be surprised by what God will do in the coming 30 years."

The Religious Liberty Partnership is a collaborative effort of Christian organisations focused on religious liberty. The RLP seeks to more intentionally work together in addressing advocacy and in raising the awareness of religious persecution globally.