The Houses of Parliament will be bathed in the 'colour of blood' on Wednesday in a nationwide stand for people persecuted for their faith around the world.
The Palace of Westminster alongside the Catholic heart of the UK - Westminster Cathedral - and dozens of other prominent landmarks including Lambeth Palace around the country have pledged to turn red and join the symbolic campaign against religious oppression.
John Bercow MP, speaker for the House of Commons and Lord Fowler, speaker for the House of Lords, gave the go ahead last Thursday for a repeat of last year's stunt that will see the iconic building lit bright red tonight.
Last year Westminster Abbey, Lambeth Palace, St George's Coptic Orthodox Cathedral and dozens of other churches, mosques and synagogues joined in. A red bus will also tour London's churches raising awareness before finishing with a vigil outside Westminster Abbey tonight.
Lord Alton, a cross-bench peer in the House of Lords and a committed Catholic, told Christian Today: 'This will help to wake up Governments to the cruel reality of persecution, crimes against humanity and outright genocide so many Christians face in today's world - all of which should make us see red and spur us into action on their behalf.'
He praised the two charities behind the campaign, Aid to the Church in Need and Christian Solidarity Worldwide, and said the event was about 'about remembering the thousands upon thousands of people killed in the cause of religious freedom, men, women and children whose only crime is their belief in God and their wish to express that belief peacefully.
'Religious freedom is an orphaned right and as a Parliamentarian I am delighted that our Houses of Parliament are shining a light on this vital issue of our day and age,' he said.
John Pontifex, spokesman for Aid to the Church in Need - a Catholic persecution charity, told Christian Today the display would bring hope to people attacked for their faith around the world and urged more iconic buildings to join.
'By being floodlit red, the Houses of Parliament will shine a light on the blood that has been spilt in acts of persecution and oppression against Christians and others who have lost their lives because of their beliefs,' he said. 'As the Mother of Parliaments, Westminster is – by turning red – taking a lead in advocating religious freedom, an orphaned right, one ignored in so many countries around the world.'
A spokeswoman for the Speakers' Office said: 'The Red Wednesday campaign, which recognises all those who have been persecuted or killed for their religious beliefs, is fully endorsed by Parliament. For the second year running, Mr Speaker and the Lord Speaker have given their permission to light up the Palace in support of this important initiative.'
