Red Wednesday, the campaign to shine a light on persecution and those who suffer for the faith they profess, sends out a clear signal that for too long religious freedom has been an orphaned right.
The decision to floodlight the Houses of Parliament in red came after similar pledges from up to a dozen cathedrals around the country, alongside churches, schools, universities and other institutes.
And #RedWednesday has gained momentum around the world too. In the Philippines more than 75 cathedrals and other leading churches are going red and there is support as well from Malta, Gibraltar, Ireland, and the USA.
For Aid to the Church in Need, the Catholic charity which organised #RedWednesday in partnership with Christian Solidarity Worldwide, a key impetus behind the initiative has been to challenge the the international community who so far have failed to help persecuted faith communities.
The United Nations has come under attack for failing to offer adequate emergency help to Christians fleeing Daesh (ISIS) persecution in Iraq.
Meanwhile in Lebanon, church leaders have spoken out amid reports that Christians have been unable to access UN camps because of influential extremists insisting on the imposition of Muslim customs.
Such criticisms of the UN and governments around the world were underlined in Aid to the Church in Need's Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2015-17.
The report concluded: 'In terms of numbers involved, the gravity of the crimes committed and their impact, it is clear that the persecution of Christians is today worse than at any time in history.
'Not only are Christians more persecuted than any other faith group but ever-increasing numbers are experiencing the very worst forms of persecution.'
The report concluded that in 12 of the 13 countries reviewed, the situation for Christians was worse in overall terms in the period 2015-17 than within the preceding two years.
Among the findings of the report were:
- In China, more than 2,000 churches and crosses were demolished within just 12 months up to and including April 2016.
- In Egypt, it is illegal to convert from Islam to Christianity
- In Eritrea, within one month – May 2017 – 122 were arrested during a government crackdown.
- In India, 365 anti-Christian incidents were recorded during 2016 and 316 in the first five months of 2017.
- In Sudan, in the 12 months up to February 2017 the government gave notice of its intent to destroy at least 25 churches.
Of particular concern is the threat to the survival of Christianity in countries where the faithful have lived in an unbroken line almost since the time of Christ.
In Iraq a Christian community that was one million strong before 2002 is now down to below 150,000.
In Syria, Christians numbered 1.2 million before 2012 – now reports indicate that 700,000 or more have fled the country.
In Aleppo, traditionally home to Syria's largest Christian community, the faithful have dwindled to barely 30,000.
If the Christian community were to disappear it would represent a hammer-blow for the survival of plurality in regions of the world already marked by a marked shift towards extremism and intolerance.
While Christians are the main victims of religious hatred around the world, #RedWednesday also highlights the suffering of so many other faith groups under fire because of their beliefs.
Of particular note here are the Rohingya Muslims are under attack in Rakhine State, Burma, the Bahais in Iran, the Ahmadiyya Muslims in Pakistan, the Yazidis and Mandaeans in Iraq, the Uighar Muslims in Xinjiang autonomous region, China, as well as the Jews who suffered in violence in France and Belgium.
In making a clarion call in defence of religious liberty, #RedWednesday shines a light on all those many thousands of people who have lost their lives in acts of hatred and prejudice and the many others who suffer in silence for the beliefs they humbly and sincerely profess.
We salute their courage and faith.
For more information about persecuted Christians click here and for more informationa about Red Wednesday click here.
