3/12/2025 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) — The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) convened a hearing on Feb. 27 to discuss the continuing deterioration of religious freedom in Myanmar.
During his opening remarks at the hearing, USCIRF Vice Chair Meir Soloveichik stated that “over the past four years, Myanmar has sunk into a human rights and humanitarian abyss.”
The Southeast Asian nation holds a Buddhist majority population, and its government has, for many years, pushed a Buddhist nationalist agenda.
On Feb. 1, 2021, the government of Myanmar was seized and overthrown by a military group that established illegal authority in the nation and began attacking religious minorities, including Christians. The group established the State Administration Council (SAC) as its governing body and began attacking religious minorities in the form of airstrikes, killings, and arrests.
The right to freely worship Christ in the Southeast Asian nation has become extremely challenging and, at times, even life-threatening.
Soloveichik pointed out that “on Jan. 7, 2024, the military launched airstrikes in the Sagaing region, killing 17 civilians, including nine children, as they gathered to worship at Saint Peter Baptist Church in Kanan village.” And this is just one of many incidents being reported of Christians being arrested, killed, or otherwise persecuted for their faith.
Christian pastor Thian Lian Sang continues to be held by authorities since his arrest in September 2021 for his “leadership role” as a Baptist pastor, according to the USCIRF. He received a sentence of 23 years in prison in December 2022.
Salai Za Uk Ling, executive director of the human rights group, the Chin Human Rights Association, testified at the hearing that the situation for Christ followers in the country is dire.
“Since the military coup in Burma (Myanmar) four years ago, we have witnessed a systematic campaign of religious persecution, particularly targeting the Christian population in Chin State,” Ling stated. “These actions include the destruction of churches, the unlawful killing and enforced disappearance of pastors, the arrest of religious leaders, and severe restrictions on free worship and assembly.”
The situation for Christians in Myanmar has flown under the radar for many years and remains largely unreported by mainstream media.
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