International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church

That this House highlights the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, taking place on 1 and 8 November this year; commends the work of the World Evangelical Alliance in organising this annual event, which seeks to unite Christians across the world in prayer for persecuted brothers and sisters; recognises the importance of setting aside dedicated days to pray for Christians who face discrimination and violence because of their faith; remembers the plight of millions of Christians who face persecution, including those in countries such as North Korea, Iraq and Syria, where Christians face imprisonment and execution because of their faith; emphasises the devastating scale of Christian persecution globally, with estimates suggesting that one in seven Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution; further highlights the testimonies of Christians living in persecution who speak of the strength and peace that prayer from the global Church brings to their daily lives in the midst of suffering; further recognises the importance of strengthening the bonds of the worldwide Christian community and standing in solidarity with those who are persecuted; notes with gratitude the freedom of religion and belief enjoyed in the United Kingdom; and calls on the Government to continue to strengthen its support for persecuted Christians and freedom of religion or belief overseas.