ICC Note: Although the government of Laos technically claims to allow religious freedom, many Christians in more remote areas find themselves facing village leaders and neighbors hostile to their faith. Some face arrest or forced eviction from their homes for refusing to give up Christianity. In one recent example below, local authorities eventually gave up on pressuring a pastor and his church to recant after the believers consistently refused to abandon their faith. 
3/6/2014 Laos (CIC) – In the midst of opposition from family members and authorities, believers throughout Laos are remaining resolute in their faith.
Three Christians from a remote Hmong village were arrested in October of 2013 and taken to the district governor, who told them to recant their faith in Jesus Christ. But the believers refused to comply, telling the governor that they would not leave their faith because their lives have been changed by God. After their arrest, a VOM contact explained that Christians are, by law, allowed to practise their faith. Another contact was then sent to discuss the matter with the district governor, and the three Christians were released without further problems.
Qhua Xiong, a 20-year-old new believer, faced immediate persecution from his relatives when they learned of his conversion. The young Hmong man had dedicated his life to Christ while attending a Christmas service in Hua Sell in December of 2013. Upon returning to his home village, he was beaten by family members and tied up for a day and a half. They later forced him to leave the village.
In another remote village, Pastor “Tai Loc” and other Christians of his community have refused to renounce their faith despite pressure from local authorities. After learning their village had been awarded the “best role model village” in their district, the officials became concerned that they might be disqualified because Christians lived there. Pastor Loc explained to them that the Christians in the village are role models because of their hard work and example to others. When the pastor refused to renounce his faith, the opposing officials tried to persuade him to sign papers indicating that he would stop evangelizing in the village. Seeing that the Christians remained steadfast in their beliefs, the authorities eventually stopped pressuring them.
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