Free To Believe

North Korea, or the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is a closed, isolated and repressive country. The violations of human rights perpetrated there, including the right to freedom of religion or belief, are among the worst in the world. Timothy Cho is a North Korean human rights activist and two-time defector. He has been imprisoned four times in North Korea and China. Cho’s parents fled North Korea during a period of famine known as the “Arduous March”, abandoning him to become a homeless member of the “hostile class”, constituted of families of regime defectors. In this two part episode, join Samuel Jackson-Reed and David Simpson as Timothy details his childhood and his first attempt at escaping from North Korea. SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/cswukInstagram- csw_uk USEFUL LINKS Find out more at csw.org.uk/NorthKorea Download our prayer diary csw.org.uk/prayer These episodes are made possible by the generous donations made by our supporters. If you'd like to join our movement and help us keep this podcast going, you can do so by going to: csw.org.uk/give

PART TWO Sudanese women have been a significant part of African and Arab feminist movements since 1956. Their struggle for the protection of the rights of women, speaking out against the violence of Sudan’s wars and political resistance has always led to push back by the state in various iterations.  Darren and Kiri are joined by Dr Khataza Gondwe and Sarah, to discuss the experience of women in Sudan. SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS We'll be hosting a question and response episode in the future, so if you have questions about whats happening in Sudan, send it to us on social media. Message us at: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/cswuk Instagram- csw_uk USEFUL LINKS Find out more at csw.org.uk/Sudan Download our prayer diary csw.org.uk/prayer These episodes are made possible by the generous donations made by our supporters. If you'd like to join our movement and help us keep this podcast going, you can do so by going to: csw.org.uk/give

Sudanese women have been a significant part of African and Arab feminist movements since 1956. Their struggle for the protection of the rights of women, speaking out against the violence of Sudan’s wars and political resistance has always led to push back by the state in various iterations.  Darren and Kiri are joined by Dr Khataza Gondwe and Sarah, to discuss the experience of women in Sudan. SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS We'll be hosting a question and response episode in the future, so if you have questions about whats happening in Sudan, send it to us on social media. Message us at: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/cswuk Instagram- csw_uk USEFUL LINKS Find out more at csw.org.uk/Sudan Download our prayer diary csw.org.uk/prayer These episodes are made possible by the generous donations made by our supporters. If you'd like to join our movement and help us keep this podcast going, you can do so by going to: csw.org.uk/give

Part two of our conversation with Rafat Samir Mussad Obid. SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS We'll be hosting a question and response episode in the future, so if you have questions about whats happening in Sudan, send it to us on social media. Message us at: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/cswuk Instagram- csw_uk USEFUL LINKS Find out more at csw.org.uk/Sudan Download our prayer diary csw.org.uk/prayer These episodes are made possible by the generous donations made by our supporters. If you'd like to join our movement and help us keep this podcast going, you can do so by going to:

How are religious minorities affected by the crisis in Sudan? This conversation with Rafat Samir Mussad Obid looks at the issue through a personal and human lens. Rafat Samir Mussad Obid is the elected Chairman of the Sudanese Evangelical Community council (Presbyterian Church Council), and he also the general secretary for the Sudan Evangelical Alliance which represents the whole denomination. Since the war started in April 2023 he was forced to take the difficult journey out of Sudan, he is currently in Egypt where he continues his work to support Sudanese refugees in the country. SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS We'll be hosting a question and response episode in the future, so if you have questions about whats happening in Sudan, send it to us on social media. Message us at: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/cswuk Instagram- csw_uk USEFUL LINKS Find out more at csw.org.uk/Sudan Download our prayer diary csw.org.uk/prayer These episodes are made possible by the generous donations made by our supporters. If you'd like to join our movement and help us keep this podcast going, you can do so by going to: csw.org.uk/give

Join Darren and Kiri for the second part of their conversation with advocates on Sudan Mohaned El Nour and Sarah as the continue to discuss the Sudan crisis and the impact on civilians. SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS We'll be hosting a question and response episode in the future, so if you have questions about whats happening in Sudan, send it to us on social media. Message us at: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/cswuk Instagram- csw_uk USEFUL LINKS Find out more at csw.org.uk/Sudan Download our prayer diary csw.org.uk/prayer These episodes are made possible by the generous donations made by our supporters. If you'd like to join our movement and help us keep this podcast going, you can do so by going to: csw.org.uk/give

What is happening in Sudan? As the current crisis continues to rage, the first episode in our new Spotlight series begins by asking this very question and providing you with an overview. Join Darren and Kiri as they interview Mohaned El Nour and Sarah, both Sudan experts, in this first of two parts. SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS We'll be hosting a question and response episode in the future, so if you have questions about whats happening in Sudan, send it to us on social media. Message us at: Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/cswukInstagram- csw_uk USEFUL LINKS Find out more at csw.org.uk/Sudan Download our prayer diary csw.org.uk/prayer These episodes are made possible by the generous donations made by our supporters. If you'd like to join our movement and help us keep this podcast going, you can do so by going to: csw.org.uk/give

Learn how CSW is impacting areas of Colombia affected by armed conflict and intense religious discrimination of indigenous groups and those living in rural areas.  Find out more at csw.org.uk/colombia Download our prayer diary csw.org.uk/prayer These episodes are made possible by the generous donations made by our supporters. If you'd like to join our movement and help us keep this podcast going, you can do so by going to: csw.org.uk/give

Learn how CSW is impacting areas of Colombia affected by armed conflict and intense religious discrimination of indigenous groups and those living in rural areas.  Find out more at csw.org.uk/colombia Download our prayer diary csw.org.uk/prayer These episodes are made possible by the generous donations made by our supporters. If you'd like to join our movement and help us keep this podcast going, you can do so by going to: csw.org.uk/give

Join CSW's Mexico director Pablo Vargas as he shares about the unique FoRB challenges in Mexico and how the training he provides is making a difference in the rural indigenous communities there. Find out more at cswusa.org/mexico Download our daily prayer diary:www.cswusa.org/pray

Join Cecil Chaudhry as he discusses the challenges religious minorities face in Pakistan and how CSW's advocacy is affecting change on a top down (governmental) level as well as from the bottom up (individual and community). 

Join us for a conversation with CSW's Asia team leader on the unique FoRB challenges in India which stretch back to its creation as a nation in 1947.  Below is a list of recommended reading for anyone who wants to learn more: Majoritarian State: How Hindu Nationalism is Changing India (Angana P Chatterji, Thomas Blom Hansen and Chistophe Jaffrelot - Editors) Religion, Caste & Politics in India (Christophe Jaffrelot) Anti-Christian Violence in India (Chad M. Bauman) Pentecostals, Proselytization, and Anti-Christian Violence in Contemporary India (Chad M. Bauman) Modi’s India: Hindu Nationalism and the Rise of Ethnic Democracy (Christophe Jaffrelot) The Hindu Nationalist Movement and Indian Politics 1925 to the 1990s (Christophe Jaffrelot) The RSS: A Menace to India (A.G. Noorani) The Fiction of Fact-Finding – Modi & Godhra (Manoj Mitta) Looking Away: Inequality, Prejudice and Indifference in New India (Harsh Mander) The Struggle for India’s Soul (Shashi Tharoor)

Join Darren and CSW's Lead Advocate for Vietnam, Laos and North Korea as they discuss the issues related to freedom of religion or belief in those countries.

Reverend Yunusa Nmadu is founder and CEO of CSW Nigeria. He is a convert from Islam, a pastor and church leader who seeks redemptive and creative solutions to religious injustices prevalent  in his country, while assisting survivors and championing reconciliation. A previous guest, Khataza has advocated for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for over 20 years. As Joint Head of Advocacy at CSW UK and Team Leader for Africa and the Middle East at CSW, she briefs officials in the US, UK, EU and Africa, and has written articles on FoRB-related thematic and country issues for UK newspapers, and more recently, for the Berkley Forum. Khataza is currently a member of the Africa Advisory Council of the African Vision Working Group of the International Religious Freedom or Belief, and is on the International Religious Freedom and Belief Alliance IRFBA Council of Experts.  

Ben is a human rights activist and writer. He’s the senior analyst for Asia at CSW. He’s been involved with CSW since 1994. He’s also the co-founder and chief executive of Hong Kong Watch. His latest book is called The China Nexus which deals with the human rights crisis across China.  Ben resides in London, where we’re connecting today via Zoom.

Khataza has advocated for freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) for over 20 years. As Joint Head of Advocacy at CSW UK and Team Leader for Africa and the Middle East at CSW, she briefs officials in the US, UK, EU and Africa, and has written articles on FoRB-related thematic and country issues for UK newspapers, and more recently, for the Berkley Forum. Khataza is currently a member of the Africa Advisory Council of the African Vision Working Group of the International Religious Freedom or Belief, and is on the International Religious Freedom and Belief Alliance IRFBA Council of Experts.

Anna Lee Stangl is Joint Head of Advocacy at CSW. Anna Lee has been at CSW since she was appointed as European Union Liaison Officer in 1999. She spent 11 years in Brussels coordinating CSW’s advocacy on international religious freedom with the EU and also developed CSW’s research and advocacy in Latin America establishing our work in Cuba, Colombia, Mexico and most recently, Nicaragua. In 2012 she moved back to the US and is now based in Washington DC. Around five years ago she was appointed Joint Head of the Advocacy department and she also continues to lead the Americas Team, in addition to monitoring and coordinating our US government focused advocacy.

Scot is CEO of CSW. He is married to Misty, they have two kids and one grandchild. He runs stupidly long distances (badly), is passionate about prayer and justice and seeing where those two collide.

For the past forty three years, Mervyn has traveled widely to countries where Christians and other religious minorities suffer persecution because of their faith. He is an internationally known, inspirational speaker, speaking out on behalf of persecuted minorities. Mervyn chairs the UK (Freedom of Religion OR Belief) FoRB Forum and works closely with the UK Prime Minister’s Special Envoy for FoRB. He is also a member of the Panel of Experts advising the International Religion or Belief Alliance, an inter-governmental group of over 40 countries. Mervyn is an ordained Assemblies of God Minister.  He lives in the UK, on the Surrey border and is married to Wendy. They have two children, and one grandchild.