Hong Kong: Christian Activist Warns of Threat to Religious Freedom as Protests Escalate

Source: Premier
A Christian activist says the religious freedoms of Hong Kong citizens could be at risk if the government continues to ignore the demands of protesters.
Heather Preston | 19 November 2019

A number of protesters have been arrested while trying to run from a Hong Kong university campus surrounded by police.

Officers used tear gas, rubber bullets and batons to fight off protesters as they tried to break through a cordon that is trapping hundreds on a university campus.

Some campaigners have thrown petrol bombs and fired arrows at officers.

The violence is some of the worst seen in the territory since anti-government demonstrations began almost six months ago.

The protests started over a controversial extradition bill, and have now evolved into broader anti-government demonstrations.

Co-founder and chair of human rights charity Hong Kong Watch, Ben Rogers expressed concern for the potential implications the conflict could have on religious rights in Hong Kong and urged Christians to pray.

“It’s important to remember that if general freedoms in Hong Kong are further eroded, sooner or later religious freedom will be affected.

“If Hong Kong’s way of life is dismantled, then the church will be directly affected in that way, and so pray specifically for the church at this time in Hong Kong.

“Pray for an end to violence on both sides and pray for a peaceful political solution to this crisis.”

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