Mervyn Thomas CMG

Founder President at CSW & Chair of UK FoRB Forum:
CMG for services to Human Rights and Freedom of Religion or Belief Retweeting does not imply endorsement

[Lord (David) Alton @DavidAltonHL]

Eritrea: Dr Gondwe @khatazagondwe of @CSW_UK recently highlighted the importance of the renewal of the mandate of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea at the upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council, ‘as it is the only independent international mechanism for monitoring this human rights crisis.’ I raised this with the @FCDOGovUK and Minister @JennyChapman has replied - using the opportunity to call for Eritrea to respond to reports of abuses of human rights and persecution on grounds of religion or belief @APPGFoRB @JubileeC @rowenakahsay @martinplaut

[FCDO FoRB Envoy @FCDO_FoRB_Envoy]

Last week I visited Nigeria, one of the UK's ten FoRB focus counties. I engaged with a multitude of stakeholders on promoting FoRB and social cohesion for all.

Hear my reflections 👇

[Mervyn Thomas CMG @mervthomas]

Please pray and speak up for Leah as she turns 23, and for all the others held in captivity by the terrorist groups in Nigeria!

[Lord (David) Alton @DavidAltonHL]

Today is Leah Sharibu's 23rd birthday. 8 years in captivity. No stone should be left unturned in securing her release.
@officialABAT @NGRPresident @HARTnews @YvetteCooperMP @JennyChapman @dsnorthnorth @NazilaGhanea @SamuelBrownback @USCIRF @AyoAdedoyi9914 @NigeriaCsw @RFInstitute @IRFSummit @APPGFoRB

[Archbishop Angaelos @BishopAngaelos]

Pleased to host another book launch today at @TheSanctuaryCDL, this time telling the story of Shabbaz Bhatti, with an authoritative panel made of my dear friends @KnoxThames and @MervThomas, along with Peter Bhatti and @CecilSChaudhry.

[Lord (David) Alton @DavidAltonHL]

Remember those who will be unable to celebrate Christmas this year - because of continued ideological CCP persecution and the violation of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights https://t.co/NxVoUsbVAx @Keir_Starmer @JennyChapman @volker_turk @dsnorthnorth @CardJosephZen @Pontifex @iguangcheng @BobFu4China @USCIRF @mikepompeo @SamuelBrownback @SecRubio @VP @YvetteCooperMP @tariqahmadbt @TomTugendhat @articleeighteen @bbclysedoucet @Jacob_Rees_Mogg @Jeremy_Hunt @mervthomas @JubileeCampaign @AnnBuwalda1 @Qamarrafiquk @ipacglobal See https://t.co/3pHgsl4jLJ

[Lord (David) Alton @DavidAltonHL]

Today the @HumanRightsCtte continued its inquiry into the human rights implications of Artificial Intelligence. Powerful and thought provoking statements from witnesses. AI poses opportunities but comes with serious dangers and big concerns about how to provide safeguards.

Watch in full:
https://t.co/Vdgp1lPeio

[Mervyn Thomas CMG @mervthomas]

Great message from the Government's Forb Envoy, David Smith. Thank you David for all you do for persecuted faith and Belief minorities around the world.

[FCDO FoRB Envoy @FCDO_FoRB_Envoy]

A Christmas message from the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief

[CSW Advocacy (INACTIVE) @CSWadvocacy]

#Nigeria: 24 schoolgirls who were abducted from Government Girls Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi State, were released on 25 November.

CSW continues to call for a decisive response to the recent surge in attacks and abduction in the country.

Read more: https://t.co/v2S5MaEXIg

[Mervyn Thomas CMG @mervthomas]

#URGENT: The legal team of UNHCR-recognised refugee & human rights defender #YQuynhBdap have been informed that a Thai court may approve the extradition tomorrow. If returned to Vietnam, he faces torture & prolonged detention. Thailand must uphold #HumanRights & #NonRefoulement.

[FCDO FoRB Envoy @FCDO_FoRB_Envoy]

Concerning reports from China about the detention of the Zion House Church leaders. https://t.co/2uIXqQ7cuj
Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right. This is a worrying indication of further persecution of Christians in China.

[Mervyn Thomas CMG @mervthomas]

The so-called 'freedom of religion' laws currently in force in 10 Indian states have never been about preventing coercive conversions as their proponents claim, and are certainly not about upholding the right to #FoRB as their names might suggest. More: https://t.co/2btD6JtNyu

[Mervyn Thomas CMG @mervthomas]

CSW's latest blog highlights how powerful and effective resistance to repressive regimes can become when independent civil society and the religious sector overcome internal divisions and to build cooperative relationships with one another. Read it here: https://t.co/F84aUOPPl7

[Mervyn Thomas CMG @mervthomas]

CSW's latest blog is written by Ju Il-Lyong, a North Korean defector and human rights activist who emphasises the importance of information inflow into #NorthKorea. Read it here: https://t.co/k8lcNT6fDA

[Knox Thames @KnoxThames]

Marking the International Day for Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, see my article for @TheHillOpinion, "Remember Iraq's Yezidis," on their ongoing plight, the need for US leadership to help, and the importance of American diplomacy to combat persecution.

[Robert Řehák @Robert_Rehak]

On this International Day of #ReligiousFreedom, I think of the brave men and women believers of all faiths tortured by authoritarian regimes. Their suffering reminds us why we fight. But their courage gives us hope: freedom of religion will prevail. #IRFBA https://t.co/0Aenq0KBHc

[FCDO FoRB Envoy @FCDO_FoRB_Envoy]

22nd August is the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief. We stand with all victims and continue striving to protect FoRB for all.

Read my statement here: https://t.co/IuGzUqftAx

[Embajada de los Estados Unidos en Cuba @USEmbCuba]

Nuestro Jefe de Misión Mike Hammer se reunió con los Pastores Vivian Barrero y Joel Cárdenas de la Alianza de Cristianos de Cuba. Hablaron sobre los retos que enfrentan y sobre la importancia de la libertad religiosa en Cuba. El trabajo que realizan en sus comunidades para apoyar a los más vulnerables es admirable.

[CSW Advocacy (INACTIVE) @CSWadvocacy]

Colombia’s Minister of the Interior Armando Benedetti has indicated that the government will reject a controversial bill that would introduce increased oversight and control over religious entities in #Colombia.

Read more: https://t.co/ozgkPMe0Ie

[CSW Advocacy (INACTIVE) @CSWadvocacy]

A Catholic home church was raided by Vietnamese police during Mass at around 8:30pm on 11 August in Thái Nguyn province, northern #Vietnam.

Read more:
https://t.co/yJTGGrXkje

[CSW Advocacy (INACTIVE) @CSWadvocacy]

#BLOG: The UK government’s efforts to produce a definition of Islamophobia could prove counterproductive. Read more: https://t.co/bZPaqRkssq