Tourists return to Maldives despite grim restrictions on Christian activity

Posted on September 5, 2023 by Pastor Foley

One of the most desirable vacation spots is also one of the world’s worst persecutors of Christians. That’s the word about the Maldives from Voice of the Martyrs Korea, whose two-year old daily Christian radio broadcast into the Maldives is one of the few successful outreaches into the country known for tourism but less known for its comprehensive ban on Christian activity.

“Neither mission work nor Christian literature has ever been allowed in the Maldives,” says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr Hyun Sook Foley. “Even foreign workers who are Christians are closely watched, which makes church life extremely difficult and practically nonexistent. Churches are outlawed, and openly carrying the Bible is illegal. The country is so tightly controlled by Islamic law that there is not even a Bible fully translated into the native language of most citizens of the Maldives.”

Representative Foley say a host of laws are designed to ensure that only Islamic principles are taught within the country.

“In order to deliver a sermon or a religious talk, one must obtain a license from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs (MIA),” says Representative Foley. “Only a Sunni Muslim with a degree in religious studies from a government recognized university may apply for a license.”

According to Representative Foley, separate laws prohibit the distribution of Christian literature. Violations may result in a prison sentence of 2 to 5 years.

But despite these grim restrictions, tourism in the Maldives returned to near pre-COVID levels in 2022, with 1.6 million people visiting the so-called “resort islands” that the Maldives specially designates for tourists.

“The world chooses to enjoy the extravagant luxeries of the Maldives while ignoring the human rights and religious liberty abuses happening there,” says Representative Foley. She says that even governments do the same, noting that the United States and Australia entered into diplomatic relationship with the Maldives in 2022. “Sadly, many Christians also forget their brothers and sisters in the Maldives who have suffered under the hand of the government and Islamic extremists,” says Representative Foley.

According to Representative Foley life for the average Maldivian is markedly different than life as a tourist at a resort.

“An obvious example of this is that tourists are often greeted with a bottle of wine, where citizens are prohibited from drinking alcohol and threatened with fines and flogging for doing so,” says Representative Foley. She says Christians considering tourism to the Maldives should take time to research more than which hotel to stay at.

Voice of the Martyrs Korea CEO Pastor Eric Foley records a daily radio broadcast to the Maldives.

“Here is the real state of the Maldives,” says Representative Foley. “According to reports, the Maldives exports more jihadists per capita to fight in conflicts in countries like Syria than any other country in the world. Internet sites that according to the government ‘spread religion other than Islam’ are blocked, including Youtube and Facebook. Criticism of Muhammed is criminalized. Openly expressing religious beliefs other than Islam is criminalized. Worshipping in a church is criminalized, even for foreigners.”

But Representative Foley says Voice of the Martyrs Korea has not forgotten the small handful of Maldivians who live secretly as Christians, having converted either as a result of hearing the Christian message during time spent abroad or through interaction with Christian foreigners who visit the Maldives.

“Our ‘True Voice of Martyrs’ Maldives radio broadcast is a way to let the Maldivian church know every day that they are not forgotten,” says Representative Foley. “It is the safest possible way to give them the tools they need to grow as Christians—Bible readings, sermons, encouragement from other persecuted Christians around the world. All they need to do is tune in on the radio.”

Representative Foley says that the broadcast signal has thus far evaded jamming by state level actors while remaining easy for any Maldivian to access. She says her organization has also received contact from listeners to the broadcast in India, Philippines, Morocco, Japan, China, Germany, Australia, Austria, and the United States. “The broadcast includes segments in both Dhiveli, the official language of the Maldives, and English, which is more and more the language of the young in the Maldives,” she says. “The strong signal makes it possible for us to reach even Maldivians studying abroad in places like India and Sri Lanka.”

Representative Foley notes that as much as 25% of the Maldivian population has regularly listened to popular shortwave broadcasts in recent years.

Representative Foley says that her hope is that Christians who are thinking of traveling to the Maldives would instead use their funds to support the Voice of the Martyrs Korea radio broadcast and then stay home and pray for Maldivian Christians.

“Pray daily for the underground church in the Maldives,” says Representative Foley. “Pray that they would continue to trust fully in the Word of God despite the difficult circumstances. And pray daily for the True Voice of Martyrs broadcast to the Maldives to remain clear and strong. Pray that any efforts by the government to stop the broadcast will only further the proclamation of the gospel, and pray that many new listeners will discover the broadcast and its message of salvation in Christ alone.”

Those interested in donating to support Voice of the Martyrs’ daily radio broadcast to the Maldives can do so at www.vomkorea.com/en/donation or via electronic transfer to:

국민은행 (KB Bank) 463501-01-243303

예금주 (Account Holder): (사)순교자의소리

Please include the word “Maldives” with the donation.

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Laos: As China’s influence looms, VOMK workers quietly fulfill 2,100 individual requests for Bibles

Posted on August 22, 2023 by Pastor Foley

Discrete, personal deliveries of Bibles to Laos Christians have replaced large scale Bible distribution campaigns, due to growing Chinese influence on the Laos government’s religious enforcement policies.

That’s what we’ve learned at Voice of the Martyrs Korea as we’ve been working with local Christian workers in Laos recently to quietly fulfill individual requests for Bibles from 500 church leaders and 1,600 church members in that communist country. 660 requests for hymnals were also fulfilled.

“Laos not only shares a border with China. It shares a communist ideology, and that includes strong restrictions on religion,” says Voice of the Martyrs Korea Representative Dr Hyun Sook Foley. She points to the July 28 arrest in Laos of Chinese human rights attorney Lu Siwei as he was on his way to the United States as a sign of China’s influence on the Laos government. “We should not be surprised to see Laos adopt China-style religious restrictions to attempt to control its rapidly-growing Christian population,” she says.

“In 1994 there were 400 Christians in Laos, but by 2020 there were over 250,000, and by the end of 2023, Lao Christians believe there will be over 400,000,” says Representative Foley. She says that sharp increase has led to challenges for the Lao Christian community.

A Lao believer is thrilled to receive a new Bible.

“Persecution and restrictions are the main external challenges,” says Representative Foley. “Most persecution of Christians in Laos is done by family members or village authorities who are concerned that Christianity offends the spirits.”

But Representative Foley notes that it is not only the spirits who villagers worry about offending. Lao government authorities also watch the growth of unregistered Christian congregations with concern.

“Similar to China, there is a clear expectation and growing pressure by the government for all churches to officially register their existence and fully comply with all religious regulations,” she says. Those regulations also govern access to Bibles. “Bibles are not sold in bookstores in Laos,” she says. “The registered churches sell Bibles, and some foreign groups have sought legal permission to bring Bibles in for mass distributions.”

But according to Representative Foley, buying a Bible from a registered church or receiving a Bible from a government-permitted distribution can expose church leaders and local believers to pressure from their fellow villagers or from government authorities. “Public acquisition of a Bible can be like a trail leading suspicious villagers or government authorities right to the door of an unregistered pastor or believer,” says Representative Foley.

In 1994 there were 400 Christians in Laos, but by 2020 there were over 250,000, and by the end of 2023, Lao Christians believe there will be over 400,000.

She says this is why Voice of the Martyrs Korea has been partnering with local Christian workers to enable Lao church leaders and individual believers to request Bibles privately. Voice of the Martyrs Korea recently received requests from 500 church leaders and 1,600 church members in Laos, along with requests for 660 hymnals. “By quietly providing individual Bibles to the Christians who requested them, we have been able to meet the need while keeping identities confidential and thus keeping Christians safe,” she says.

Representative Foley notes that due to the massive growth of Christianity in Laos, the majority of congregations do not have a trained pastor. “Most pastors have little schooling, and many do not have Bibles,” says Representative Foley. “The church leader is typically the oldest or wealthiest person in the community. In most villages, no church buildings are allowed. If village leaders notice that a house church is growing, they will try to stop it. Christians have difficulty providing for themselves and their family. They may be unable to get jobs, most of which are through the government. Christians may be denied medical treatment, education and other social services. There are no open Bible schools in the country.” Representative Foley says that the Lao Evangelical Church (LEC) is the only government-recognized church.

But Representative Foley says Voice of the Martyrs Korea believes that the best way to address the challenges facing the growing Lao Christian community is privately and quietly, through fulfilling individual requests for Bibles, rather than through large-scale efforts that require centralized coordination with the official church’s structures, as well as government permission.

“Early Korean Christian history shows the power of individual Bible distribution,” says Representative Foley. “15,000 copies of the Ross Bible were secretly distributed hand-to-hand before the first missionaries arrived, even with the government actively trying to stop the spread of the faith.”

Most Lao pastors have little schooling, and many do not have Bibles.

She says that just as the Lao government often follows the Chinese government’s religious policies, the Lao church can learn from the Chinese underground church.

“The Chinese government has been able to confiscate the buildings of Chinese megachurches, drive all Bible purchases to official channels, and cut off the large-scale initiatives of American and Korean missionaries seeking to help the Chinese church,” she says. “But it has been much harder for the Chinese government to stop the house-to-house spread of Christianity in the countryside. For the past several years that has been our focus in China: privately supplying Bibles and Bible study materials to individual believers who request them. That approach the Chinese government still can’t stop. The time has come for us to take the same approach in Laos.”

Representative Foley says Voice of the Martyrs Korea is now working on a plan to quietly get audio Bibles to Lao believers who request them. “There are many Lao Christians who are unable to read or write, especially in the countryside,” she says. “Local workers are compiling a growing list of believers who want to receive those audio Bibles, and we will be working to fulfill those requests in the coming months.”

Individuals interested in learning more about Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s work in partnership with Laotian Christians can visit https://vomkorea.com/en/country-profile/laos/. Donations can be made to www.vomkorea.com/en/donate or via electronic transfer to

국민은행 463501-01-243303

예금주: (사)순교자의소리

Please include the word “Laos” on the donation.

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Russia: New reports about religious freedom violations “only scratch the surface”

Posted on August 8, 2023 by Pastor Foley

Religious freedom is continuing to decline sharply across the Russian Federation and occupied Ukraine, as authorities apply vague laws targeting extremism, terrorism, missionary activity, and undesirable organizations to ban various religious activities by Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, and other groups. That is the conclusion of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), a bipartisan government commission tasked with making policy recommendations to US officials on religious freedom violations internationally. USCIRF published two new Russia Updates in July, following its 2023 Annual Report released in April which lists Russia as one of 17 countries it recommends the United States State Department should designate as “Countries of Particular Concern” due to the number and severity of religious freedom violations.

The special reports also call attention to religious freedom violations associated with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including Russian government prosecution of protestors opposing the war on religious grounds, as well as mistreatment of religious minorities in Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia.

Dr Hyun Sook Foley, President of Voice of the Martyrs Korea, says her organization welcomes the international attention the USCIRF reports bring to religious freedom violations by Russian authorities but says the reports “only scratch the surface”. “The reports by USCIRF and others highlight the high profile cases of religious discrimination involving government allegations of extremism, terrorism, and anti-state activity against religious groups,” says Representative Foley. “But far more common—and in our opinion, far more concerning—are the surging number of much less well-known cases where ordinary Russian Christians who are doing ordinary Christian activities end up fined or imprisoned by ordinary police and judges applying ordinary Russian laws to stop them.”

Representative Foley says those cases are typically too low-profile to appear in religious freedom reports by USCIRF and other watchdog groups but are in her organization’s view more representative of the day-to-day discrimination being faced by an increasing number of Protestant Christians in Russia.

This year, Voice of the Martyrs Korea has profiled the following cases:

  • In separate cases in May, courts in Russia’s far northeast Chukotka Autonomous Okrug fined two Christians, Ryshkov Mikhail Ivanovich and Kovtun Nikolai Alekseevich, for personally distributing Bibles and Christian books, ruling that the distributions constituted illegal church recruitment and not personal evangelism.
  • Pastor Andrey Shirokov and a group of Moscow pastors were carrying humanitarian aid intended for fellow believers in the Luhansk region when Pastor Shirokov was detained on April 21 at the Dovzhanka checkpoint southeast of the city of Luhansk. He pled not guilty to the charge of petty hooliganism but was sentenced to 12 days of detention by the court in Novoshakhtinsk.
Pastor Andrey Shirokov with his wife following his release (photo from Telegram channel Mirt)  
  • Vyacheslav Koldiaev was released from prison in Arkhangelsk, Russia on March 3 after serving a two-year sentence on a charge of alleged “use of violence dangerous to life or health against a representative of the authorities”. The case gained widespread attention among Christians around the world when video evidence exonerating Koldiaev was apparently ignored by the court, leading to Koldiaev’s conviction on May 13, 2021. Koldiaev had been part of a human chain of supporters surrounding the Baptist Church in Archangelsk, Russia on September 24, 2020 in an effort by the church to prevent a court-ordered demolition crew from tearing down a portion of the church’s building.
Vyacheslav Koldiaev receives flowers from children at the Baptist church in Arkhangelsk, Russia, following his release from prison (Source: Портал Верность) 
  • On September 1, 2022 in Armavir, authorities came to the workplace of a Christian, Maslenik Stanislav, and accused him carrying out missionary work by distributing copies of the newspaper “Do You Believe?” to participants in a key-making workshop he led. They searched the premises and seized eight newspapers. The Armavir city court found him guilty and fined him 5,000 rubles (approx. 90,000KRW).
The “Do You Believe” newspaper that Stefan Valery, Pastor Vladimir Kharchenko and Maslenik Stanislav were accused of distributing. 

Representative Foley says that the reason stories like these are not included in religious freedom reports is that the Christians involved do not seek to publicize their plight but instead focus on continuing their ministry. “No matter what the Russian government does, these ordinary Christians simply continue their service to the Lord,” says Representative Foley. She says that is why her organization tells the stories of these ordinary Christians. “Our primary goal isn’t to get governments to pressure other governments. Our primary goal is to tell these stories in order to encourage Christians in Russia, Ukraine, and around the world to remember that true freedom—freedom in Christ—can’t be given by governments, and it can’t be taken away by them either.”

Representative Foley says that the ordinary Christians facing persecution in Russia and Occupied Ukraine should be regarded by Christians around the world not as victims but as models of the ordinary Christian life to be emulated by other believers. “The USCIRF reports on persecution are recommendations to the US government,” says Representative Foley. “Our reports on persecution are recommendations to Christians around the world. Our recommendation is: Imitate these persecuted brothers and sisters! No matter what restrictions your government or your workplace or your family tries to place on the practice of your faith, the Lord Jesus is greater still. He will equip you for faithful witness even under the harshest circumstances. The Christians in Russia and occupied Ukraine are examples of the Lord’s care even in the valley of the shadow of death. So don’t be afraid!”

Individuals interested in learning more about Voice of the Martyrs Korea’s work with evangelical Christians in Russia and occupied Ukraine can visit https://vomkorea.com/en/project/russia-ministry/.

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