BANGLADESH: SUNDAY SCHOOL SHUT DOWN BY MOB

A Sunday school in Bangladesh that serves Christian children from Muslim backgrounds is being forced to shut down after a group of Muslim women interrupted a recent class, causing FEAR AND WORRY. This has raised concerns about the safety of the children who attend the school, as well as the ongoing challenges that Christians in Bangladesh face.

Sunday school is a core part of church life, providing a space for young Christians to learn about Jesus and discover the Bible. Sadly, in this part of Bangladesh, this Sunday School was disrupted by the actions of a group of Muslim women, who have falsely accused Christians of forcibly converting Muslims and teaching children incorrect information.

The group of women was led by a member of an extreme Islamic political group, who has started a campaign to shut down Christian activities in the largely Muslim community. The situation was further exacerbated when a influential local political leader backed the Muslim women’s allegations, and ordered the immediate closure of the Sunday school.

At an meeting to resolve the issue, a Christian from the group said:

“The Sunday School class is only for the Christian children, and we have the right to teach our children about our faith and religion. We are not doing any wrong by conducting this Sunday school. They [the persecutors] do not want to understand the rights of the Christians.”

THE SCHOOL REMAINS CLOSED

Despite this, the school has been forcibly closed. The Sunday school teacher is currently seeking a safer alternative location for the class. Open Doors partners are also assisting in the search, while the leader of the school, Akter*, fears further persecution.

Discrimination against Christians from Muslim backgrounds is an all-too-frequent occurrence in Bangladesh, where they often face significant obstacles when trying to live out their faith or participate in church life.

Despite the challenges faced by the Sunday school, Akter desires for the children to continue learning about Jesus, and to grow in their faith and understanding. Join us in praying for her and other Open Doors partners in the region, that they may be safe and have wisdom in knowing how to keep running the classes.

*Name changed for security purposes…