Christians in Laos driven from their homes, forced to live in rainforest

A Catholic Church in Laos. / Credit: Amittaya/Shutterstock

ACI Prensa Staff, Aug 14, 2025 / 14:36 pm (CNA).

Despite the fact that the constitution and religious freedom laws in Laos officially guarantee the right to worship, Christians in rural areas of this Southeast Asian country are being evicted from their homes and being forced to live in the rainforest.

The situation is occurring in the middle of the monsoon season, with rainfall up to one inch each day and nighttime temperatures that drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Many of the displaced — including children and entire families — are taking refuge in the forests without access to food, safe shelter, or medical care.

“No one should have to live like this. Kids… in the jungle! In the rain! It’s just inhumane,” a Bangkok-based humanitarian worker, who asked not to be identified for safety reasons, told UCA News.

Anthony Williams, a researcher with the international Christian aid agency Barnabas Aid, stated that “Persecution in Laos is worse in rural areas, where local leaders have a freer hand to take action against Christians, and especially converts from a traditional religion.”

Although the 2019 Evangelical Church Law allows worship and the proclamation of the Gospel, “the law is often ignored in rural villages and settlements, either in ignorance or maliciously,” Williams noted. “The government is largely just turning a blind eye to the forcing of Christians from their homes.”

Williams said local leaders even deny Christians official documents, such as birth certificates, and “in most cases, the central and provincial governments do not act to enforce the law.”

In February, a mob destroyed a home church in the Xonboury district in Savannakhet province. Surprisingly, a month later, authorities allowed its reconstruction and the resumption of worship, but such cases are rare.

Hostility toward Christians has manifested itself in evictions, imprisonment, and even murder. In July 2024, Pastor Thongkham Philavanh was shot dead in Oudomxay province shortly after resuming his church meetings after serving four years in prison for preaching the Gospel.

“It is often the case that an increase in the number of converts leads to higher levels of persecution. This world hates Christ (John 15:18), and in this respect, Laos is no different,” Williams said.

With a population of eight million, the country has about 300,000 Christians — including 50,000 Catholics — which represent less than 2% of the population. The rest are mostly Buddhist or practice syncretic religions with animism.

Williams warned that if Christianity continues to grow in Laos, “persecution will increase, both in scale and intensity,” and lamented that “it is unlikely that the Lao government will see protecting Christians as a priority” given the geopolitical and economic challenges in the region.

This story was first publishedby ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.