ECLJ Assists in UK Case to Protect Burmese Pastor

(Strasbourg, France) -- The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), the international affiliate of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), has won an important victory in the United Kingdom in efforts to secure asylum for a Burmese pastor who faced persecution and imprisonment if returned to Burma.

The ECLJ, in collaboration with Gillman-Smith Lee Solicitors and Barrister Mark Mullins, won an appeal on behalf of Rev. Shwekey Hoipang in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber (formerly known as the Immigration and Asylum Tribunal) on April 16, 2010.

Rev. Shwekey Hoipang, a Dai leader and of Chin ethnic origin, faced imprisonment if returned to Burma due to his activities in speaking out on behalf of the Chin people and as a Christian. Christians have faced increasing harassment in Burma.  In January 2009, approximately 100 churches were shut down by the government as well as Bible colleges and Christian orphanages. The Church co-founded by Rev. Hoipang, the Dai Christian Fellowship, was closed down in April 2009.

Rev. Hoipang began to speak out in demonstrations and in radio interviews for stations such as BBC Burma and Radio Free Asia. Rev. Hoipang also began to work closely with Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), an international human rights advocacy organization, providing them with invaluable information on religious persecution in Burma.

Ben Rogers, the East Asia Team Leader of CSW, and witness in the case, said:  “ We are absolutely delighted with a victory in this case. The Chin people in Burma are suffering serious violations of human rights - including religious persecution because of their Christian faith.”

Because of Rev. Hoipang’s outspoken opposition to the current regime in Burma, his actions were closely monitored by the Burmese government.  It was for this reason that Rev. Hoipang
has been recognized as a “refugee sur place” and the appeal granted on asylum grounds as well as on human rights grounds.

Barrister Mark Mullins commented: “This was undoubtedly a meritorious claim by a person dedicated to stand up for the oppressed Christians and Chin people of Burma. There could not be a clearer case of a genuine claim for asylum. Returning Rev. Hoipang to Burma would be unthinkable as the Immigration Judge rightly realized.”

The European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) is an international law firm focusing on the protection of human rights and religious freedom in Europe and worldwide.  The ECLJ is affiliated with the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) which focuses on protecting religious freedom in the United States.  Attorneys for the ECLJ have served as counsel in numerous cases before the European Court of Human Rights.  Additionally, the ECLJ has special Consultative Status with ECOSOC of the United Nations, and is accredited to the European Parliament.