-
For Immediate Release (Westlake Village, CA) — Religious minorities in Bangladesh are facing increased violence and persecution under the interim government, Christian Solidarity International (CSI) warned on March 17 at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
In an oral statement delivered on the floor during the 58th Session, CSI’s Dr. Joel Veldkamp recalled that the right of every person to choose and practice their religion is enshrined in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). “But this right is increasingly threatened, often in countries undergoing political transitions,” he pointed out.
“One worrying example of this is in Bangladesh, where violence against Christians, Hindus, and Buddhists has increased dramatically following the resignation and flight of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last August,” CSI’s Director of Public Advocacy stated.
Many of the attacks have been attributed to Islamist groups Jamaat-e-Islami and Hizb ut-Tahrir.
Veldkamp said that according to CSI sources in Bangladesh, the new authorities have in recent months filed spurious charges against hundreds of leaders of religious minority groups, including the general secretary and president of the Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council. Some of these individuals have already been arrested and are being selectively denied bail.
“The pattern of these charges and arrests strongly indicates an effort to suppress the ability of religious minority groups to organize and advocate for their own interests,” Veldkamp said.
“Christian Solidarity International calls on the interim government of Bangladesh to dismiss the charges against these Christian, Buddhist and Hindu leaders immediately, and to make good on their pledges to build a free, democratic and pluralistic state, which will protect the human rights of all Bangladeshis, regardless of religious affiliation,” he concluded.
Christian Solidarity Intl Calls on Bangladesh to Protect Rights of Religious Minorities
-
Stars Will Fall, is set to release their new single, Price You Pay, on March 21. Following the success of their previous hit, Follow You, which has remained on the CMW charts for over 20 weeks, the band is ready to take listeners on a deeper journey into the struggles of life and the hope found in Jesus Christ.
Price You Pay is a reflection on the challenges of living in a broken world—where sickness, violence, fear, and death are something people go through daily. The song’s inspiration came from the understanding that, though humans face hardship due to sin, God did not leave us to face it alone. Jesus paid the ultimate price, becoming one of us to love us, understand our suffering, and redeem us through His sacrifice.
“Life is hard. But we know Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. He didn’t just leave us in this broken world to suffer. He became part of it to save us,” the lead singer Dale, shared about the inspiration behind the track.
Dale hopes listeners will gain hope and encouragement through the single, recognizing that despite the suffering they face, Jesus’ sacrifice offers redemption and peace. “Even though the world has nothing to offer, we are not lost or alone. Jesus suffered for us, and He has found us.”
The song’s message is based on the lyric: “But I’m not lost ‘cause I have You, and I know You suffered too. To mend this broken world and make us new.” This powerful line is a reminder that, although the world is broken, Jesus came to heal and redeem it—and we are called to carry His love forward, even in our pain and suffering.
Price You Pay is the band’s heaviest song yet, pushing musical and emotional boundaries. It’s a powerful call to reflect on the depth of Jesus’ sacrifice and the hope He offers to anyone who is suffering. The song promises to resonate with both current fans and new listeners, providing a message of redemption and healing through Jesus Christ.
Dale shares that the song’s message comes from personal experience. I used to live a life that was easy, without purpose, But when God convicted me of my own sin and opened my eyes to the suffering of others, I knew there was a price I had to pay to follow Him. But when I remembered what Jesus paid for me, I realized that giving up who I was for who I could be in Him was the greatest gain I could ever have.”
In a world filled with pain and hardship, Price You Pay reminds us that following God is not about losing, but about gaining everything through His sacrifice.
Price You Pay drops on March 21, and the band encourages fans to join them on this powerful journey of redemption, hope, and love.
Listen/Pre-Save Here: https://lnk.to/PriceYouPay
Follow Resurrection Records Here: https://bio.to/ResurrectionRecords
Stars Will Fall Announces New Single “Price You Pay” through Resurrection Records
-
Check out our mix made just for those hot summer days and nights! This list includes pop, alternative rock and hip-hop tracks by artists like Mat Kearney, gio, Paul Wright, Kurtis Hoppie, Switchfoot, Fleurie and more! Listen on Spotify or below.
Cool Christian Summer Songs
-
Joni & Friends Ministry Podcast
Click Next Page to load more