| Christian Solidarity Worldwide | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | CSW |
| Purpose/focus | Human rights of Christians |
| Region served | Worldwide |
| President | Jonathan Aitken |
Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is a human rights organisation and christian pressure group, which works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs. Its current president is Jonathan Aitken, having taken over from Baroness Cox (who remains its patron) in 2006.[1] The organisation also helps people of Non-Christian faith in Burma.[2]
Christian Solidarity Worldwide claims to be independent of any government or political persuasion but as an advocacy organisation, CSW also aims to influence governments and other bodies on religious freedom issues in the international arena.[3]
Through its various resources, events and initiatives, CSW also aims to mobilise the general public to pray, protest and provide on behalf of persecuted Christians.[4]
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CSW has been associated with a number of controversial patrons. Former organisation president and current patron, Baroness Caroline Cox, courted controversy in February 2009 for her attempts to bring Dutch Freedom Party leader Geert Wilders to the UK for a screening of the anti-Islam film Fitna before the House of Lords. The film compares the Koran to Hitler's Mein Kampf and Wilders is quoted as saying "I don't hate Muslims. I hate Islam."[5]
Current president Jonathan Aitken is a former director of BMARC, a weapons exporter, which sold guns to Iran in direct contradiction of a UN Arms Embargo. [6]