According
to Open
Doors’ Persecution Watch List, more than 380 million Christians suffer from
a high level of persecution for their faith, while 310 million of those suffer a
very high or extreme level of persecution. Here is an exert from the Watch List:
North Korea 1The violence score increased even more this
year as North Korea re-established its hold on
No. 1. Several groups of Christians were arrested and brought to labour camps.
There is an even greater emphasis on ideological purity and any perceived or
real outside threat is viciously purged.
China also stepped up its efforts to arrest and repatriate North Koreans, all
of whom are regarded as illegal immigrants.
Yemen 3Yemen moved up to third place on the
World Watch List due to an increase in anti-Christian violence. Pressure on
Christians also remained at the maximum. Within the context of civil war,
Iran-backed Houthi rebels expanded their power, making more of the country
increasingly dangerous for Christians. Coupled with further Islamic
radicalization, this meant even secret house churches could no longer meet
safely.
Kyrgyzstan 47One of only two newcomers to this year’s top
50, Kyrgyzstan had the highest score increase
on the list, making its first appearance since 2013. There was a sharp increase
in violence against the church, many registered churches and Christian
institutions were forced to close, and pressure on Christians increased in
almost all spheres of life.
Civil wars and insurrection: Violent chaos continues to be a cover for persecution. In countries
like Myanmar, Yemen and Sudan, civil wars have become breeding grounds
for targeted attacks against Christians. In other places like Central Africa Republic, Democratic Republic Congo, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, Islamist insurrections have created
environments where Christians can be targeted with impunity, and where
militants can attack and chase out communities of God’s people.
4,476 Christians killed Though fewer Christians were killed for their faith in Nigeria compared to last year, it remains
disproportionately deadly for Christians, with 3,100 paying the ultimate price
for their faith. Sadly, more Christians were killed outside Nigeria, many in
sub-Saharan Africa countries like DRC, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Niger.
4,744 Christians detained or imprisoned Christians continue to be detained without trial, arrested, sentenced
and imprisoned for following Jesus. In India alone, 1,629 Christians were
detained without trial and another 547 were sentenced to prison. Believers were
incarcerated for their faith in Eritrea, Bangladesh, Iran amongst others.
Trends:
Violence takes shape around the world. Several countries on the World Watch List saw an
increase in anti-Christian violence. While the contexts were different, either
tightly controlled autocratic states, or countries that are unstable due to
weak government or civil war, the result was the same: targeting of Christian
communities, destruction of lives, homes and churches, and immense pressure on
believers.
Continued violence across
Sub-Saharan Africa. Multiple
countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have seen a rise in violence against
Christians. Currently, 8 of the top 10 deadliest places for Christians are in
Sub-Saharan Africa—and all of them (except Nigeria) have more faith-based
killings than they did during the 2024 World Watch List reporting period.
Chronic government
instability has created an environment where Christians can be targeted, and
where Islamic militants can use the chaos as cover for their attacks on
Christians. Many Christians
have been forced from their homes. Of 34.5 million displaced people across
Sub-Saharan Africa, around 16.2 million are Christians.
The Open Doors Arise Africa campaign is a multi-year
response to the overwhelming violence against Christians in the region. It
relies on the prayers and support of Christians around the world to stand with
the African church, to help it be salt and light amid extreme persecution.
The church is being driven
out, or driven underground. Christians
in the Middle East and more countries on the World Watch List, are being driven
underground. Christian isolation and the decline of churches was a recurring
pattern in several countries:
After more than a decade of
war, disaster and relentless crisis, the church in Syria has diminished
significantly. Emigration is actively changing what the church looks like—from
an ancient, large minority population, to a much smaller, more endangered Christian
community.
Following the Israeli-Hamas
war that began in October 2023, Christian communities in Gaza and the West Bank
have come to the brink of extinction. Though not due to persecution, in Gaza,
at least 33 Christians were killed, and most houses destroyed during the
violence. Many Christian families have moved abroad or are trying to leave.
The church in Afghanistan is
deeply underground, and since there are fewer visible expressions of
Christianity, the Taliban authorities have nothing to crack down on. All Protestant churches in Algeria have
been forced to close, leaving none that can be targeted for closure.
In China,
unregistered churches, once tolerated by the government, are now considered
illegal as authorities enforce regulations. State-approved churches are under
stronger ideological pressure and new laws send pastors into indoctrination
sessions, where they are urged to preach accordingly. Smaller congregations are
either forced to merge into a larger church that is easier to control, or to
take their fellowships underground, into isolated home groups.
