Persecution of Christians Increasing, Warns Charity

Wednesday January 17 2024

Homes and cars burned by Fulani militant attackers in Nigeria

Violent instability and increasingly authoritarian governments pose an existential threat to longstanding Christian communities in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, the compilers of this year’s World Watch List have warned.

The researchers behind the list, which ranks the 50 countries in the world where Christians face the worst persecution, warn of intensifying attacks by Islamic extremists on Christians in countries including Somalia (which is second on the list), Nigeria, Mozambique, Mali and Burkina Faso. The violence in Nigeria accounts for over 82 per cent of Christians killed for their faith worldwide (4,118 recorded, though the researchers say it the true figure is probably much higher).

Henrietta Blyth, Chief Executive of Open Doors UK and Ireland, said: “Attacks by Islamic extremists against Christians in sub–Saharan Africa have intensified as chaos and collapse besets the region. Even in the IDP (internally displaced persons) camps Christians feel fearful and unsafe since the very people who attacked them may be grazing their herds or robbing their crops just outside the camp. “Governments in the region need to take meaningful action... Without this, once thriving Christian communities will disappear.”

The World Watch List is produced annually by Open Doors International, a global NGO network supporting persecuted Christians. Persecution scores are based on pressure levels in private, family, community and national life, and of church communities, along with violence levels.

According to the 2024 list North Korea remains the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian, followed by Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Yemen, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Iran and Afghanistan. Open Doors is also warning of a ‘huge’ increase in religious killings of Christians and destruction of Christian homes and property in India (partly because of ongoing violence in the state of Manipur); and that China is tightening its control over Christianity, closing an estimated 10,000 house churches and growing surveillance of Christians.

Overall, the list finds that there has been a growth in the scope and intensity of persecution worldwide, with 365 million Christians (one in seven worldwide) now facing high levels of persecution and discrimination – up from 360 million in the 2023 report.

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