Who Else Faces Religious Persecution?

are any people of faith other than christians persecuted

Christians are not the only religious group to be persecuted. Other groups that are persecuted include Shiite Muslims in Pakistan and Iraq, Muslims and Christians in Northern Nigeria, and Muslims in the Central African Republic. However, Christians are the most persecuted religious group, with 340 million Christians facing some form of persecution worldwide. In the last two years, 4,998 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons, 90% of whom were in Nigeria. Christians are also persecuted in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Characteristics Values
Number of Christians persecuted worldwide 340 million
Percentage of Christians persecuted worldwide 1 out of 7
Percentage of Christians persecuted in Africa 1 out of 5
Percentage of Christians persecuted in Asia 1 out of 7
Number of Christians killed for faith-related reasons in 2023 5,621
Number of countries where Christians are persecuted 61
Number of Christians persecuted in Nigeria in 2023 7,600

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Christians are persecuted in Africa

Christians are persecuted in many parts of the world, including Africa. In recent years, Christian persecution has been on a sharp rise, with Pope Francis stating that conditions for Christians are worse now than in the days of the early Church.

Christian persecution refers to the mistreatment, discrimination, oppression, or violence directed towards individuals or communities who identify as Christians or follow the Christian faith. It involves the infringement of their basic human rights, such as the freedom of worship, expression, and assembly, due to their religious beliefs and practices.

In Africa, Christians face persecution from extremist, Islamist violence. Nigeria, for example, has been described as "one of the deadliest places on earth to be a Christian." Between January 2021 and June 2022, Fulani herders attacked Christian villages in Nigeria's Middle Belt, resulting in the deaths of more than 7,600 Christians. In Burkina Faso, there are over a million internally displaced people, many of whom are Christians fleeing jihadist violence.

Across Africa, Christians face social alienation and persecution. In some countries, such as the Central African Republic, women are forced to marry Muslims and are separated from their children. Christian mothers may only be allowed to gather if their children are sent to the local mosque. In Mali, Christian parents have had to send their sons away for protection. In Sudan, some Christians have been arrested and punished for apostasy, while church leaders have been detained. In Niger, the law often favours Muslims in custody battles. In Algeria, any promotion or public display of Christianity is illegal, and the laws are written vaguely enough that, in theory, any Christian could be arrested.

In addition to physical violence and social alienation, Christians in Africa also face legal restrictions. Many governments have forced the closure of churches and made it almost impossible to obtain permission for new church construction. In Nigeria, for instance, there is a false narrative of "farmer versus herder clashes" that refuses to acknowledge the religious basis for the violence.

The persecution of Christians in Africa has only intensified over time, with intimidation campaigns by state and non-state actors aiming to eradicate the Christian presence in their countries.

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Christians are persecuted in Asia

In Asia, Christians face persecution in North Korea, India, China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. In North Korea, being a Christian is effectively a death sentence. Christians in the country are either deported and sentenced to hard labour or killed, along with their families.

In China, the persecution of Christians is the worst it has been in over a decade, with the government tightening its controls over religious worship. Hundreds of unofficial churches have been closed, and pastors and worshippers have been detained. The publication and sale of Bibles have been banned, and congregations are under increased surveillance.

In India, ultra-nationalism has been behind an increase in violent attacks by Hindu extremists on Christians and churches.

In Myanmar, attacks on Christians are commonplace. In one incident, a mob of 50 Buddhists attacked a group of Christians celebrating Christmas.

In Malaysia, there is suspicion of Christians, with many Muslims in the country believing that Christians have an agenda to convert Muslims.

In Indonesia, religious extremism remains a problem, with political actors tapping into the mobilisation efforts of conservatives and hardliners. In 2021, a family of suicide bombers linked to the Islamic State attacked three churches in Surabaya, killing 28 people.

In Vietnam, Christian communities with an established presence, like the Roman Catholic Church, are allowed relative freedom as long as they do not become politically involved or object to the state's taking of their land. Other Christian denominations, like Pentecostal or Evangelical Christians, face greater restrictions and scrutiny.

In Laos, some churches do not have state approval, and their leaders have been arrested and detained for up to a year.

In summary, Christians in Asia face persecution through violence, imprisonment, restrictions on worship, and discrimination.

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Christians are persecuted in the Middle East

In the Middle East and North Africa, Christians have faced "forms of persecution ranging from routine discrimination in education, employment and social life up to genocidal attacks". The report highlights the role of political failure, religious conservatism, and institutional weaknesses in justice, the rule of law, and policing, leaving the system open to exploitation by extremists.

In Saudi Arabia, there are strict limitations on expressions of Christianity, with regular crackdowns on private Christian services. In Iran, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, arrest, detention and imprisonment of Christians are common. In Iraq, the number of Christians has declined to between 300,000 and 500,000, down from 0.8 to 1.4 million before the 2003 US invasion.

In recent years, the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq, the Syrian Civil War and the rise of ISIS have greatly increased violence against Christians in those countries. Some have referred to the ISIS campaign against Christians and other religious minorities in the region as a genocide.

In the Middle East, Christians are a significant minority, making up approximately 5% of the population, down from 13% in the early 20th century. Cyprus is the only Christian-majority country in the region, with Christians forming between 76% and 78% of the population. Lebanon has the second-highest proportion of Christians in the Middle East, at around 40%, while Egypt has the next largest proportion, at around 10%.

Christians in the Middle East face persecution for various reasons, including government oppression, cultural hostility, extremist attacks, official religious domination, and violations of religious freedom.

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Christians are persecuted in China

Christian persecution refers to the mistreatment, discrimination, oppression, or violence directed towards individuals or communities who identify as Christians or follow the Christian faith. It involves the infringement of their basic human rights, such as the freedom of worship, expression, and assembly, due to their religious beliefs and practices.

There are many reasons why Christians are persecuted around the world. Primarily, Christians are persecuted because of their faith. However, economic and political situations further deepen this problem. In some countries, Christians are seen as a threat to the ruling government, and their persecution is a way to maintain control. Additionally, in many countries, cultural and religious intolerance fuel Christian persecution. In some countries, Christianity is seen as a foreign or Western religion, hence it faces hostility and violence.

In China, the persecution of Christians has been sporadic. During the Cultural Revolution, believers were arrested and imprisoned and sometimes tortured for their faith. Bibles were destroyed, churches and homes were looted, and Christians were subjected to humiliation. Several thousand Christians were known to have been imprisoned between 1983 and 1993. In 1992, the government began a campaign to shut down all of the unregistered meetings. However, government implementation of restrictions since then has varied widely between regions of China, and in many areas, there is greater religious liberty.

The members of the underground Catholic Church in China, those who do not belong to the official Catholic Patriotic Church and are faithful to the Vatican, remain theoretically subject to persecution today. In practice, however, the Vatican and the Chinese State have been, at least unofficially, accommodating each other for some time. While some bishops who joined the Catholic Patriotic Church in its early years have been condemned and even excommunicated, the entire organization has never been declared schismatic by the Vatican, and, at present, its bishops are even invited to church synods like other Catholic leaders.

Since the 2010s, the Chinese government has increasingly implemented a policy of sinicization of Christianity. Chinese people over the age of 18 are only allowed to join Christian groups that are registered with one of three state-controlled bodies: the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association, the China Christian Council, or the Protestant Three-Self Patriotic Movement. However, many Chinese Christians are members of informal networks and underground churches, often known as house churches. These began to proliferate during the 1950s when many Christians rejected the state-controlled bodies. Members of house churches represent diverse theological traditions and have been described as representing a "silent majority" of Chinese Christians.

In recent years, local authorities have increased efforts to stem the spread of Christianity amid official rhetoric on the threat of "Western" values and the need to "Sinicize" religions. They have resorted to forms of repression that were previously rare, such as targeting state-sanctioned churches and leaders, arresting human rights lawyers who take up Christians' cases, and obstructing Christmas celebrations. A renewed crackdown on quasi-Christian groups designated as "heterodox religions" has resulted in the imprisonment of over 400 religious leaders and lay believers.

In China, the persecution of Christians has been sporadic. However, it is important to note that the situation for Christians in China remains complex and evolving, with periods of greater freedom and tolerance interspersed with periods of heightened persecution and repression.

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Christians are persecuted in North Korea

Christians are persecuted in many countries around the world, including North Korea, which has been ranked as the most dangerous and deadly country for Christians. In North Korea, Christians are forced to practice their faith in secret and can face imprisonment, abuse, or even death if discovered. The North Korean government considers religious activities as political crimes, believing them to challenge the personality cult of Kim Il Sung and his family.

North Korean Christians who are discovered can face up to 15 years in a labor camp, where they are forced to work 12 hours a day and are frequently beaten with metal rods. Even if they survive, many will suffer from post-traumatic stress for the rest of their lives. Despite the danger, North Korean Christians continue to practice their faith and beg for more Bibles.

According to Open Doors, an organisation that works with persecuted Christians worldwide, North Korea persecutes Christians more than any other country. Open Doors estimates that 50,000-70,000 Christians are held in North Korean prison camps, and Christians make up about 80% of those affected by religious persecution in the country.

The Bible is reported to have been banned in North Korea, and there have been incidents where Christians have been arrested or executed for possessing or selling the book. However, some reports indicate that Christians in North Korea have their own translated Bible.

The persecution of Christians in North Korea has been condemned by various organisations, including Genocide Watch, the SDLP, and the British Government.

Frequently asked questions

Religious persecution is the systematic oppression of an individual or a group of individuals as a response to their religious beliefs or affiliations or their lack thereof.

Examples of religious persecution include the confiscation or destruction of property, incitement of hatred, arrests, imprisonment, beatings, torture, murder, and executions.

There are many reasons why people are persecuted for their faith. Primarily, people are persecuted because of their faith. However, economic and political situations further deepen this problem. In some countries, Christians are seen as a threat to the ruling government, and their persecution is a way to maintain control. Additionally, in many countries, cultural and religious intolerance fuel Christian persecution. In some countries, Christianity is seen as a foreign or Western religion, hence it faces hostility and violence.

According to the World Evangelical Alliance, over 200 million Christians are denied fundamental human rights solely because of their faith. However, it is not just Christians who are persecuted for their faith. Atheists, Baháʼís, Buddhists, Copts, Druze, Falun Gong, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Pagans, Sikhs, Yazidis, and Zoroastrians are also persecuted for their faith.

According to a 2019 report, government restrictions and social hostilities toward religion have risen in 187 countries.

Written by
  • Aisha
  • Aisha
    Author Editor Reviewer
Reviewed by
  • Seti
  • Seti
    Author Editor Reviewer
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