The International Day of Remembrance for Victims of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, which is celebrated on August 22, usually takes stock of the current state of religious freedom in the world. While technology and progress dictate new horizons of freedom and tolerance, humanity is returning to the most senseless and ruthless practices of the Middle Ages. The persecution of Christians, which once seemed to be a dark page of history, today is once again taking on terrifying proportions, turning the lives of millions of people into an endless nightmare. From Africa to Asia, from the Middle East to Latin America, Christians are being targeted for repression, violence and even genocide.
At the same time, the world, which proudly declares the protection of human rights, actually turns a blind eye to the relentless wave of violence that threatens the very existence of Christian communities in many regions. The situation is so catastrophic that in the past few years alone, thousands of Christians have lost their lives, hundreds of thousands have been forced to leave their homes, and countless churches and shrines have been reduced to ashes. And while the world community continues to silently observe these tragedies, the question is becoming more and more obvious: will the fight for the survival of Christians become the last battle for religious freedom, or will humanity continue to allow history to repeat its worst mistakes? The answer to this question will determine not only the fate of millions of believers, but also the future of the moral foundations of our world.
Persecution of Christians in the world
The world community is horrified at the numbers, which grow every year and point to an inexorable reality: the persecution of Christians in the modern world has reached an unprecedented scale. According to a new report by the organization Open Doors, released in August 2023, the level of persecution of Christians has increased steadily over the past decade and has reached an unprecedented scale. In the last year alone, almost 5,000 people died because of their faith, informs opendoors.org. However, in 2024, this growth accelerated to double the rate compared to the previous year. The number of closed or destroyed temples, which reached 14,766, is especially impressive, seven times more than last year.
Violence against Christians is recorded in all 50 countries included in the Global Persecution Index, with an average increase of 7.7%. The total number of countries where Christians experience severe or very severe persecution rose to 78, while the number of countries with extreme levels of persecution reached 13.
Of particular concern is the sharp increase in the number of physical attacks against Christians — about 43,000 people have been victims of such attacks, an increase of 13,000 compared to last year. In addition, more than 295,000 Christians were forced to flee their homes, more than double the 2022 figure.
As a result, more than 365 million Christians, which is one in seven believers in the world, face severe persecution and discrimination in 78 countries. The worst situation occurred in Nigeria, where 4,118 Christians were killed.
Kurt Igler, executive director of Open Doors Austria, emphasized that religious freedom is a fundamental component of a healthy society. Violation of this freedom means a threat to other basic rights and freedoms, therefore the organization calls on the international community and political leaders to take decisive measures to protect Christians and other religious minorities, not allowing compromises in matters of religious freedom.
North Korea is once again recognized as the cruelest persecutor of Christians in the world
North Korea has reclaimed the dubious title of the world’s biggest persecutor of Christians, according to the latest World Watch List report by Open Doors US, which tracks cases of religious persecution. informs Christian Post portal.
Open Doors US is particularly concerned about North Korea’s 2020 “anti-reactionary opinion law,” which was a key factor in the country’s return to the top spot on the list. According to Open Doors US interim executive director Lisa Pierce, the law legitimizes the persecution of anyone who possesses Western-influenced literature or other materials, including the Bible. Pearce emphasized that this law made the already extremely difficult situation of Christians in North Korea even more difficult.
In its statement, Open Doors US quoted Timothy Cho, a defector from North Korea, who detailed the hostility Christians face in that country. Cho noted that Christians have always been a major target for the regime, which has ruled the country under the iron fist of the Kim dynasty for decades. According to him, “there can be only one god in North Korea, and it is the Kim family,” which explains the regime’s desire to destroy all Christians in the country.
Major persecution trends in 2024
Global Christian Relief presented “Persecution Trends to Consider in 2024” – a new report, which highlights the key challenges facing Christians in different parts of the world:
Suppression through technology
Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the Chinese government is actively reducing the influence of Christianity in the country by isolating and dividing churches. According to the Pew Center, Christians make up only 2-3% of China’s population. However, these figures may be inaccurate due to government pressure and repression. The Chinese government considers religion, including Christianity, a threat to national security. Bible apps and thousands of Christian websites were blocked, and religious hymns were completely removed from the Internet. Using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and facial recognition, the government has tightened its grip on the country’s 135 million Christians, reaching an unprecedented level of surveillance.
Violent nationalist ideologies
In India, the nationalist government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to isolate the Indian Christian community from the world church. Since Hindu extremists came to power in 2014, India’s Christian community of 70 million has seen growing hatred, the undermining of educational and media institutions, and an increase in violence. The situation has become particularly acute in the state of Manipur in northeastern India, where thousands of Christians from the Kuki tribe have been forced to flee their homes due to conflicts with Hindu extremists, leading to ethnic segregation.
The rise of Islamic extremism
Violence continues to rise in Africa’s Sahel region as Islamist groups rise amid growing state instability. Islamic extremism in the region is steadily increasing. In the 1990s, several states in northern Nigeria began living under Sharia law, which ignores the country’s constitution. Since 2002, radical groups such as Boko Haram have appeared. Since the fall of Libya in 2011, the flow of weapons and militants from the Middle East has destabilized other African states, leading to the spread of an Islamic insurgency that is driving Christians out of countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
Consequences of the persecution of Christians
The growing persecution of Christians has catastrophic consequences both for the believers themselves and for the societies in which they live. The systematic suppression of religious minorities leads to the destruction of the social fabric, the exacerbation of inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts, and also contributes to the growth of radicalization. Governments that tolerate or actively facilitate persecution undermine credibility both domestically and internationally. Mass violence is forcing thousands of people to flee their homes, creating new waves of refugees and further exacerbating humanitarian crises.
Persecution of Christians often leads to the destruction of entire religious communities. In many countries, such as Nigeria, Pakistan, North Korea, and parts of India, Christian communities face violence, forced evictions, and the systematic destruction of churches. This leads to a reduction in the number of believers and the destruction of the social fabric that supports the community.
Constant pressure and the threat of violence force Christians to leave their homes and seek refuge in other countries. Hundreds of thousands of Christians are reported to become refugees each year fleeing persecution. This creates humanitarian crises in refugee-hosting countries and exacerbates the problem of instability in the regions from which these people are fleeing.
In addition, the persecution of Christians is often accompanied by serious human rights violations, including torture, illegal arrests, rape, and even murder. In many cases, such actions go unpunished due to the imperfection of the legal system or the direct support of persecution by governments. Religious freedom is one of the basic human rights, and the persecution of Christians is an indicator of a wider violation of rights and freedoms. In countries where Christians are persecuted, other human rights are commonly violated, including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and the right to a fair trial.
Systematic persecution of religious minorities, including Christians, leads to aggravation of inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflicts, which destabilizes states and regions. This can contribute to the growth of radicalization, which in turn fuels further violence and instability.
The persecution of Christians and the destruction of their communities also has economic consequences. The displacement of productive communities that participated in the local economy undermines the economic development of the regions. In addition, the destruction of infrastructure, including churches and schools, further worsens the economic situation.
The constant fear of persecution, violence and death imposes a heavy psychological burden on Christian communities. Many believers face traumatic consequences that affect their mental health, ability to recover from conflict, and maintain social connections.
Also, the persecution of Christians in different countries leads to international tensions and conflicts. Governments that support or tolerate persecution are often subject to sanctions or international pressure from Western states and international organizations seeking to protect human rights.
What the world media say about the persecution of Christians
According to the data BBC, in Nigeria, more than 4,000 Christians were killed in 2023 alone. In addition, hundreds of churches were destroyed or closed, intensifying the religious conflict in the region. This significantly undermines stability in the country and contributes to the further radicalization of Islamic extremists.
The Guardian writes, that the persecution of Christians in countries such as Syria and Iraq has led to a massive wave of refugees. Thousands of Christians were forced to leave their homes, which created an additional burden on neighboring countries and international humanitarian organizations.
As reported Al Jazeera, in Pakistan, the persecution of Christians not only violates their rights, but also undermines the economic stability of the regions where they live. Loss of jobs, destruction of businesses and forced migration lead to economic decline and lower living standards.
According to the data The New York Times, China has seen increasing government pressure on Christian communities, including forced church closures, arrests of community leaders, and restrictions on religious activities. This violation of religious freedom causes international concern and criticism from human rights organizations.
As noted CNN, in Middle Eastern countries such as Iran and Egypt, Christians face constant psychological pressure due to the fear of arrest, violence and discrimination. This leads to the destruction of cultural heritage and the loss of identity of Christian communities in these countries.
Therefore, the persecution of Christians in the world is a complex and multidimensional phenomenon that has devastating consequences not only for the believers themselves, but also for global stability and security. Combating persecution and protecting religious freedom should become priorities for the international community, because sustainable development and peaceful coexistence of peoples and cultures is possible only in conditions of respect for human rights.
Olena Klymenko
