Open Doors: ‘Global persecution of Christians at an unprecedented level’

Christian persecution has grown dramatically over the past 30 years, a new report has revealed.

The annual World Watch List produced by Open Doors states that Christians now face “very high to extreme” levels of persecution in 76 countries, almost double that reported in 1993.

Across the world, more than 360 million Christians now experience high levels of persecution, the largest such figure to date.

‘1 in 7’

Open Doors attributed the worrying trend to rising violence in sub-Saharan Africa, an increase in authoritarian governments, and growing digital persecution through surveillance, censorship and disinformation.

It said: “Worldwide, 1 in 7 Christians now experience at least ‘high’ levels of persecution or discrimination; with 1 in 5 in Africa, 2 in 5 in Asia, and 1 in 15 in Latin America.”

During the reporting period, 5,621 Christians were killed for their faith, the majority – 5,014 or 89 per cent – in Nigeria.

‘Uniquely unfree’

North Korea topped the World Watch List for the nineteenth time in the last 20 years and remains “the most dangerous country in the world in which to be a Christian”.

Open Doors said conditions for Christians in North Korea were “worsening” and that the country was “utterly devoid” of religious freedom leaving believers “uniquely unfree”.

“If someone is caught with a Bible, in prayer, reading Christian literature or singing hymns, they can expect to be arrested, sent to ‘labour’ camps, tortured and even executed.”

Last year, North Korea scored the highest number of points ever recorded in the history of the World Watch List.

Conversion

In her introduction to the report, Open Doors CEO Henrietta Blyth observed: “Life is becoming more difficult for Christians in many countries.

“This is particularly true for those who convert from other religions and then face at best antagonism and at worst violence and even execution at the hands of governments, family members and neighbours.”

The report contained a special tribute to the “courageous and contagious faith” of Open Doors founder Andrew Van de Bijl – affectionately known as ‘Brother Andrew’ – who died last year.