Increase in Persecution and Discrimination Against Christians Reported by Open Doors

ermelo - Open Doors organization has reported a rise in persecution and discrimination against Christians, with an increase of 15 million individuals facing such challenges compared to the previous year.

According to the annual report of the organization, the number of Christians facing persecution and discrimination has reached 380 million, up by 15 million from a year earlier. The number of Christians killed due to their faith has decreased to 4476 from almost 5000, stated the Netherlands-founded organization dedicated to persecuted Christians. At the same time, reported cases of abuse, both mental and physical, have increased by nearly 28 percent to 54,780. Open Doors mentions that these figures are considered to be conservative.

The organization highlights the impact of authoritarian regimes in Central Asia, specifically in Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, where a clear rise in violence has been observed. Sub-Saharan African countries have been experiencing significant violence against Christians for years. Nigeria remains one of the most dangerous places for Christians according to Open Doors.

Open Doors further points out that Christians in countries with ongoing civil wars are particularly vulnerable to violence due to the lawlessness in those nations. It is also reported that the church is either disappearing or going underground in countries where it faces pressure, such as Afghanistan, Algeria, China, Libya, and Syria.

Each year, Open Doors compiles a list of the top 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution and discrimination. North Korea tops the list for the 23rd time. The top ten also includes Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. Syria has dropped from the twelfth to the eighteenth spot due to a decrease in violence against Christians. Open Doors points out that the consequences of the recent power shift in the country have not been reflected in the annual report.