Every day in 2023 thirty Christians were murdered for their faith, totaling approximately 4,998 victims over the course of the year. This figure is slightly lower than those of 2022 and 2021, but the number of attacks on churches or properties of followers of this creed reached 14,766, the highest number in history. According to the World Watch List 2024 report from the Open Doors organization, more than 365 million people are currently suffering persecution in the world because of their faith. The document also shows the 50 countries where persecution is most intense, which is led by North Korea.
The release of the latest #WorldWatchList brings a familiar story – persecution is getting worse.
What are the key trends contributing to this? And what’s the good news?
Find out more: https://t.co/mBaY2hhsfA pic.twitter.com/AjSqo1KZkZ
— Open Doors UK (@OpenDoorsUK) January 17, 2024
The persecution, increasingly violent
To this we must add that 4,125 Christians who were arrested for religious reasons in their countries and millions of people (doubling the figures for 2022) who were forced to leave their homes because they did not want to renounce their faith. In addition to increasing, persecution against Christians is becoming increasingly violent, according to the report. The countries where religious harassment is most intense are found in Asia and Africa, especially sub-Saharan Africa.
North Korea leads the list, followed (according to the order of the document) by Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Yemen, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Iran and Afghanistan. India falls out of the Top 10, although the number of violent mob attacks on Christian properties increased and is still considered one of 13 countries where religious persecution is "extreme." The two countries that complete the red zone for Christians are Syria and Saudi Arabia. China, which closed 10,000 churches over the past year, ranks 19th. In America, Cuba is the place where the greatest religious persecution is recorded, occupying 22nd place. On this continent, Nicaragua (30), Colombia (34) and Mexico (37) are also among the 50 worst countries for followers of Jesus.
Most of the murders of Christians over the past year occurred in sub-Saharan Africa. The dubious honor of topping this list belongs to Nigeria, where 9 out of 10 religiously motivated homicides were recorded. Open Door notes that the situation for followers of Jesus in this area is increasingly dangerous as a result of "political instability, war and extremism." In this climate, "jihadist groups like Al Qaeda and Boko Haram have thrived. Weak governments fail to stop them. And the militants attack Christian communities and churches with impunity," according to the report.
