“For ethnic muslims like Uighurs it will be China where cultural assimilation is at all time high and you have to act and behave like Han-Chinese.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
“Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar have been listed as the most persecuted group by UN. For muslims in muslim countries it would be Syria, Afghanistan and Somalia. The later countries are highly unstable due to terrorism and unstable politics.<\/p>\n
“Of course if you are a muslim minority in some muslim countries you also are at risk. If you are Hazara in Afghanistan and pakistan for example.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Last year, 5,621 Christians were murdered, 2,110 churches were attacked, and 4,542 Christians were detained because of reasons related to their faith.<\/p>\n
For the past 31 years, the Open Doors World Watch List has tracked such persecution, offered a global indicator of countries where human and religious rights are being violated, and highlighted those countries most vulnerable to societal unrest and destabilization.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Greek word most commonly translated as \u2018persecution\u2019 in the Bible means \u2018pursuit,\u2019\u201d says interim CEO Lisa Pearce, \u201cOpen Doors doesn\u2019t report on where Christians are caught up in conflicts or disputes simply because they live in a particular area. Our data concerns those who are targeted, disadvantaged, rejected, or attacked simply and specifically because of their faith.\u201d<\/p>\n
The\u00a02023 World Watch List\u00a0reveals persecution is extremely high in many countries, but nowhere as severe as North Korea, which has moved back to the top of the list of the most dangerous countries to be a Christian.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s what you should know about the 10 countries with the highest levels of persecution and how you can pray for the believers in those nations. (All quotes are from the 2023 World Watch List.)<\/p>\n
1. North Korea<\/p>\n
Primary persecution type:\u00a0Communist and post-Communist oppression<\/p>\n
Estimated number of Christians:\u00a0400,000<\/p>\n
How Christians are suffering:\u00a0\u201cAcross the year, Open Doors contacts heard from reliable sources that several dozen North Korean believers from several underground churches had been discovered and executed. More than 100 members of their families were also said to have been rounded up and sent to labor camps.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer point:\u00a0\u201cPray that Christians who bravely gather in secret will be protected from the prying eyes of the authorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. Somalia<\/p>\n
Primary persecution type:\u00a0Islamic and clan oppression<\/p>\n
Estimated number of Christians:\u00a0Hundreds<\/p>\n
How Christians are suffering:\u00a0\u201cChristians from a Muslim background are most vulnerable to persecution. Converts from Islam to Christianity are regarded as a high-value target by al-Shabaab militia and many converts have been killed on the spot when discovered. Young female converts to Christianity are particularly vulnerable. They are oppressed and exploited both on grounds of their faith and their gender. Young Christian girls are forced into marriages, in which they face sexual harassment, physical violence and pressure to adhere to conservative Muslim practices in an attempt to \u2018rehabilitate\u2019 them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer point:\u00a0\u201cSomali believers face great isolation. Pray that they will know God\u2019s comfort and find ways to grow in their faith.\u201d<\/p>\n
3. Yemen<\/p>\n
Primary persecution type:\u00a0Islamic and clan oppression<\/p>\n
Estimated number of Christians:\u00a0A few thousand<\/p>\n
How Christians are suffering:\u00a0\u201cThe population is overwhelmingly Muslim and it is illegal to convert from Islam to Christianity. Yemen is strongly tribal and tribal law prohibits members of the tribe from leaving. Yemeni Christian converts are at great risk of being killed, not just ostracized or expelled, by their families, clans and tribes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer point:\u00a0\u201cPray that God would change the atmosphere of scrutiny and mistrust so that all Yemenis can live safely, and with openness and freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n
4. Eritrea<\/p>\n
Primary persecution type:\u00a0Christian denominational protectionism<\/p>\n
Estimated number of Christians:\u00a01,709,000<\/p>\n
How Christians are suffering:\u00a0\u201cFor 20 years, Eritrea has only recognized three official Christian denominations: Orthodox, Catholic and Lutheran, and closely monitors these churches. Over the years, government security forces have conducted hundreds of house-to-house raids to catch other Christians. There are thought to be 1,000 Christians indefinitely detained in Eritrean prisons, not officially charged with anything. Some leaders of \u2018unofficial\u2019 churches have been imprisoned in terrible conditions for more than a decade, including solitary confinement in tiny cells.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer point:\u00a0\u201cPray for supernatural strength, hope and joy for imprisoned believers and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n
5. Libya<\/p>\n
Primary persecution type:\u00a0Islamic and clan oppression<\/p>\n
Estimated number of Christians:\u00a035,400<\/p>\n
How Christians are suffering:\u00a0\u201cLibya is effectively a lawless land where both native Christians and those passing through from other countries face extreme violence. With no central government to maintain law and order, militant Islamic extremist groups and organized crime groups both wield power. They target and kidnap Christians, and some believers have been killed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer point:\u00a0\u201cPlease pray for nationwide stability, that law and order will come quickly to Libya.\u201d<\/p>\n
6. Nigeria<\/p>\n
Primary persecution type:\u00a0Islamic oppression<\/p>\n
Estimated number of Christians:\u00a0100,420,000<\/p>\n
How Christians are suffering:\u00a0\u201cThe violence is most pervasive in the north, where militant groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP and Fulani militants inflict murder, physical injury, abduction and sexual violence on their victims. Christians are dispossessed of their land and their means of livelihood. Many live as internally displaced people or refugees.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer point:\u00a0\u201cPray for an end to the violence inflicted by militant groups across Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n
7. Pakistan<\/p>\n
Primary persecution type:\u00a0Islamic oppression<\/p>\n
Estimated number of Christians:\u00a04,194,000<\/p>\n
How Christians are suffering:\u00a0\u201cPakistan\u2019s notorious blasphemy laws target religious minorities (including Muslim minorities), but affect the Christian minority in particular\u2014roughly a quarter of all blasphemy accusations target Christians, who only make up 1.8% of the population. The number of blasphemy cases is increasing, as is the number of Christian (and other minority religion) girls being abducted, abused and forcibly converted to Islam.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer point:\u00a0\u201cPlease pray that Pakistan\u2019s blasphemy laws will be changed so that Christians will be safe from false accusations.\u201d<\/p>\n
8. Iran<\/p>\n
Primary persecution type:\u00a0Islamic oppression<\/p>\n
Estimated number of Christians:\u00a01,245,000<\/p>\n
How Christians are suffering:\u00a0\u201cWhen people from Muslim backgrounds become Christians, they can only meet in secret house churches. They are at great risk of being monitored, harassed, arrested and prosecuted for \u2018crimes against national security\u2019\u2014an accusation that is notoriously poorly defined, and can be abused. Iranian house church leaders and members have received long prison sentences involving physical and mental abuse.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer point:\u00a0\u201cPray for strong faith and courage for the Iranian Christians meeting in secret.\u201d<\/p>\n
9. Afghanistan<\/p>\n
Primary persecution type:\u00a0Islamic theocracy imposed by the Taliban<\/p>\n
Estimated number of Christians:\u00a0Thousands<\/p>\n
How Christians are suffering:\u00a0\u201cThe Taliban\u2019s takeover of power in August 2021 has forced most Christians either further underground or away from the country entirely. Many (if not all) house groups closed, with believers forced to leave behind everything they own. More than a year after the Taliban\u2019s takeover, any promises they made about recognizing freedoms have proved to be false. Following Jesus remains a death sentence, if discovered.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer point:\u00a0\u201cPray for the protection of secret believers and that God\u2019s close presence will bring peace, joy and hope to their hearts.\u201d<\/p>\n
10. Sudan<\/p>\n
Primary persecution type:\u00a0Islamic and clan oppression<\/p>\n
Estimated number of Christians:\u00a02,000,000<\/p>\n
How Christians are suffering:\u00a0\u201cSocial attitudes towards Christians have not changed. This is especially the case in areas outside the capital, Khartoum. Christians are still vulnerable to extreme persecution from both their communities and their own families, particularly if they have converted from Islam. Converts may face sexual assault and domestic violence in their homes, as well as being vulnerable to imprisonment and violence. The government hasn\u2019t put real protections in place for Christians and other religious minorities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prayer point:\u00a0\u201cPray for church leaders engaging with their Muslim counterparts\u2014for constructive dialogue on how to bring true change at a community level.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u25aa\ufe0e Additional report by Joe Carter<\/strong> (www.gospelcoalition.com)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In specific terms, it is difficult to get information on persecuted people of other faith, but it is interesting to note that some of the countries where Muslims are sorely persecuted are also notorious for dealing terribly with Christians. Answering a question on quora.com on which is the most dangerous country in the world for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":56099,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5772,7],"tags":[3601,1642,4868],"class_list":["post-61842","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-faith","category-news","tag-christian","tag-countries","tag-persecution"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61842","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=61842"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/61842\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=61842"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=61842"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/everyday.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=61842"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}