Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2022-24 - Faith & Freedom News

Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2022-24 summarises the findings of ACN’s continued research, assessing recent patterns of violence and persecution.

Even before the period under review in this report, evidence was already showing that persecution and oppression were getting worse.

The plight of persecuted Christians worldwide has reached alarming levels, prompting a renewed focus on the realities faced by these communities. The report titled “Persecuted and Forgotten? Report 2024”, published by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), offers a comprehensive overview of the state of religious freedom for Christians from August 2022 to June 2024. This report is not merely a documentation of suffering but a clarion call for justice and awareness surrounding the injustices faced by countless individuals due to their faith.

The Context of Persecution

Violence and discrimination against Christians have intensified across various regions, primarily driven by militant Islamism and authoritarian regimes. ACN’s report highlights 18 countries where violations of religious freedom against Christians are particularly pronounced. Disturbing incidents like the lynching of Christian grandfather Naz Gil Massi in Pakistan underline the grave dangers believers face globally. After being falsely accused of blasphemy, Massi’s death followed a mob attack on his community, leading to a broader exodus of Christians from the area.

Shifting Epicenters of Violence

One of the key findings of the report is the shift of violent attacks against Christians from the Middle East toward Africa. The rise of transnational Jihadi groups has made Africa the only continent where persecution has escalated in all reviewed countries. The report cites Burkina Faso and Mozambique, where ongoing Islamist insurgencies have led directly to the displacement of Christian communities, particularly targeting them as enemies by militant groups.

Nigeria: Ranked eighth in the 2024 Global Terrorism Index, Nigeria has seen a surge in violence, with extremist groups committing horrific acts against Christians, including massacres and kidnappings.
China and Nicaragua: Authoritarian governments are tightening their grip, with China’s detainment of Bishop Peter Xiao Xumin and Nicaragua’s mass expulsion of Catholic clergy showcasing a broader trend of oppression.

Dangerous Legislative Landscapes

The report raises serious concerns about legislation used to marginalize Christians and other religious minorities. In India, for instance, 855 individuals have been detained under anti-conversion laws in less than three years, reflecting a troubling lineage of hostility towards minority religions.

Vulnerability of Christian Communities

Moreover, Christian children, particularly girls, are at heightened risk in several nations. Abductions, forced marriages, and sexual violence are rampant, with countries like Egypt and Pakistan drawing attention from UN experts for their alarming statistics regarding minors from minority religious groups.

Education Discrimination: The report identifies discrimination within educational systems, where students are banned from celebrating Christian holidays and subjected to hate speeches within school curriculums. Countries like Turkey and India have been cited for their regressive approaches, reflecting a broader culture of intolerance.

The Role of the Report

An integral aspect of the Persecuted and Forgotten report is its dual purpose: not only does it document the hardships faced by Christians, but it also serves as an appeal for justice. By bringing these issues to the forefront, ACN hopes to galvanize global attention and action towards those oppressed for their faith.

Conclusions and Calls to Action

In the face of such adversity, the future might seem bleak for many Christians around the world. Yet, reports like Persecuted and Forgotten shine a necessary light on these issues, advocating for a global response to injustice.

It is vital for both individuals and organizations to work together and ensure that the plight of persecuted Christians does not go unnoticed. Supporting initiatives aimed at promoting religious freedom, advocating for persecuted communities, and raising awareness among broader audiences are essential steps toward improving their plight.

Let us unite in recognizing and addressing the injustices that Christian communities face. Every voice counts, and every action—no matter how small—can have a significant impact in ensuring that the world’s persecuted Christians are not forgotten.

Persecution around the World
In Nigeria there has been a rise in violent attacks on Christians: the Nigerian government failed to intervene effectively.In Burkina Faso and Mozambique, ongoing Islamist insurgencies, specifically targeting Christian communities, have led to thousands of civilians being killed and millions displaced.In Iran, Christian converts are among the most targeted groups in the country. They are perceived as colluding with the West, accused of undermining Iran’s Islamic regime.

Persecution around the World

In Nigeria there has been a rise in violent attacks on Christians: the Nigerian government failed to intervene effectively.In Burkina Faso and Mozambique, ongoing Islamist insurgencies, specifically targeting Christian communities, have led to thousands of civilians being killed and millions displaced.In Iran, Christian converts are among the most targeted groups in the country. They are perceived as colluding with the West, accused of undermining Iran’s Islamic regime.

Around the world Christians are finding themselves subject to increased risk of harassment, arrest and violence – churches are burnt, Christian women are abducted and raped, and the faithful are killed for their beliefs.

This edition of Persecuted and Forgotten? examines the challenges facing Christians in 18 countries where the faithful are suffering because of state authoritarianism or attacks from extremists. It covers the period between August 2022 and June 2024.

Persecuted and Forgotten? 2022-24 found that in more than 60 percent of countries surveyed, human rights violations against Christians had increased since the last report. The increase in religiously-motivated harassment against Christians is higher than it has even been, reflecting the findings of other organisations, such the Pew Research Center, which found Christians suffering harassment – which covers everything from verbal abuse to from to murder – in 160 countries.

Children with roses in the destroyed district of Al-Jdaydeh, Aleppo.

For organisations such as Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the need for action to help the persecuted Christians across the world is not just about fundamental human rights, but also one of standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Order the Report

Country Profiles

Nicaragua

Persecution around the World

Key findings were…

- The epicentre of militant Islamist violence shifted from the Middle East to Africa. In parts of Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mozambique and elsewhere, Christians were terrorised by extreme violence.
- There was intensified targeting of Christians as enemies of the state and/or of the local community, as authoritarian regimes, including those in China, Eritrea, India and Iran, ramped up repressive measures.
- State and non-state actors increasingly weaponised existing and new legislation, criminalising acts deemed disrespectful to the state religion as a means of oppressing Christians and other minority religious groups.
- There were increased threats to Christian children especially girls, who suffered abduction, sexual violence, forced marriage and forced conversion.

The 2022-2024 report also includes the following important findings…

In Syria, the Christian community was more than 1.5 million before the civil war started in 2011, today Christians could be as few as 250,000.
In Burkina Faso, more than two million people – about 10 percent of the country’s population – have been displaced because of the ongoing Islamist insurgency.
The Burmese military stands accused of having destroyed more than 200 places of worship, including 85 churches.
In China, it is estimated that people imprisoned by the Chinese Communist Party ranges from the low thousands to over 10,000.
In Eritrea, as of June 2024, around 400 Christians are imprisoned – without trial – just because of their faith.
In India, 720 attacks or other incidents of persecution against Christians were reported in 2023, up from 599 the year previous.
In Iran, cases of Christians detained in Iran rose from 59 in 2021 to 166 in 2023.
In Iraq, the Christian population declined sharply during the brutal regime of Daesh, currently consists of fewer than 200,000 people out of a population of more than 41,000,000; roughly 0.46 percent.
Nigeria is ranked eighth in the 2024 Global Terrorism Index. Militant Fulani insurgents in the Middle Belt regularly committed massacres and other violent atrocities, with a disproportionate number of attacks against Christians.
In North Korea, anyone identified as a Christian or even showing interest in Christianity or the Bible will almost certainly be considered an enemy of the state.
In Pakistan, research found that 2,120 individuals had been accused of blasphemy between 1987 and 2022.