Here in America we haven't had to worry about physical persecution for those of us who follow Christ. But for 365 million followers around the world, their reality is much different.
More than 365 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith, according to the Open Doors World Watch List 2024.
The top ten countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution are North Korea, Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Yemen, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Iran, and Afghanistan.
Except for North Korea, where the persecution is caused by "dictatorial paranoia" and "communist and post-communist oppression," the main religion of all other countries and groups on the list is Islam. According to Open Doors:
"Being discovered to be a Christian in North Korea is effectively a death sentence. Either believers will be deported to labour camps as political criminals, where they face a life of hard labor which few survive, or they are killed on the spot. The same fate awaits family members. There are believed to be tens of thousands of Christians held in labor camps across the country.
"It's impossible for Christians to live freely in North Korea. Meeting for worship is almost impossible and must be done in utmost secrecy, and at grave risk. In May 2023, five members of a family were arrested as they gathered for prayer and Bible study. Christian literature was also confiscated."
Somalia, where Christians face extreme persecution, has been going through a civil war since 1991. As Freedom House reports:
"Somalia has struggled to reestablish a functioning state since the collapse of an authoritarian regime in 1991. Limited, indirect elections brought a federal government to power in 2012... The government's territorial control is also contested by a separatist government in Somaliland and by the Shabaab, an Islamist militant group. No direct national elections have been held to date, and political affairs remain dominated by clan divisions. Amid ongoing insecurity, human rights abuses by both state and nonstate actors occur regularly."
According to Open Doors, Christians in the country are affected the worst:
"The dangers of being a Christian in Somalia are extreme. Most, if not all, are converts from Muslim backgrounds, making them a high-value target for al-Shabab, a militant group that has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the country. If discovered, believers could be killed on the spot...
"No area is safe for Christians in Somalia. However, the most dangerous places are the areas under the control of al-Shabab, particularly in the south and southwest."
Libya ranks third:
"Converts from Islam face the most intense and violent pressure from their family and community. They risk house arrest, attack, abduction, sexual violence and murder. It is incredibly dangerous for converts to meet together to worship, and church life is almost non-existent.
"Even Christians who aren't Libyan or converts are at risk. Christians from other parts of Africa are targeted by extremist groups. Christians have been kidnapped and, in a few high-profile incidents, brutally murdered. Christians from Sub-Saharan Africa, many of whom come to Libya as displaced people trying to get to Europe, face additional risk. Because of their lack of official status, they can be kidnapped and trafficked, and extremist groups target these believers as well."
In Eritrea, known as the "North Korea of Africa" due to its intense authoritarian government, "all Christians face intense scrutiny from the government, risking arrest and indefinite detention". According to Freedom House:
"Eritrea is a militarized authoritarian state that has not held a national election since independence from Ethiopia in 1993. The People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), headed by President Isaias Afwerki, is the sole political party. Arbitrary detention is commonplace, and citizens are required to perform national service, often for their entire working lives. The government shut down all independent media in 2001."
Yemen, which ranks fifth in the list, "has no functioning central government with full control over its territory," notes the Freedom House.
"Yemen... has been devastated by a civil war involving regional powers since 2015. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and their allies intervened that year to support the government of President Abd Rabbu Mansur Hadi against Ansar Allah (Supporters of God), also known as the Houthis—an armed rebel movement that is rooted in the Zaidi Shiite community, which forms a large minority concentrated in northwestern Yemen."
Christians across Yemen continue to face extreme persecution:
"Most believers are Yemeni and come from Muslim backgrounds. As conversion from Islam is forbidden by Islamic and state law, Christians must keep their faith secret, or risk severe repercussions from their families, the authorities or radical Islamic groups. This can include divorce, loss of custody of children, arrest, interrogation and even death.
"The humanitarian crisis caused by Yemen's 10-year civil war has also exacerbated the pressure on believers. While some relief aid is available, this is mostly distributed through local Muslim groups and mosques, which are alleged to be discriminating against anyone not considered a devout Muslim.
"Christians across Yemen face dangers for their faith. Even in comparatively liberal areas, such as large cities, displaying a Christian symbol can have serious consequences.
"Pressure is particularly strong on converts living in the northern areas controlled by Houthis (an armed rebel movement). These areas are more heavily policed and, given the poverty that people live in, spying is commonly used to court favor with the local authorities, who are relied upon for aid. The Houthi's internal security forces even operate an intelligence unit that roots out apostates.
"Christians in southern rural areas are also particularly at risk due to the aggressive expansion of al-Qaeda in the region."
Home to some of the world's largest Muslim and Christian populations, Nigeria has a Christian population of over 100 million, who are subject to extreme persecution and genocide in the country. According to Open Doors:
"Christians in Nigeria, particularly in the Muslim-majority north, continue to live under immense pressure and to be terrorized with devastating impunity by Islamic militants and armed 'bandits.' More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year, than everywhere else in the world combined. The attacks are often brutal in nature and can involve destruction of properties, abductions for ransom, sexual violence and death. Believers are stripped of their livelihoods and driven from their homes, leaving a trail of trauma and grief.
"Violence by Islamic extremist groups such as Fulani militants, Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State in West African Province) increased during the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari, putting Nigeria at the epicenter of targeted violence against the church. The government's failure to protect Christians and punish perpetrators has only strengthened the militants' influence...
"The persecution of believers is most common in the northern Shariah states, where the small pockets of Christian communities in rural areas are particularly vulnerable to violent attacks. However, attacks are increasingly spreading southward, to where the majority of Nigeria's Christians live."
Here; More Than 365 million Christians Face Genocide :: Gatestone Institute
Many of these Christians may wonder if the church is already suffering through the Great Tribulation. The answer to that would be a hard 'no'. Christians are suffering around the world because of Satan and his demons, but they will NEVER suffer the wrath of God that is poured out during the Great Tribulation. Jesus took all the wrath so that we don't have to. Preaching/teaching anything else mitigates the work Jesus did on the cross.
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let's all remember to pray for the persecuted church as I'm guilty of not remembering them more often.
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