In various parts of the world, worshipers face existential threats from governments and other entities.
Christians have been persecuted by antagonistic groups since the time of the apostles, and in various parts of the world they continue to face existential threats from governments and other entities.
December 26, the feast of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr who died around 34 AD, Pope Francis said in his Angelus that “2,000 years later, unfortunately, we see that the persecution continues.”
“There are still those, and there are many, who suffer and die to bear witness to Jesus, just as there are those who are penalized at different levels for acting in a manner consistent with the Gospel, and those who strive every day to be faithful, without hesitation, to their good duties, while the world mocks and preaches the opposite,” said the Pontiff.
Religious freedom is in decline globally, according to several reports. A report from monitoring group Open Doors found that the persecution of Christians is at its highest level in three decades. Some of the worst places for Christians were found to be North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Sudan and India.
A month of June Aid to the Church in Need report found that more than half of the world’s population lives in a country subject to severe religious persecution, from the government or other entities. The worst offenders included some of the same countries: Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and North Korea, among others.
In 23 of the 28 countries listed in the “red” category, which is the worst categorization for religious persecution, the situation has worsened compared to the previous report.
Below are four examples of countries where Christians faced violent persecution in 2023:
Nigeria
Ethnic and religious conflicts in Nigeria have made the country one of the most dangerous regions in the world for Christians. Over Christmas weekend, nearly 200 Christians were killed in a terrorist attack in the Nigerian Plateau State.
“We have no less than 17 communities that have been completely affected and destroyed by these bandits and criminals,” Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang said in a statement following the attacks.
“It was a very terrifying Christmas for us on the Plateau,” Mutfwang added. “This particular series of attacks was well coordinated with heavy weapons. »
Three months ago, in September, terrorists kidnapped a Protestant pastor and more than 80 other Christians in attacks on two separate churches. One of the churches is located in northwest Nigeria and the other in north-central Nigeria.
More than 5,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria throughout 2021 and the first three months of 2022, but the full number of people killed in 2023 is not yet available.
Libya
Preaching Christianity, and particularly encouraging Muslims to convert to Christianity, can still land Christians in prison in Libya and many other Muslim-majority countries. In April, six Libyans, two Americans and a Pakistani were arrested in Libya to preach Christianity.
“Attacking our true religion is no different from acts of extremism and terrorism, and through surveillance and investigations, the agency has monitored the rise in activities hostile to true Islam, targeting our youth of both sexes, including many have left the country,” a statement said. of the Homeland Security Agency, read.
Mozambique
Reports from Mozambique revealed that Islamic State fighters to have enslaved Christian women as sex slaves and forcing them to convert to Islam. Terrorists also kill those who refuse to convert to Islam.
Nicaragua
The dictatorship of President Daniel Ortega has systematically persecuted the Catholic Church by closing Catholic schools and Catholic media. The regime has also arrested members of the clergy.
In December, just after Christmas, the government arrested four Catholic priests. In total, the dictatorship arrested more than a dozen priests, including Mgr Rolando José Álvarez, who is still imprisoned.
