The persecution of Christians worldwide has gotten worse, with militant Islam extremists, oppressive regimes and criminal gangs ramping up attacks during 2022–2024, according to a papal charity that supports persecuted Christians. Source: National Catholic Register.
An Aid to the Church in Need report released yesterday details the extent of violence and oppression faced by Christian communities in 18 countries of “key concern”.
The report, which covers August 2022 to June 2024, states that human rights violations against Christians have increased since the 2020–2022 report in more than 60 per cent of the countries surveyed.
The new report found that the six African nations examined saw an increase in Islamist violence, leading ACN to conclude that the epicentre of militant Islamist violence has “shifted from the Middle East to Africa.”
In parts of the African nations of Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mozambique, and elsewhere, Christians have continued to be terrorised by extremist violence, ACN said.
Turning to other parts of the world, ACN said it has observed an “intensified targeting” of Christians as enemies of the state or of the local community by authoritarian regimes.
These include the governments of China, Eritrea, India, and Iran, all of which have “ramped up repressive measures.”
India saw 720 attacks or other incidents of persecution against Christians reported in 2023, up from 599 the previous year.
Further, ACN said, state and nonstate 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.
“Blasphemy laws,” which exist in dozens of countries worldwide, have been particularly devastating in Pakistan, while in Saudi Arabia converting from Islam to Christianity is strictly prohibited and converts can face the prospect of “honour killings.”
Finally, the group highlighted increased threats to Christian children, especially girls, who suffered abduction, sexual violence, forced marriage, and forced conversion.
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Persecution of Christians Worldwide Has Gotten Worse, Papal Charity Report Says (National Catholic Register)
