More than Half of the World's Christians now Face Persecution

According to the recently released 2023 Religious Freedom in the World report by Aid to the Church in Need, more than half of the global population lives in a country where state or non-state actors actively persecute individuals based on their religious beliefs. The report, published during Religious Freedom Week, highlights the urgent need to pray for greater religious liberty worldwide.

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Half of the world's Christians now face persecution where they live.

Highlights

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
6/23/2023 (10 months ago)

Published in Living Faith

Keywords: Christian, persecution, religious, world, report, 2023

The report categorizes 28 countries as "red," indicating severe religious persecution. These countries are home to over 4 billion people, comprising approximately 51.6% of the global population. Notably, China and India, the two most populous countries, are among the worst religious persecutors. The majority of red-listed countries are located in Africa and Asia, including Nigeria, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, and North Korea.

One notable case is Nicaragua, which transitioned from the less severe "orange" category in the 2021 report to the "red" category in 2023. The report attributes this shift to President Daniel Ortega's persecution of Catholic clergy and religious orders as a means of consolidating power and silencing dissent. Even though Catholicism represents the majority religion in Nicaragua, the state's actions have targeted Catholic leaders critical of the government, resulting in arrests, deportation, and the closure of Catholic institutions.

The report highlights a concerning trend of worsening conditions for religious freedom globally. The number of countries in the "red" category has increased from 26 to 28 since the previous report, with Nicaragua and Sudan joining the list. In 23 of the red-listed countries, religious persecution has intensified compared to the previous report, while the remaining five countries have seen no improvements.

The primary causes of religious persecution vary across regions. In Africa and southwest Asia, authoritarian governments and Islamist extremism are major contributors. In some cases, both factors intersect. In east Asia, persecution primarily stems from authoritarian regimes. Countries like India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka experience religious persecution due to a combination of authoritarian governance and ethno-religious nationalism.

The report also highlights the increased persecution of Muslims in China, India, and Myanmar, as well as instances of persecution against Muslims by fellow Muslims. It notes the persistence of forced conversions and sexual violence in West Africa and Pakistan, often with inadequate punishment and a muted response from the international community.

The report's editor, Marcela Szymanski, emphasizes that autocrats, whether elected or not, often persecute people of faith when they become threatened by religious leaders' influence. This persecution can range from marginalization and co-optation attempts to more aggressive forms of repression. Szymanski warns against "polite persecution," where political leaders enact discriminatory policies that render members of a religious faith second-class citizens, sometimes to improve their global image.

Even countries not categorized as "red" or "orange" exhibit challenges to religious freedom. The report lists several countries under observation, including Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus, where emerging factors could pose threats to religious freedom. It also raises concerns about declining religious freedom in the West, such as hate speech laws, compelled speech, censorship, cancel culture, and restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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The report serves as a call to action, urging individuals and communities to advocate for greater religious liberty and pray for the protection of religious minorities worldwide.