In a report published this week, Aid to the Church in Need said Christians are living under increased threat of violence, discrimination and other human rights abuses.
The report analyzed data across 18 countries of particular concern between the summers of 2022 and 2024. Key findings include a shift in the epicenter of militant Islamist violence from the Middle East to Africa, with Christians being “terrorized” by “extreme violence” for their faith in places like Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Mozambique.
Authoritarian regimes like China, Eritrea, India and Iran have become more repressive, resulting in the increased targeting of Christians as enemies of the state or their local community.
Christian children, especially girls, are living at increased risk of abduction, sexual violence, forced marriage and forced conversion.
In some places, Christians are being caught up in the weaponization of legislation to criminalize acts deemed disrespectful to the state religion.
Christians are being imprisoned in a number of countries for their faith, including Eritrea, Iran, China, India and Myanmar.
In Myanmar, the military has been accused of destroying over 200 places of worship, including 85 churches.