More than 360 million Christians were “heavily persecuted and discriminated against” because of their faith in the world in 2022 and North Korea is the worst country for Christians, according to a report by the NGO Puertas Abiertas, published on Wednesday.
This Protestant NGO publishes every year a “worldwide index” of the persecution of Christianswhich includes all the attacks, ranging from “discreet daily oppression” to the “most extreme violence.”
Between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022, “more than 360 million” Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, Baptists, Evangelicals, Pentecostals, etc., from 76 countries were “heavily persecuted in the world, that is, one in seven Christians”said Patrick Victor, director of Open Doors France, at a press conference on Tuesday.
A number identical to that of the year 2022. But for thirty years, “the persecution has spread” with “76 countries with strong persecution against 40” identified in the first index of the NGO in 1993, highlighted Guillaume Guennec, responsible for the defense legal. In addition, “the persecution is intensifying in the affected countries,” he added.
In 2022, 5,621 Christians were killed, compared to 5,898 the year before. The NGO also counted “4,542 Christians arrested” (including 1,750 in India), against 4,277 the previous year, and “5,259 Christians kidnapped” (including 4,726 in Nigeria), against 3,829.
The total number of churches closed, attacked, destroyed amounts to 2,110. With all the persecution, North Korea went on to rank first in this annual ranking, surpassing Afghanistan. Somalia follows, then Yemen, Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Sudan.
In North Korea, a law passed in 2020 states that “being a Christian or having a Bible is a punishable felony.” details the NGO. “Many secret churches have been discovered, Christians arrested and sent to political prison camps or executed,” according to Victor.
Three trends have been observed in the last 30 years. “The African continent is marked by an increase in Islamic extremism,” with 26 countries experiencing heavy persecution against seven in 1993.
In addition, “Christians are often victims of religious or ideological nationalism”, adds the NGO, citing China, since 2017, or even India, with an “explosion of violence” against Christians and Muslims since 2014.
Finally, the organization laments the “Christian exodus” in the Middle East. “The exactions of the Islamic State group pushed Christians to flee Iraq and Syria.” (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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