215 million Christians faced the most severe persecution in 2017, resulting in 3,066 deaths and 1,020 rapes mainly targeting women
While North Korea tops the list of the world’s worst persecuting countries, in second place and occupying every place down to number 14 are majority-Muslim countries, with the single exception of Eritrea.
In order after North Korea: 2. Somalia 3. Afghanistan 4. Pakistan 5. Sudan 6. Syria 7. Iraq 8. Iran 9. Yemen 10. Eritrea 11. Libya 12. Nigeria 13. Maldives 14. Saudi Arabia.
The world has grown accustomed to this intolerable abuse against Christians, and whenever the ubiquitous and systemic Islamic abuses of Christians are pointed out, apologists are quick to divert attention away by pointing out other abuses elsewhere.
“Study: Over 200 Million Christians Worldwide Facing Severe Persecution”, by Edwin Mora, Breitbart, January 11, 2018:
WASHINGTON, DC — North Korea stands at the top of a list of 50 countries where at least 215 million Christians faced the most severe persecution in 2017, resulting in 3,066 deaths and 1,020 rapes mainly targeting women, revealed Open Doors, an organization that monitors ill-treated Christians worldwide.
At the National Press Club on Wednesday, David Curry, the president and CEO of Open Doors, unveiled the 2018 World Wide List (WWL) of the top 50 “most dangerous” countries to worship Jesus. Referring to North Korea, he declared:
Imagine in your mind a leader that thinks he’s god but acts like an animal — devouring his own people with his teeth where people are forced to worship at the statute of Kim Jung Un and bow down and lay flowers at his feet as if he was a god.
Yet, [Kim] sets up controls mechanisms, neighborhood watches that surround communities rewarding citizens for spying on each other giving them more food if they find somebody who has a Bible and who purports to a be a Christian and that makes Christians the number one enemy of the state in North Korea and that’s why it is the number one on the world’s watchlist.
Open Doors pointed out that thousands of Christians are facing death worldwide for practicing their faith, particularly in North Korea.
According to the monitor group’s 2018 World Watch List (WWL), “215 million Christians experience high levels of persecution in the [50] countries on the World Watch List,” with the majority of them in North Korea, considered “the worst place for Christians” for 16 consecutive years since 2002.
Open Doors reported:
The primary driver of persecution in North Korea is the state. For three generations, everything in the country focused on idolizing the leading [Kim Jung Un] family. Christians are seen as hostile elements in society that have to be eradicated.
Due to the constant indoctrination permeating the whole country, neighbors and even family members are highly watchful and report any suspicious religious activity to the authorities…The situation for Christians is vulnerable and precarious. They face persecution from state authorities and their non-Christian family, friends and neighbors. Pray for their protection.
There are many Christians languishing, starving, and enduring hard labor in North Korea prisons for merely owning a Bible and having faith in Jesus Christ.
Since the U.S.-led war that started in Afghanistan soon after September 11, 2001, the United States has spent at least $877 billion on the war-devastated country, including on the promotion of religious freedoms.
Nevertheless, Afghanistan came in second place in the list of the top 50 worst countries in terms of persecution — where the cost of being a Christian can quickly turn into a nightmare and the last breath one ever takes.
During the 2017 reporting period covered by the latest World Watch List, persecutors killed 3,066 Christians, kidnapped 1,252, raped 1,020, and attacked 793 churches, noted Open Doors.
Of the top ten countries, eight are tormented by “Islamic Oppression,” which mainly refers to hostility against Christians. Eritrea and North Korea are the exceptions.
Meanwhile, persecution against Christians at the hands of “Hindu extremists” in India is on the rise, resulting in deaths and rape of Christian women.
“A shocking trend in the world watchlist I want to highlight for you today is the increase in persecution of Christian women,” stated Curry. “The data seems to prove that Christian women are the most vulnerable population today with sexual harassment and rape and forced marriage being prime tactics from extremists against the world against Christians.”
Pakistan, India’s regional enemy, has accused Hindu extremists of persecuting Christians and Muslims and forcing them to convert to their religion….
Every day, Christian women reportedly face sexual harassment, rape, and forced marriage, all common in India, which is ranked 11 on the persecution list.
The justice for Christians in India is “poor,” determined Curry, noting that 635 Jesus followers were held and detained in the nation without trial last year alone, often called one of the largest democracies in the world.
Of the 50 nations on the Open Doors World Watch list, at least two Western Hemisphere countries made the cut joining the very few predominantly Christian nations on the list — Latin America’s Mexico (39th place) and Colombia (49th) where persecution is reportedly driven by “organized crime and corruption.”
The monitor group identifies North Korea’s communist and post-communist oppression as the primary source of persecution against Christians, which make up a little over 1 percent (300,000) of the 25.4 million population…..
Salah says
“..have confidence, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33
Andy says
Please pray for Christians facing prosecution around the world.
Muslim Woman Gives Jesus One Week To Prove Himself Before Ending Her Life. Then This Happens!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJUh-Jeqfrg&t=2s
Bro. Nick Nicholas says
Andy – I have and will continue to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters “in Christ Jesus our Lord” in 130+ countries all around this increasingly wicked world.
The story of Padina is in the little book – ‘IRAN Desperate for God’ – which has been a help to me to understand what ‘Biblical CHRISTianity’ is all about.
Mamo says
White people are not christian,but racists
Avenger says
You are such a deep thinker Mamo, I’m impressed!
LeftisruiningCanada says
Amen Salah, and Christ will keep His sheep.
Like the website linked to your username website by the way 🙂
Lydia Church says
“Then each of them was given a white robe and told to rest a little while longer, until the full number of their fellow servants, their brothers, were killed, just as they had been killed.” Revelation 6; 11
This is where we are in the timeline folks.
And persecution HAS hit US soil… see the website for the law firm First Liberty.
Jaem says
it is hard to imagine being a target because you believe in Christ. I wonder if our lack of understanding makes us ignore what is going on with Christian persecution. Thankfully people like Robert Spencer get the word out. Do what you can. Donate to organizations that help persecuted Christians like International Christian Concern. It is an org that directly helps the persecuted with immediate needs.
LeftisruiningCanada says
Yes, we have been blessed with a great deal of relative peace so far as persecution for Christ’s sake goes. It is the exception. The norm is what you see everywhere else.
R Russell says
Father forgive them, they know not what they do
Michael says
On the contrary, they DO know what they do.
Andy says
Ephesians 6:12King James Version (KJV)
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
LeftisruiningCanada says
They THINK they know what they do 😉
StellaSaidSo says
Meanwhile –
The Pope kisses Muslim feet.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is silent.
Priests and Pastors attend Muslim Brotherhood-sponsored ‘Interfaith dialogue’ hug-fests with their ‘brothers in Abraham’.
Churches accept large sums of money for facilitating settlement of Muslims in their communities.
Christian congregations and organisations wave ‘Welcome’ banners and donate money and goods to Muslim ‘refugees’.
Christian Ministers remove crosses and pews from their churches, so as not to ‘offend’ Muslims.
Christians apologise to Muslims for the CRUSADES, which were a defensive, not an offensive action.
Folks, we are in dire straits. The enemy is at the gates. Prayer is not enough.
boakai ngombu says
still, many “continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel…” (Col1:23, ESV)
the mosque is porous … state boundaries are permeable .. The Word is heard in many places, even in prisons
StellaSaidSo says
‘…The Word is heard in many places…’
Words are not enough.
LeftisruiningCanada says
Well, in a certain sense, they are enough.
“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ”
Romans 10:17
From this passage, and others, many Christians have believed that the Gospel message itself is the means through which God as chosen to regenerate people. The idea that the Word of the Lord is sent out to do it’s work and does not come back to Him empty handed has been one of the motivating beliefs powering Missions going way back.
Whoever the elect of God are (we don’t know who they are), when they are exposed to the Gospel it is like a key fitting a lock.
In that important sense, important because the gift of faith in Christ is an instant antidote to islam, words are enough.
boakai ngombu says
the Word can break a heart by defining righteousness and revealing wickedness
the Word can reconcile instead of destroy, although the Word can do that too
the Word can bring from death to life
to illuminate what LeftisruiningCanada expressed, refer to the Word as expressed in Isiah55:11 (ESV) “… so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it….”
the expressions of the allah god of islam (unknowable; the best of all deceivers) cannot reconcile, cannot give life, does only redefine wickedness because it is not of righteousness … it can only bring destruction to the body of those with faith in the Word and cannot destroy the life it bestows
boakai ngombu says
apologies … the last sentence should end this way: …. can cannot destroy the life it bestows in them (those with faith).
Andy says
Nice comment boakai ngombu
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18New King James Version (NKJV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
The word became flesh-Jesus Christ
John 1:14New International Version (NIV)
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
StellaSaidSo says
More words.
Mere words.
Lydia Church says
Prayer and Words are enough, if only they had prayed and lived by the Word of God in these places, there would not have been a void that is now filled by darkness. But the light has been dying in Europe and Canada for a long time and darkness creeping in. They thought they were being modern, but rather it gave way to the savagery.
Now it is another matter. I do back the crusades of course. Again, when it comes to matters of violence, some is self defense and some is savagery and there is a spectrum of approach for various situations. The early martyrs did not retaliate or fight back in self defense, but were to turn the other cheek. It just depends on the details of what is going on. Some may call me a ‘fatalist’ or something, but the Amish live that way and may be willing to die that way too.
It is controversial and I’m sure enough will reply saying; no, no, no!
That said, I don’t feel like letter writing to these officials will do anything, they are all bought and paid for and even want this. Marches, we’ve seen some of the results of that, but at least it is a good option. I admire that there are people who realize that something needs to be done and are brave enough to make their voices heard.
( :
Peace.
Monty says
Not prayer. We need to command. If enough Christians exercise their spiritual authority in Christ, Satan will be broken. He is already defeated, that is the saddest part. All we have to do is enforce the victory already won by Lord Jesus!
Sarah says
North Korea is a cult – it’s just a bloody great big cult that has managed to swamp half an entire nation and its people. Its a cult like any other dangerous cult on the planet – just on a ridiculously oversized scale compared to what we’re all used to.
Does anyone think that David Koresh or Jim Jones and their followers’ would have behaved any differently, if they took over half a country, its share of the resources and infrastructure – and the population of that halved country?
Just imagine Waco – but this time, with a population of roughly 25 million people…..
Honestly, I don’t think you can compare Christian persecution in North Korea to Christian persecution in other places in the world. No-one who is outside of the cult of Kim family fares well, in North Korea, whether they be Christian, Muslim, Jewish or bloody White Witch Moon Goddesses.
Christians ARE undeniably, being persecuted against, in a variety of places around the world – especially in Islamic nations – because those who are being persecuted believe in and follow Christianity – which is an affront to the Muslims who practice Islam. The Muslims have a religious obligation and religious approval to persecute Christians.
Kim Jong Un just doesn’t want a Christian movement planting a seed in North Korea, because it destabilizes his regime. I don’t think he has anything against Christianity as a set of beliefs any more than I do – it’s just something that lessens his grip of control over people who believe in it. And that is scarily unacceptable to someone like that mad-man. So in my book, its not really possible to compare Christian persecution in North Korea to the persecution Christians suffer in the Islamic nations. Because of it’s an entirely different kettle of fish altogether.
One thing’s for certain. You cannot forcibly civilize, people who are genuinely uncivilized. And this means Muslims from the Islamic world. So Christians in the Islamic world are going to have to eithe convert, or flee permanently, or accept the whole ‘turn the other cheek and forgive your enemies’ business and prepare to die for their faith, being cut down where they stand – OR – they’re going to have to become some kind of Warriors for Christ. Because things can’t keep going on the way they are and its laughable to expect the Muslims to somehow become civilized all of a sudden and just stop persecuting the Christians.
christianblood says
(..Over 200 million Christians worldwide facing severe persecution..)
And the US and the Godless Western Liberal Empire is an accessory to the fact.
Funding, arming, training, supporting, aiding and abetting the violent global islamic jihadist entities that are behind this religious genocide. His holiness, Patriarch
Kririll said it well in the video clip below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsDrgD9hKEo
Andy says
Thank you Christianblood for the video
christianblood says
Andy
Thanks Andy!
LeftisruiningCanada says
He’s not wrong, thanks CB
Walter Sieruk says
The violent and vicious Muslims who are jihadists in their murderous persecution of Christians aren’t really going to get away with their destruction of Christians. As the apostle Paul had written each individual Christian is actually, in the View of God, a temple of God. For to Christians, it is written in the Bible “Don’t you know that that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s Temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” First Corinthians 3:16,17. [N.I.V.] As in “A man reaps what he sows.” Galatians 6:7.
Champ says
While North Korea tops the list of the world’s worst persecuting countries, in second place and occupying every place down to number 14 are majority-Muslim countries, with the single exception of Eritrea.
In order after North Korea: 2. Somalia 3. Afghanistan 4. Pakistan 5. Sudan 6. Syria 7. Iraq 8. Iran 9. Yemen 10. Eritrea 11. Libya 12. Nigeria 13. Maldives 14. Saudi Arabia.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gives new meaning to the false ‘islam is a religion of peace’ narrative …
islam is a religion of persecution!
Fred says
After hearing and reading about the never-ending persecution, abuse, torture, rape, and murder of millions of innocent, devout, prayful Christians in these countries for hundreds of years, the only conclusion that can be reached by any person using even a smidgeon of critical thinking is – the Biblical God and His Son Jesus either do not exist, meaning they have been, and are, complete imaginary fabrications of human wishful thinking – OR – if they do exist are completely indifferent and powerless to help their faithful flock. Oh yes one more possibility… they are getting completely dominated in every way conceivable in a cosmic MMA battle by the Quranic Lord Allah and His sidekick Mohammad.
Bro. Nick Nicholas says
Fred – aka docfreddy – Your comment is true for those who have made the personal choice to deny the eternal existence of “the Lord God Almighty” – which is your choice – for “the only wise God” NEVER forces anyone to believe ANYTHING that is written in the 66 Books of “the law of God”
– So you are free to ‘Believe What Thou Wilt’ –
For those of us who truly are ‘Biblical CHRISTians’ – we have chosen “through faith” to “believeth” in “the certainty of the words of truth” that “our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” personally spoke in John, Chapter 15 [AV] :
[17] These things I command you, that ye love one another.
[18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
[19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own:
but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world,
THEREFORE THE WORLD HATETH YOU.
[20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.
If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;
if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
[21] BUT ALL THESE THINGS WILL THEY DO UNTO YOU FOR MY NAMES SAKE,
BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOT HIM THAT SENT ME.
.
docfreddy says
WHY WOULD YOU PRAY TO YOUR GOD AFTER A TRAGEDY TO WHO DID NOTHING TO PREVENT THE TRAGEDY??? NO ONE CAN REASONABLY ANSWER THIS QUESTION.
Bro. Nick Nicholas says
I do not understand why ‘Open Doors’ and ‘Voice of the Martyrs’ choose to willingly downplay the numbers of Christians who are actually martyred each year
– For there are sources that suggest that there are MANY-MANY MORE Christians whose physical lives have been taken because of their faith than those ‘reliable sources’ suggest. One quote from a Roman Catholic source from 2016 said
– ‘The number of Christians martyred in 2016 is likely more than 90,000, however, because studies were not able to include data from China and India — two countries with large Christian populations, but with “underground” churches, so the numbers of persecuted and martyred Christians are hard to come by.’
— YET in 2018 China is ‘ranked #43’ – and India as #11 in ‘Persecution’ — Hmmmm
As a ‘Biblical CHRISTian’ I am personally very-very thankful for “the certainty of the words of truth” that are written in Romans, Chapter 8 [AV] :
[36] As it is written,
For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
.
Monty says
It is way past the time that Christians living in the relatively safe West got active in spiritual warfare. The enemy is not flesh and blood, but those satanic forces that wage war against the Church. Islam is one aspect of that war. As the Western church has declined, so Islam has arisen. It is not a coincidence. Christians need to quit fighting each other over petty doctrinal issues and get united in warfare. I read the end of the book. The Church wins because Lord Jesus has already won the victory. But we can delay and hinder the Kingdom of God or we can facilitate it. Surely this is the age of Laodicea! God seeks overcomers who will turn away from pride, complacency and self satisfaction. We need to take up the sword of the Spirit and command Satan to get off this planet and take his Muslim demons with him!
docfreddy says
Monty.. i posted this above, but in case you didn’t read it here it is. After hearing and reading about the never-ending persecution, abuse, torture, rape, and murder of millions of innocent, devout, prayerful Christians in these countries for hundreds of years, the only conclusion that can be reached by any person using even a smidgen of critical thinking is – the Biblical God and His Son Jesus either do NOT exist, meaning they have been, and are, complete imaginary fabrications of human wishful thinking – OR – if they do exist are completely indifferent and powerless to help their faithful flock. Oh yes one more possibility… they are getting completely dominated in every way conceivable in a cosmic MMA spiritual battle by the Quranic Lord Allah and His sidekick Mohammad. There is no other way to look at this.
Bro. Nick Nicholas says
docfreddy – Your comment is true for those who have made the personal choice to deny the eternal existence of “the Lord God Almighty” – which is your choice – for “the only wise God” NEVER forces anyone to believe ANYTHING that is written in the 66 Books of “the law of God”
– So you are free to ‘Believe What Thou Wilt’ –
For those of us who truly are ‘Biblical CHRISTians’ – we have chosen “through faith” to “believeth” in “the certainty of the words of truth” that “our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” personally spoke in John, Chapter 15 [AV] :
[17] These things I command you, that ye love one another.
[18] If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
[19] If ye were of the world, the world would love his own:
but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world,
THEREFORE THE WORLD HATETH YOU.
[20] Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord.
If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you;
if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
[21] BUT ALL THESE THINGS WILL THEY DO UNTO YOU FOR MY NAMES SAKE,
BECAUSE THEY KNOW NOT HIM THAT SENT ME.
.
Bro. Nick Nicholas says
Monty – AMEN !
– For those who truly are ‘Biblical CHRISTians’ our prayers are:
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
(Matthew 6:9-10 ~ AV)
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.
Amen.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
Amen.”
(Revelation 22:20-21 ~ AV)
.
Linda Rivera says
In a Great Sin Against God and Terrible Crime Against Humanity, Western leaders give huge amounts of money every year to Muslim countries, especially to Pakistan, who massively persecute Christians
Rewarding Muslims with money for massively persecuting Christians must stop!
Traitor British leaders colonised tiny Britain with Muslims. Most Muslims are from Pakistan who severely persecute Christians.
Western leaders bar the entry of Christians desperate to escape Muslim persecution. Only a few Christians are allowed in. Western leaders want only Muslims who persecute Christians.