Christian persecution news

Here are some recent news articles and reports on Christian persecution:

Global Christian Persecution

• According to Open Doors USA, a nonprofit organization that tracks Christian persecution, there were 245 million Christians experiencing high levels of persecution in 2020, up from 215 million in 2019. (Source: Open Doors USA, "World Watch List 2020")
• The same report found that North Korea, Afghanistan, and Somalia were the top three countries where Christians faced the most severe persecution. (Source: Open Doors USA, "World Watch List 2020")

Recent Incidents of Christian Persecution

• In Nigeria, 11 Christians were killed and several others injured in a series of attacks by Fulani herdsmen in the state of Plateau. (Source: Morning Star News, "11 Christians Killed in Nigeria's Plateau State")
• In Iran, a Christian convert was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison for "apostasy" and "propaganda against the regime." (Source: International Christian Concern, "Iranian Christian Convert Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison")
• In Pakistan, a Christian couple was arrested and charged with blasphemy for allegedly sending a text message that was deemed offensive to Islam. (Source: International Christian Concern, "Pakistan Arrests Christian Couple for Blasphemy")
• In China, a Christian church in the city of Chengdu was demolished by authorities, with reports suggesting that the church was targeted because of its affiliation with an unofficial Christian denomination. (Source: Radio Free Asia, "Chinese Authorities Demolish Unregistered Christian Church in Sichuan Province")

Reports and Studies on Christian Persecution

• A report by the Pew Research Center found that Christians face persecution in 144 countries around the world, with the majority of cases occurring in Asia and Africa. (Source: Pew Research Center, "Global Restrictions on Religion")
• A study by the Center for the Study of Global Christianity at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary found that the number of Christians killed for their faith increased by 19% between 2017 and 2018. (Source: Center for the Study of Global Christianity, "2018 Report on International Christian Persecution")
• A report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) found that religious freedom conditions deteriorated in many countries around the world in 2020, with Christians facing persecution in many of these countries. (Source: USCIRF, "2020 Annual Report")

International Response to Christian Persecution

• The United States has been a vocal advocate for religious freedom and has imposed sanctions on countries that engage in severe religious persecution. (Source: US Department of State, "International Religious Freedom Report 2020")
• The European Union has also expressed concern about Christian persecution and has called on countries to respect religious freedom. (Source: European Union, "EU Guidelines on the Promotion and Protection of Freedom of Religion or Belief")
• The United Nations has also addressed Christian persecution in various reports and resolutions, including a 2019 resolution that condemned the persecution of Christians and other religious minorities. (Source: United Nations, "Resolution 74/175: Combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance")

I hope this information is helpful.