Christian Persecution

The persecution of Christians is the historical and ongoing religious persecution of Christians, who have been and are subject to discrimination, violence, and even genocide for their faith. The persecution of Christians has been carried out by various groups and individuals, including other Christians, Jews, and various governments throughout history. In the 20th century, Christians were persecuted by several states, including the Ottoman Empire and its successor state, which committed several genocides, and officially atheist states such as the Soviet Union, Communist Albania, China, and North Korea. In the 21st century, Christians continue to be persecuted, often by terrorist groups and in countries where there is state-sponsored religious favoritism or discrimination

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• The persecution of Christians is the historical and ongoing religious persecution of Christians, who have been and are subject to discrimination, violence, and even genocide for their faith.
• The persecution of Christians has been carried out by various groups and individuals, including other Christians, Jews, and various governments throughout history.
• In the 20th century, Christians were persecuted by several states, including the Ottoman Empire and its successor state, and officially atheist states such as the Soviet Union, Communist Albania, China, and North Korea.
• In the 21st century, Christians continue to be persecuted, often by terrorist groups and in countries where there is state-sponsored religious favoritism or discrimination.
• According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s 2020 report, Christians in Burma, China, Eritrea, India, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Vietnam are persecuted by their governments.
• The same report recommends that Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, the Central African Republic, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Sudan, and Turkey be added to the US State Department’s “special watchlist” of countries that engage in or tolerate “severe violations of religious freedom”.

The persecution of Christians can be historically traced from the first century of the Christian era to the present day. Christian missionaries and converts to Christianity have both been targeted for persecution, sometimes to the point of being martyred for their faith, ever since the emergence of Christianity.

The persecution of Christians has continued to occur during the 21st century. Christianity is the largest world religion and its adherents live across the globe. Approximately 10% of the world’s Christians are members of minority groups which live in non-Christian-majority states. The contemporary persecution of Christians includes the genocide of Christians by the Islamic State and persecution by other terrorist groups, with official state persecution mostly occurring in countries which are located in Africa and Asia because they have state religions or because their governments and societies practice religious favoritism. Such favoritism is frequently accompanied by religious discrimination and religious persecution, as is also the case in currently and formerly communist countries.

According to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s 2020 report, Christians in Burma, China, Eritrea, India, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Vietnam are persecuted; these countries are labelled “countries of particular concern” by the United States Department of State, because of their governments’ engagement in, or toleration of, “severe violations of religious freedom”. The same report recommends that Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, the Central African Republic, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Sudan, and Turkey constitute the US State Department’s “special watchlist” of countries which require close monitoring because of the nature and extent of violations of religious freedom.

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