Persecution of Christians to increase in 2024, Open Doors report says

The recent Open Doors report, published on January 15, 2025, reveals an increase in the persecution of Christians worldwide. According to the study, 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith, which represents an increase from the 365 million reported the previous year.

During the period analyzed, which runs from October 2023 to September 2024, 4,476 murders of Christians due to their faith were recorded, a decrease compared to the 4,998 cases of the previous year. Despite this reduction, Nigeria continues to be the deadliest country for Christians, accounting for 69% of these murders, with a total of 3,100 victims.

The report highlights that North Korea maintains the top spot on the World Watch List, a position it has held since 2002, except in 2022. In this country, there is no religious freedom, and Christians face severe reprisals, including deportation to political prison camps, forced labor, and even execution.

In addition, an increase in attacks on Christian property is observed. Incidents against homes, shops, and businesses amounted to 28,368, compared to 21,431 the previous year. However, attacks on churches decreased from 14,766 to 7,679 recorded cases.

The SIT urges international institutions and governments to promote and protect religious freedom as a fundamental priority in their foreign policies and diplomatic relations. It also calls for recognizing concerns related to the use of emerging technologies and developing ethical frameworks that prevent their application to suppress religious freedom.

This report highlights the urgent need to address the growing persecution of Christians in various regions of the world and to implement effective measures to ensure their protection and freedom of worship.