Open Doors report reveals critical situation of persecuted Christians

The Open Doors annual report reveals that currently 365 million Christians in the world suffer persecution, which represents one in seven believers. Nicaragua, in particular, stands out this year due to the 667 attacks directed against Catholics since 2018, perpetrated by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega.

Asia is positioned as the most hostile continent for Christians, where two in five face serious persecution or discrimination. They are followed by Africa, with one in five, and Latin America, with one in 16.

The report notes an increase in the extreme level of persecution, increasing from 11 to 13 countries since the last report. The previous year, 4,998 murders, 14,766 attacks on churches and 4,125 arrests of Christians were recorded worldwide.

North Korea, Somalia and Libya are identified as the three countries with the worst situation, forcing Christians to practice their faith in secret. Furthermore, there is an increase in persecution in sub-Saharan Africa, along with a worrying situation in the Middle East and North Africa.

In Nigeria, 82% of Christians murdered due to their faith are concentrated, with this country responsible for 4,118 of the 4,998 cases recorded between October 2022 and September 2023. Nigeria also ranks third in the closure or destruction of churches by the authorities, heading the list of kidnapped Christians (3,300 out of 3,906). Illia Djadi, Open Doors analyst for West Africa, highlights that the kidnappings target young married women forcibly converted to Islam and ecclesiastical leaders, seeking to obtain considerable ransoms.

The report also addresses Christian victims of abuse, rape and forced marriages, accounting for a total of 3,231 cases. In addition, an unprecedented increase in attacks on churches stands out, which went from 2,110 to 14,766, including graffiti, closures and destruction.