Persecuted Christians face censorship on social media

In various parts of the world, persecuted Christians not only face physical and legal restrictions on practicing their faith, but also see their freedom of expression limited in the digital realm. Social media, which in many cases have served as platforms for denunciation and spreading the gospel, have become another front of censorship for those seeking to share religious content in hostile contexts.

Organizations such as SIT have reported an increase in the removal of Christian posts, the suspension of accounts, and the restriction of faith-related content in countries where Christians already face discrimination and persecution. In places such as China, Iran, and Pakistan, governments actively monitor and control social media, blocking religious messages or using algorithms to restrict their reach. In some cases, believers have been arrested following online posts promoting their faith.

In addition to state censorship, some tech giants have been criticized for removing Christian posts based on ambiguous or unevenly applied policies. Religious leaders and activists have reported that Christian content about persecution, prayer or personal testimony has been labelled as “hate speech” or “sensitive content”, while other ideologies are treated more leniently.

In response, various organisations have called on digital platforms to guarantee freedom of religious expression and to implement more transparent mechanisms to review complaints and content restrictions. Meanwhile, persecuted Christians continue to seek alternative ways to share their faith and stay connected in an increasingly digitalised world.