Prayers for persecuted Christians

We ask you to pray for the more than 388m Christians who suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.

1 in 7 Christians are persecuted worldwide

The top 10 countries on the World Watch List.

1.North Korea

2.Somalia

3.Yemen

4.Sudan

5.Eritrea

6.Syria

7.Nigeria

8.Pakistan

9.Libya

10.Iran

North Korea has been on our prayer list twice before.  It still remains number one on the World Watch List for Christian Persecution – a position it has held almost every year since 2002.

North Korea is arguably the most dangerous place on earth to follow Jesus. If someone is discovered to be a Christian, the consequences are unimaginably stark: either imprisonment in one of its notorious labour camps, with little hope of release, or immediate execution. The same fate is likely to await other family members.

While the church buildings displayed in the capital Pyongyang might suggest a degree of tolerance, this is propaganda. Christianity has no place in North Korea, a country where homage must be directed one way only: towards the Kim regime. With watchful eyes everywhere – even from neighbours and family – the slightest hint of worshipping Jesus can have devastating consequences.

A ‘anti-reactionary thought law’, introduced in 2020, made it even clearer that being a Christian and owning a Bible is regarded as a serious crime. The law has reinforced just how much of a threat Christianity is seen to be by the country’s unbending regime.

According to research, more Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in the rest of the world combined. Violence continues to escalate in Nigeria, especially in the north of the country, and Christians are at particular risk from targeted attacks by Islamic militant groups. The persecution of believers is most common in theses northern, Muslim-majority states. However, attacks are increasingly spreading southward, into the Middle Belt and even further south, to where the majority of Nigeria’s Christians live.

These attacks are shockingly brutal in nature – many believers are killed, particularly men, while women are often kidnapped and targeted for sexual violence. These militants also destroy homes, churches and livelihoods. Kidnap for ransom is used regularly with the deliberate intention of destabilising Christian families and the church.

Nigeria has dropped one place on the World Watch List over the past year, but the persecution score has not changed – the change in rank is due to persecution intensifying in other countries.

There were hopes that Bola Tinubu’s election as president would cause a positive shift towards recognising and intervening against human rights violations affecting Christians, but this has not yet materialised.

Uzbekistan is a former soviet state, and it’s still ruled by an authoritarian government that heavily monitors the population, especially religious groups. Most people in Uzbekistan are Muslim, and converts from Muslim families bear the brunt of persecution.

All Christian communities – particularly church leaders – face some sort of monitoring and pressure. Churches that are not approved of and registered by the state are often raided by the police, with people arrested, threatened and fined.

It’s perceived as a betrayal to leave Islam, bringing great shame on the family, and that’s why converts who make the brave decision to follow Jesus can face hostility from even their loved ones.

While laws in Uzbekistan give equal rights to men and women, traditional Islamic culture treats women as subservient to men – and this is reflected in the type of persecution faced by Uzbek Christian women, including house arrest, kidnap, forced marriage, divorce and sexual violence.Item description

Somali Christians are often killed on the spot when their faith is discovered – murdered either by Islamic militants or even their own family.  Believers who aren’t killed can face persecution from family members including house arrest, forced marriage or sexual violence.

There has been a huge rise in sexual violence against girls by Islamic militants, and those suspected of following Jesus are particular targets. It remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for followers of Christ.

Why are Christians persecuted in Somalia?

Al-Shabaab, a violent Islamic militant group at war with the government, controls large swathes of the country. This group enforces a strict form of Sharia (Islamic law) and is committed to eradicating Christianity from Somalia.

Who is particularly vulnerable in Somalia?

Church leaders are particularly targeted by al-Shabaab, who have increased their focus on finding and eliminating them.  Almost all of Somalia’s Christians have found Christ from a Muslim background, and they face the greatest risks of persecution from all sides. Those living in areas controlled by al-Shabaab are in the most immediate danger.

We tend to associate the Maldives with an exotic holiday destination, but life is nearly impossible for Christians who live there.

How are Christians persecuted in the Maldives?

Those who leave Islam must keep their faith secret. It’s so dangerous that husbands, wives and children may even hide their faith from one another. If discovered, they may lose their citizenship, state benefits and be isolated from society for violating Sharia.

While foreign Christians – who mostly work in the tourist sector – have slightly more freedom than converts, their gatherings are strictly monitored and controlled by the authorities.

Why are Christians persecuted in the Maldives?

The Maldives declares itself to be 100% Muslim, so being a citizen of the Maldives means being a Muslim. Within the country’s close-knit communities, any deviation from Islamic values is easily spotted and reported to the authorities or Muslim leaders.

The Maldives rose two places on this year’s World Watch List; the level of pressure on Christians remains very high. Going to church is impossible.  Despite a newly elected government, no improvements for the situation of Christians are expected in the near future.Item description

Many of us travel places in the world for holidays. Some of these destinations are where Christians find life hard.

Türkiye - There is a strong sense of nationalism in Türkiye today, which regards being a Muslim as necessary to being a loyal Turk. This puts considerable social pressure on Turkish Christians.

Egypt - In Upper Egypt, in the southern part of the country, society is more conservative and radical. Most attacks on Christians happen there.

Morocco - Despite the growing Western influence, 99 per cent of the population are Muslim and the country remains socially conservative. This can make life challenging for the Christian minority, particularly those who convert from Islam.

Mexico - Many believers live in danger of persecution, particularly from criminal gangs, drug cartels and indigenous groups.

Cuba - Since 1959, Cuba has been ruled by the Communist Party, which tries to control the church. The government reacts harshly to anyone who opposes it.

Myanmar - As Myanmar enters the fifth year of an increasingly violent conflict, solutions – or even a ceasefire – are nowhere in sight. And the violence is having a devastating impact on the country’s Christian minority, who are among those bearing the brunt of the attacks.

North Korea remains number one on the World Watch List – a position it has held almost every year since 2002. The persecution score has risen two places in the past year, as there have been more reports of violence against Christians.

In early 2024, the government announced stricter regulations and increased crackdowns. It has been officially reported that North Korean authorities publicly executed about 30 young teenagers for watching a South Korean drama on a USB drive, and several 17-year-olds were sentenced to life imprisonment or death for similar reasons in June and July 2024.

If your Christian faith is discovered in North Korea, you could be killed on the spot.  If you aren’t killed, you will be sent to a horrendous labour camp and treated as a political criminal. You will be punished with years of hard labour that few survive. If it is discovered that a North Korean has become a Christian, or even simply heard the gospel or came into contact with Christians, then they will be singled out for severe punishment..

Any Christian connection in your family history means that party membership is withheld, and they are consigned to the worst jobs and lowest positions.

Laws restricting religious freedom get stricter each year, with many churches denied registration and prohibited from meeting. Ministry to children and youth is forbidden. Muslim converts to Christianity face aggressive persecution from family and friends.

One pastor from Almaty shared how his church has been fined and threatened with closure for holding unauthorised meetings and distributing religious literature. "We are trying to follow the law and register our church, but the government keeps changing the rules and making it impossible," he said. "We just want to worship God freely and share His love with others, but we are treated like criminals."

A young woman shared how she has faced intense opposition from her Muslim family since converting to Christianity. "My parents have threatened to disown me and even kill me if I don't renounce my faith," she said. "But I have found such peace and purpose in Christ that I cannot deny Him, even if it means losing my family."

These stories underscore the increasing restrictions and pressures that Christians face in a country where Islam is closely tied to national identity.

At St Francis Xavier’s Church, Owo, southwest Nigeria, Margaret was up in the church gallery singing in the choir when the shooting began. “We started hearing gunshots outside the church. The doors were immediately slammed shut and we hoped we would be safe.”

She said: “I ran down and went towards the altar, close to the Blessed Sacrament.”  Margaret, like many others, was trying to make for the safety of the sacristy, which lay beyond.  But she didn’t make it. “Suddenly, there was an explosion and I was knocked unconscious.” Later, she would learn that she had lost both legs and her sight in one eye.

Margaret counts herself lucky to have survived. She said: “I know I will not be able to live quite as I did before but I thank God I am alive. I have so many reasons to be grateful to God.”

In countries where Christians are persecuted, Christian children are collateral damage – and the numbers run to millions. Many are left orphans, and grow up in Displaced People Camps. They miss out on education – the only real way to escape long-term poverty.   Often suffering from PTSD, the physical, emotional, psychological and spiritual impact on children and young people is immense. Their faith is their hope and strength.

When a dozen women in Jorina’s village in Bangladesh asked her to meet with them, she thought they wanted to learn about the gospel. Jorina and her husband had recently become Christians and were excited to introduce others to Jesus. She says. “We believed we needed to share the truth with others.”

But that wasn’t why the women had called Jorina to meet. Instead, they surrounded her and made her strip naked. Their cruel demand comes from a common misunderstanding in this region. Because Ephesians 1:13 says “When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,” some Muslims believe that Christians have a literal ‘mark’ or ‘seal’ on them.

What made this humiliating attack particularly painful was that Jorina knew her persecutors. Before she converted to Christianity, these women had been her friends – people she’d interacted with every day. Now, they rejected and persecuted her.

It demonstrates how the demeaning of Christian women can spread through a whole culture. Jorina was already considered a second-class citizen for her gender. Choosing to become one of the country’s tiny Christian minority compounded this.

Please pray for those persecuted for their Christian faith. This month, ask you to pray for those in Syria.

In addition to the violence that stemmed from the Assad regime, Christians faced persecution. With the fall of the Assad regime in early December 2024, the groups taking power are largely non- Christian, creating uncertainty.

How are Christians persecuted in Syria?

Christians often face violence. Church leaders are particularly vulnerable to abduction, and several remain missing.

Women and girls risk abduction, sexual harassment and sexual violence. They may also face domestic violence, forced marriage or even so-called ‘honour’ killing.

Christian men face discrimination in the workplace, have immense difficulty obtaining a job, and employed Christians stand little chance of being promoted.

Why are Christians persecuted in Syria?

The legacy of the takeover of Syria by groups with certain ideologies can still be seen. Large numbers of Christians left the country. While some believers have returned to rebuild their lives and communities, there are still far fewer than there used to be.

This month, ask you to pray for Ribqa.

Ribqa Nevash, aged 24, from Pakistan demonstrates outstanding bravery in speaking up for suffering Christians in Pakistan – especially women and girls who have been kidnapped and forced to convert to Islam and marry their abductors.

She gives a voice to survivors of violent persecution in press conferences, interviews, articles and via other media channels.

Her activism has led to her being named the recipient of a leading Catholic charity’s ‘Courage to be Christian’ award. Receiving the award from Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), she felt “more motivated than ever to speak up” on behalf of those oppressed for following Christ – adding that she saw her award acceptance speech as yet another opportunity to encourage persecuted Christians to “stay strong in their faith despite the daily struggles and difficulties”.

Ribqa’s faith and passion are an inspiration for all of us. We ask that you accompany Ribqa on her journey though the power of your prayers. Help to amplify her voice so that she can continue to speak for those who are so often suffering in silence simply because of their Christian faith.

Please pray for those persecuted for their Christian faith in Turkey

Almost all of Türkiye’s population of 86 million is Muslim – there are only about 169,000 Christians. However, the combination of rising religious nationalism and a growing emphasis on Islamic values by the government is intensifying the pressure on believers.

Although conversion to Christianity is not legally forbidden, anyone who is not a Muslim, or who converts to a different faith, is seen as a disloyal Turk. Christians are viewed as a negative Western influence and face pressure to recant their faith.

Religious affiliation is registered on the electronic chip inside ID cards, so it is easy for employers, particularly those with connections to the state, to discriminate against believers.

Women have less authority than men and are subject to familial control. There is an expectation for women and girls to honour their families through the decisions they make. To become a Christian, or marry a Christian, is considered to go against this expectation, and they can face house arrest, rejection, verbal abuse, harassment and sexual violence, especially those in rural areas.

There are 6.9 million people in Nicaragua, of which 95% are Christian, however they face increasing hostility when they speak out against the suffering caused by the regime of President Ortega.

The situation has deteriorated significantly since 2018, when widespread protests broke out. Christians have been among those to raise their voice – but it’s coming at an alarming cost. Those visible in the Church, such as the Nuns and Priests, are being harassed and arrested. The harassment and attempt to suffocate the church have become more direct.

Last Easter, police banned processions during Holy Week. Recent changes to the law have been used to label church leaders as terrorists and coup-plotters, and there are suggestions that the government wants to control church affairs such as tithes and offerings.

Nicaragua has risen 20 places on the World Watch List, after appearing in the top 50 for the first time last year. President Ortega’s use of state power, combined with the manipulation of the legal framework, has made it increasingly possible to silence civil society actors who do not align with the ruling party’s interests.

Over half of the population of Mozambique are Christians – 19.2 million of the 34 million people living there.

The rise of Islamic extremism in the north of the country has had a devastating impact on the lives of Christians. Churches have been burnt down, pastors abducted, and many killed.

Mozambique has also become a major hub for drug trafficking, with the presence of cartels contributing to a climate of lawlessness and violence, which indirectly affects the Christian community.

Church youth workers are particularly at risk, as they are often seen as threats to the cartels.

The pastors support Christians and are showing the light of Christ to Muslims. “Thanks to your support, we feel like the body of Christ is helping us fellow Christians,” says Pastor Paulo. “But there is more: when Christians from abroad give help to people here, the Muslim people with whom I am sharing the gospel can see that there is true love among Christians.”

There are almost 7 million Christians in Cuba – that’s more than half of its 11.3 million population. But in Cuba, anything deemed to be in competition with the Communist Party is quashed – and that includes Christianity.

Believers who speak out against human injustice or political corruption – or who dare to criticise the regime – risk harassment, smear campaigns, travel restrictions and even imprisonment.

Churches require registration to be legal, yet the government can deny registration or simply ignore the application of some religious groups, forcing them to operate illegally. This makes it easy for them to fine entire congregations, demolish buildings, confiscate property or close churches down entirely. Registered or unregistered, churches continue to be open for worship throughout Cuba – but only as long as the government allows it.

Is it getting harder to be a Christian in Cuba? Yes!

The Cuban regime continues to crack down on believers, especially those who dare to speak out against the authorities.

There are believed to be about 35,100 Christians in Libya – just 0.5 per cent of the country’s 7.1 million predominantly Muslim population.

Libya continues to be ruled over by militias with very little political stability. But a small number of Libyans have encountered Jesus and chosen to follow Him. It could cost them everything.

Christianity seems impossible in Libya. But God is the God of the impossible. Please pray that these strongholds are broken down, and more and more Libyans will courageously choose Jesus – knowing that He is worth the cost.

Libya has moved up two places on the World Watch List, with the highest increase in the number of reported incidents of violence against believers. It’s clear there is no safe part of Libya for any believer.

Please keep praying for your brothers and sisters in Libya. Your prayers make an enormous difference to those following Jesus no matter the cost.

There are more than 41 million people in Afghanistan, most of whom are Muslim but there are Christians in the thousands.

When the Taliban came to power in August 2021, they did so with pledges to recognise more freedoms than in the past. But that hasn't happened: if an Afghan's Christian faith is discovered, it can be a death sentence, or they can be detained and tortured into giving information about fellow believers.

This means Christians – almost all of whom are converts from Islam – must keep their faith secret, or they may simply disappear.

Under Taliban rule, women face an even more uncertain future. School attendance for girls is restricted, and women are currently barred from the workplace, increasingly limited to their homes.

Being a woman can be dangerous in Afghanistan; being a Christian can be deadly. When the two are combined, it creates an incredibly difficult situation.

Christians in Burkina Faso (in West Africa) who are under threat from jihadists are not afraid to die for their faith.

In February the massacre of 12 people during a prayer service was just one of many incidents of recent terrorism that have led to the displacement of more than two million people.

Despite these difficulties and subsequent persecution, Christians have defied terrorists’ demands to embrace Islam. “In this situation, some of the Christians accept to die."

On many occasions, the population was given an ultimatum to leave their villages and not return. It is a situation of great uncertainty and there is no freedom to worship. This leads many to leave.

Despite these concern, “faith has grown” as the Church has been forced to adapt to the desperate situation. We ask for your prayers in supporting the faithful.

An estimated 400,000 Christians live North Korea, a small percentage of the total population of over 26 million Many of these Christians are imprisoned for their faith.

It’s impossible for Christians to live freely in North Korea. The 'anti-reactionary thought law' (enacted in Dec 2020) makes it amply clear that being a Christian or possessing a Bible is a serious crime and will be severely punished.

Being discovered to be a Christian in North Korea is effectively a death sentence. Either believers will be deported to labour camps as political criminals – where they face a life of hard labour which few survive – or they are killed on the spot. The same fate awaits family members.

Christian women held in the labour camps are acutely vulnerable to sexual violence. Such offences are committed by guards with the deliberate intention of undermining Christian teaching on sexual purity. An estimated 80% of all North Korean defectors are women.

How are Christians persecuted in Mexico?

Although the majority of Mexico's population is Christian, many believers live in danger of persecution, particularly from criminal gangs, drug cartels and indigenous groups.

Christians who bravely speak out against their activities, those who are involved in community work or evangelism (especially with youth, drug addicts and migrants) are deemed a threat—and that makes them a target. The authorities have been unable to stem the growing influence of these criminal groups, making believers even more exposed to attack.

Christians are facing growing pressure in their private lives. Personal expressions of faith – such as owning a Bible in some communities or sharing faith online – are becoming increasingly risky. It’s led to many believers keeping quiet, for fear of reprisal.

Discriminated against and under constant pressure to convert, never are the faithful in Pakistan ashamed to be Christian.

But, did you know that abductions, sexual violence, forced religious conversion, and human trafficking continue to plague Pakistan? Every year up to 1,000 Christian and Hindu women and girls are abducted and many are forced to convert and marry.

Did you know also that Christians in Pakistan struggle to find work? Many destitute Christians in Pakistan’s brick kilns are trapped in a cycle of bonded labour, essentially modern slavery. They face the impossible task of repaying loans taken out to buy food and other basic necessities.