News

80% of persecuted believers around the world are Christians, persecution of Christians “close to genocide”

August 26, 2019

Despite these facts and ongoing evidence of the persecution of Christians, the general indifference worldwide to the persecution of Christians continues, and is a scandal of monstrous proportions. There is still no sustained or concerted effort by government authorities or international human rights organizations to stop this persecution. There is no country in the world today of which it can be said that while Christians were once persecuted there, now they live in safety and security.

Please continue to pray that the hearts of world leaders would be softened, and that they would finally be moved to act to end this scourge.

“Startling Report Calls Christianity ‘By Far the Most Widely Persecuted Religion’ in the World and Warns Persecution of Christians is Nearing ‘Genocide’ Levels,” by CeCe Heil, ACLJ, August 7, 2019:

“Close to . . . genocide.”

That’s how an alarming study recently commissioned and released by the British government described the current state of Christian persecution around the globe.

The final report, compiled by the Bishop of Truro the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen states that violence and oppression against Christians is increasing rapidly, and becoming more deadly.

“Evidence shows not only the geographic spread of anti-Christian persecution, but also its increasing severity. In some regions, the level and nature of persecution is arguably coming close to meeting the international definition of genocide, according to that adopted by the UN.”

The report states Christians make up “by far the most widely persecuted religion” among the one-third of the world’s population suffering some religious persecution.

Persecution on grounds of religious faith is a global phenomenon that is growing in scale and intensity. Reports including that of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on ‘Freedom of Religion and Belief’ (FoRB) suggest that religious persecution is on the rise, and it is an “ever-growing threat” to societies around the world.

Though it is impossible to know the exact numbers of people persecuted for their faith, based on reports from different NGOs, it is estimated that one third of the world’s population suffers from religious persecution in some form, with Christians being the most persecuted group.

It’s chilling. According to the report, an estimated 80% of persecuted believers around the world are Christians.

But the ACLJ is already well aware of this startling reality. We have a moral obligation to stand up for endangered brothers and sisters in Christ. The ACLJ has worked to help save the lives of numerous Christians from persecution and death, and helped obtain freedom for multiple wrongfully incarcerated believers. But many more still live under the threat of violence, torture, imprisonment, or death.

We recently told you how we filed a written submission before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) through our European affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), detailing the spread of religiously motivated atrocities and acts of violence against Christians around the globe….