Boko Haram militants attacked a border village in northern Cameroon, killing a Christian father of five. The victim was shot after failing to flee due to hearing difficulties. Militants looted livestock, food, and crops, destroying most livelihoods in the settlement. This marks the second attack on this area this year. Since early 2024, over 1,500 people, mostly Christians, have been displaced in the region. A spokesperson for Open Doors stated that the violence remains largely unnoticed by the international community, urging greater protection for affected residents.
Christians in India face heightened pressure as several states enact laws restricting religious freedom. Proposed legislation in one northern state criminalizes forced conversions, raising fears of false accusations and church closures. In another northeastern region, new regulations target healing practices, with officials claiming this curbs evangelism. Christian groups argue these measures are misused by extremist factions promoting a specific nationalist ideology. Violence persists between Hindu and Christian communities in another eastern state. With numerous states enforcing anti-conversion laws, believers worry about losing social rights and facing imprisonment under vague legal definitions.
Dozens of people were killed in separate terrorist attacks on a church and a mosque in Burkina Faso on Sunday. At least fifteen died during morning mass in a village in the northeast, according to local diocese reports. In the east, dozens more were killed in an attack on a mosque, including a prominent imam. Local sources attribute the violence to Islamist militants. A spokesperson notes that Christians are disproportionately targeted in the north, while moderate Muslims also suffer. The violence has displaced at least two million people in the Sahel region.
Jihadist violence in northern Mozambique has displaced hundreds of thousands, with attacks on churches and civilians continuing despite military efforts. In affected villages, terrorists have burned buildings and harmed residents. Desperate refugees in camps survive by eating snails and local vegetables that cause health issues. Pastors report the church is paralyzed by trauma and unable to serve the displaced. Aid organizations provide support and trauma care to the affected Christian community, highlighting the severe humanitarian and spiritual crisis facing believers in the region.
Violent attacks by ADF militants have killed dozens of Christians in the Democratic Republic of Congo this month. On February 5, at least fifteen Pentecostals, including a pastor, were murdered in a village in the northeast. Another attack near a nearby settlement killed a pastor and over fifteen congregants during a service. Open Doors reports that the escalating violence is forcing many believers to return to traditional religions for perceived protection. The group says progress of the Gospel is hindered as people doubt God's intervention. News spreads slowly in the difficult-to-access northeast region.
Over thirty evangelical Christians in Mexico have been temporarily displaced from their villages following an evangelism campaign. Local authorities and Catholic leaders accused the group of disrupting community harmony by opposing traditional practices. Residents faced intimidation, including restrictions on land use, limited school access for children, and threats of fines for those offering aid. After several members were detained and pressured to renounce their faith, families were cut off from water and electricity. Consequently, the group relocated to another region, while tensions remain high in other affected communities, according to Open Doors Nederland.
Armed men abducted more than 280 students from a school in a village in northern Nigeria. Police confirmed that 287 pupils, including primary and secondary students, were taken from the school grounds, with about ten escaping. This incident marks the second large-scale kidnapping in Nigeria within a week, following a similar event in another region. A spokesperson for Open Doors stated that attacks on Christians and schools have increased significantly in northern Nigeria over the past decade. The governor of the region pledged to rescue the children, while critics blame government passivity and armed banditry for the escalating violence.
Six years after her abduction by militants in northern Nigeria, a young Christian woman remains in captivity because she refused to renounce her faith. Her former classmates report that her steadfastness has strengthened their own beliefs. While other girls were released, she is still held. Her mother continues to urge prayers for her daughter's release, despite unconfirmed reports of forced marriage to a militant leader. The country ranks high for violence against Christians, with thousands killed recently. A global prayer campaign has been launched for persecuted believers in Africa.
Rebels from the Allied Democratic Forces kidnapped a pastor, his wife, and several church members in a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The group killed the pastor's two children and three congregants. An update confirmed that the pastor and his wife were also murdered; their bodies were found near the church and buried. The incident is part of a wider wave of violence by the ADF in the Ituri province, which has displaced many residents to nearby towns. A representative of Open Doors expressed grief and called for international action to protect citizens.
Dozens of adults and children were detained in a city in Eritrea last Saturday for celebrating a baby's first birthday. Sources indicate police arrested Christian attendees while releasing non-believers. Such raids are common in the country, where only three religious groups are officially recognized. Christians worshipping outside these state-approved denominations face indefinite detention without charge. Estimates suggest around a thousand believers are currently imprisoned under harsh conditions. The regime strictly monitors all religious activities and punishes any perceived external support or criticism of state interference.
Translated from Nederlands
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Illustrative photo
Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Joas Ottervanger on UnsplashPersecuted church
Open Doors Netherlands released its 2024 Gender Report ahead of International Women's Day. The study finds that religious persecution disproportionately affects women through complex violence and exclusion. While men often face open physical attacks or job loss, women endure hidden abuses like domestic violence, which worsens in unsafe environments. Conflicts and instability increase these vulnerabilities, causing long-term trauma. The organization notes that local churches are well-positioned to address these specific needs. This is the seventh annual overview highlighting how gender-specific religious persecution creates unique challenges for marginalized Christian communities worldwide.
A joint report by Open Doors and other aid groups reveals that while 166 Christians were arrested in Iran in 2023, fewer names and faces are being published. The Iranian regime appears to be obscuring the face of persecution, with many detainees refusing to go public due to fear of worsening their situation. Arrests surged after June and around Christmas. At least seventeen received prison sentences or other penalties. The report urges Tehran to guarantee religious freedom and release those detained for their faith, noting that Bible distribution remains a primary target for authorities.
The Myanmar military bombed a church in a village in Chin State, killing seventeen people, including nine children. Witnesses say the airstrike occurred during a Sunday service. Human rights groups report that religious buildings are being targeted as part of a broader strategy against communities. Since the 2021 coup, the country has faced civil war, with the army attacking churches and monasteries. Aid is currently blocked due to ongoing fighting and closed roads. The Centre for Information Resilience claims these attacks constitute war crimes.
A Presbyterian church in a city in Sudan was burned twice in late December and early January. The Evangelical Presbyterian Synod blames the RSF militia for the arson, citing their control over the region. A pastor reported significant damage to the building and records. The incident heightens fears among Christians, who face ongoing violence and displacement since the conflict began in April 2023. An Open Doors partner notes the attacks echo past persecution under Omar al-Bashir. The Synod warns that hate speech and attacks threaten religious freedom and societal stability in Sudan.
Hundreds of Christians in a village in the Democratic Republic of Congo gathered to mark one year since a bombing killed fifteen people. Despite the trauma and damage, the local church has grown to 1,300 members. A pastor reported baptizing fifteen new believers and laying the foundation for a martyrs' monument. Open Doors provided trauma care, food aid, and Bibles to help the community recover. The congregation views the event as an act of thanksgiving, demonstrating that fear did not stop their faith or worship.
A recent global report reveals a sharp increase in physical violence against Christians. Attacks on churches, shops, and homes have surged, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where radical jihadists target believers. One nation remains the deadliest, with thousands killed for their faith. In Asia, significant numbers of attacks on churches are recorded in two major countries. Despite grim data, the report notes positive developments in several regions, where political shifts or persecution paradoxically lead to church growth. The organization warns that actual numbers are likely much higher than recorded.
Missionaries Peter and Marije Fris report that churches in Ecuador are struggling with rising gang violence and security threats. Following the escape of drug lord Fito, the country has experienced increased chaos, including prison riots and attacks on religious sites. The couple, serving in Quevedo, notes that evening gatherings are now too dangerous, forcing many congregations to move activities online or to daytime hours. Several churches in Guayaquil have been robbed during services. Although Ecuador is not ranked for Christian persecution, religious freedom is under pressure due to strict registration laws and the general climate of instability. The Frises observe that while violence expands, they also witness divine protection and answered prayers among believers.
Prominent church leaders and the Christian Association of Nigeria held a peace march in a city in Plateau State to protest recent violent attacks on Christian communities. The demonstration followed coordinated assaults during the Christmas holidays that killed over 160 people and displaced thousands. Organizers delivered a protest letter to President Bola Tinubu, condemning the violence as satanic and highlighting the government's failure to provide security. The church declared a week of mourning and prayer, urging global support. This event underscores Nigeria's status as a top country for Christian persecution, with ongoing violence reported in Kaduna, Yobe, and Taraba states.
Armed groups attacked approximately 25 predominantly Christian villages in Nigeria’s Plateau and Taraba states during the Christmas period. Local authorities estimate that around 200 Christians were killed, with over 300 injured in Plateau alone. An Open Doors spokesperson described the attacks as tragic, noting that survivors are traumatized and displaced. The governor of Plateau stated the operations were carefully planned, rejecting the narrative of simple farmer-herder conflicts. This violence continues a long-standing pattern of persecution by Islamist groups and Fulani herders, with thousands of Christians killed in Nigeria since 2023.
Translated from Nederlands
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