International Christian Concern has published its 2026 Global Persecution Index, analyzing Christian persecution in over 20 nations. The report, titled Faces of the Persecuted, combines statistics with personal testimonies to inform policymakers and supporters. It specifically highlights worsening conditions in Nigeria, Syria, Russia, Nicaragua, and India, naming leaders such as Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. ICC President Shawn Wright stated the index aims to raise awareness and urge action for religious freedom. The organization continues its mission of assistance and advocacy for believers facing violence and state control.
Christians face severe challenges across multiple regions. In South Sudan, intercommunal clashes in a specific area killed over 70 people, disrupting church services and causing grief. In Jordan, gunmen attacked a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in a southern city, killing at least nine people and injuring 40 others. Meanwhile, in India’s Chhattisgarh state, tribal Christians endure floods and intense hostility, including forced evictions and property destruction by vigilantes. Additionally, Rohingya Christians in Bangladesh and India face statelessness, attacks, and false accusations. These events highlight ongoing security threats and religious persecution affecting minority communities in these countries.
The International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) is scheduled for November 1, 2026, in Canada. Seven Christian ministries, including Open Doors Canada and Voice of the Martyrs Canada, are collaborating to promote the event. According to Open Doors Canada, more than 388 million Christians face high levels of persecution globally. The campaign urges Canadian churches to use provided resources, such as sermons and videos, to highlight these struggles. The 2026 theme is titled 'Do You Know Our Suffering?' Organizers aim to foster solidarity and prayer for believers facing harassment, imprisonment, or death due to their faith.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Claudia Altamimi on UnsplashPersecuted church
In Haiti, gang violence has displaced thousands of residents, with attacks targeting Christian communities causing significant casualties and kidnappings. Similarly, in Sudan, armed groups have attacked religious sites in the Nuba Mountains, resulting in deaths and looting of church property. These incidents highlight the severe persecution faced by Christians in these regions. Meanwhile, an Iranian Christian convert, who was deported from the United States, has been granted asylum in Canada following advocacy by international human rights groups. This case underscores the ongoing dangers for converts in Iran and the international efforts to protect them.
In China, a pastor remains imprisoned on fraud charges, while his wife endures persecution facing church leaders. In Ethiopia, a drone strike on a monastery in the Amhara Region killed clergy and worshippers amid conflict with local fighters. In Pakistan, the Supreme Court acquitted all suspects in a brick kiln murder, drawing criticism from rights groups. Meanwhile, in Ukraine, a Russian missile attack on a village killed five members of a local family. In India, seven Christians in Madhya Pradesh received five-year sentences for alleged forced conversions, disrupting local church communities. These events highlight ongoing global challenges for believers.
Open Doors Canada is launching a campaign to raise awareness about Christians imprisoned for their faith. Citing the 2026 World Watch List, the group notes that over 8,000 believers were detained last year. The initiative, titled One With Them, focuses on individual stories from Iran, Nigeria, Cuba, and North Korea rather than just statistics. A key event is scheduled for June 28, 2026, featuring a virtual gathering for prayer and worship. The organization aims to ensure these captives are not forgotten by the global church community. (Source: Light Magazine)
Christians in Nigeria face escalating violence, kidnappings, and targeted attacks across several regions. In one northern state, armed groups disrupted church services in a village, capturing over 160 people, while schoolgirls were abducted along a local corridor. Another state saw worshippers killed during Palm Sunday in a district, and families murdered in a village. In a northeastern state, extremists destroyed churches and homes in multiple villages. A western state reported the destruction of sacred items in a Catholic Church compound. These incidents have displaced communities and heightened fear, with inadequate protection and accountability reported by the outlet.
A British Columbia Supreme Court trial examined whether publicly funded faith-based hospitals can refuse to host Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) procedures. The lawsuit, brought by the family of Samantha O’Neill, alleges her transfer to a hospice caused undue suffering. Closing arguments were heard in April 2026 by Chief Justice Ronald Skolrood. Defendants, including Providence Health Care and the provincial government, argue the policy balances patient rights with religious freedom. The outcome may set a national precedent regarding religious exemptions in public healthcare. Over 5 percent of Canadian deaths now involve MAiD, raising ongoing moral and legal conflicts.
Canada enacted Bill C-9, the Combatting Hate Act, on June 18, 2025, following Royal Assent. The legislation amends the Criminal Code to address antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination. A key change is the removal of the 'good faith religious belief' defense for hate speech charges. The Evangelical Fellowship of Canada argues this weakens religious protections, while the Justice Minister maintains that preaching and teaching Scripture remain legal. Public pressure led to clarifications ensuring that good faith religious practice is considered in the definition of hatred. Prosecutions still require Attorney General approval.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a new Ebola outbreak has emerged in a northern region, complicating efforts to aid Christians already fleeing violence from armed groups. The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency, noting that armed conflict hinders medical access. Meanwhile, in a northeastern Indian state, Christians remain displaced three years after ethnic clashes between local communities. Official records show nearly 59,000 people in relief camps, with converts facing continued persecution in areas dominated by one group. A Christian forum has urged the state leader for intervention to restore stability and protect religious practices amid ongoing segregation.
Violent attacks against Christians in a region of Ethiopia have killed over 20 people, prompting church leaders to demand government action. In Libya, Christians face severe restrictions, with native believers imprisoned and foreign workers vulnerable to kidnapping or forced labor in the fragmented state. Meanwhile, a federal court in Nigeria convicted 386 individuals linked to terrorist groups on terrorism charges. The convictions, ranging from five years to life imprisonment, respond to international pressure to protect vulnerable Christian communities from Islamist terrorist violence. These developments highlight ongoing security and religious freedom challenges across the region.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, militants killed dozens of Christians in a rural village. In Nigeria, authorities convicted hundreds of individuals linked to terrorist groups on terrorism charges, while separate attacks in central regions caused significant casualties. In Finland, the Supreme Court convicted a Christian legislator for hate speech related to LGBTQ issues. Additionally, a vehicle struck a Christian procession in Pakistan, killing one person and injuring many others. These incidents underscore the persistent religious persecution and legal challenges faced by believers across these diverse regions.
Following coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Christian organizations in both nations report significant operational disruptions. A ministry leader states it is preparing strategic support for Iranians amid rising tensions and casualties since late December 2025. The group welcomes potential regime change and urges Western prayer for civilian protection and spiritual restoration. Meanwhile, a Christian ministry in Israel describes the day as intense, with sirens and reservist activations affecting staff and canceling planned events. Both ministries emphasize reliance on prayer for wisdom and peace as the conflict escalates.
A woman fled her village in northern Nigeria after terrorists killed her son and attacked her community. According to a mission leader, she hid in a forest for hours before being discovered by indigenous missionaries. They provided her shelter and an Audio Bible. As she listened to the stories of Jesus, she found comfort and eventually accepted Christ. The group reports that she is now a disciple sharing her testimony of hope and redemption after surviving the violence.
Coordinated attacks by Islamic State-linked militants in northern Mozambique displaced over 80,000 people and killed at least 22 Christians in November 2025. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, terrorist groups like the ADF continue to abduct and exploit children from Christian communities. Meanwhile, unrest persists in Iran, where underground believers face ongoing repression despite the faith's growth. In contrast, Pakistan celebrated Christmas with unprecedented public support from senior leaders, including the Chief Minister and Army Chief, marking a historic shift in the recognition of the Christian minority.
Syria has climbed to sixth place on the 2026 World Watch List, marking its highest ranking since 2017. Open Doors attributes this surge to the December 2024 collapse of the Assad regime and the subsequent takeover by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham. The organization reports that violence against Christians has intensified, with at least 27 believers killed for their faith during the reporting period. A June 2025 suicide bombing in a city in Syria killed 22 Christians, while other attacks targeted churches in another region. The group states that new constitutional laws and public pressure have further isolated Syrian Christians, driving many to hide their beliefs. This shift represents one of the largest single-year score increases in the list's history.
Voice of the Martyrs released its 2025 annual report detailing global Christian persecution. In Pakistan, blasphemy charges and forced conversions remain issues, though some judicial acquittals occurred. India faces challenges from anti-conversion laws and mob violence, despite a Supreme Court review. China continues to imprison church leaders and raid congregations under state control. Iran imposes harsh sentences for conversion, with prisoners facing torture and poor medical care. Nigeria experienced severe violence from militant groups, resulting in thousands of deaths and the recent kidnapping of over 300 students. The U.S. designated Nigeria a country of particular concern due to the ongoing carnage.
Militants in a northern Mozambican region have displaced nearly 93,000 people since 2017, targeting Christians with violence and abductions. In Sudan, forces attacked a city in North Darfur, killing over 2,000 civilians and destroying churches and hospitals. In Malaysia, a court ruled that police officials were involved in a pastor’s 2017 abduction, ordering compensation. Meanwhile, arrests of Christians in Eritrea have risen, India passed stricter anti-conversion laws, herdsmen killed Christians in Nigeria, Afghan refugees faced deportation in Tajikistan, and militants killed 43 people at a church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A pastor leads worship services for displaced Christians in an internally displaced persons camp in Nigeria, where traditional church structures are absent. According to Open Doors, extremist violence has forced millions of Christians across sub-Saharan Africa, including in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Mali, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to flee their homes. The outlet reports that over 3,000 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons between September 2023 and October 2024. Victims describe losing family members and enduring abduction. Open Doors partners provide humanitarian aid and trauma care to those affected by this ongoing crisis.
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