A Christian woman from Eritrea has died after nearly three years in a military prison, according to Open Doors Nederland. Local partners in the Horn of Africa reported her death, with burial occurring in late September. Exact details regarding her arrest remain unknown. The organization states that hundreds of Christians have been imprisoned without trial for over two decades due to their faith. The UN and human rights groups accuse the Eritrean government of severe rights violations, including torture and detention in shipping containers. Open Doors continues to advocate for the release of seven imprisoned church leaders held without charge.
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Christians in northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo face severe hardship due to Allied Democratic Forces attacks and an Ebola outbreak. Human rights group APDEF reports hundreds of deaths and thousands displaced in Ituri and North Kivu provinces. Pastors report that churches have closed, homes burned, and families forced to flee. The violence disrupts farming and education, leaving communities dependent on host families. This crisis compounds the health emergency, as insecurity hinders Ebola containment efforts in the region.
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Illustrative photo, not from the original report · Photo by Dylan Shaw on UnsplashPersecuted church
A Cuban evangelical pastor was arrested in early June after joining protests against power outages and the government. He was released in September pending trial, though he must report to authorities twice weekly. His case highlights the worsening humanitarian crisis in Cuba, which includes severe electricity shortages, food spoilage, and fuel deficits. According to Open Doors Nederland, this pressure has led some Christians to join peaceful demonstrations. The outlet also notes that over 200 incidents of religious persecution were recorded in Latin America during June and July 2026. The pastor maintains his innocence while facing ongoing legal charges.
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Militant Islamist groups in central and southern Mali are coercing Christian congregations to pay the jizya tax. Local sources report that villages face threats of violence or closure if they refuse. Some churches have sold crops and livestock to raise funds, with one denomination paying over $100,000 recently. These groups, including JNIM and ISGS, control rural areas where state protection is weak. Pastors report severe economic hardship and restrictions on worship. This situation has caused displacement and increased insecurity for the Christian minority in this West African nation.
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Violence in Nigeria surged significantly in late 2025, with kidnappings rising by 153% and murders by 51% compared to the previous year. This data, cited in a report on religious freedom, highlights severe instability in northern and central regions. Armed groups, including Boko Haram and Fulani militants, are primarily responsible for the attacks. In response to mass abductions, the president declared a state of emergency. The United States designated the nation a Country of Particular Concern regarding religious freedom. The ongoing conflict has displaced nearly four million people, creating a humanitarian crisis that disproportionately affects vulnerable communities.
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Prominent lawyers have filed a petition in a high court in India to challenge the constitutional validity of the state's amended religious freedom law. The legislation, modified recently, has led to increased hostility against Christians, including threats, evictions, and church closures. A local partner of Open Doors states the changes primarily target Christians and violate constitutional rights. The court granted the state government three weeks to respond to the petition, which seeks a temporary suspension of the new provisions. The case highlights ongoing tensions regarding religious liberty in the Indian state.
According to Open Doors Nederland, Christians in India face severe persecution despite constitutional guarantees of religious freedom. The article attributes this worsening situation to the rise of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its Hindutva ideology, which views non-Hindus as traitors. Anti-conversion laws are frequently misused to harass believers and disrupt church services. Violence is widespread, with reports of attacks on pastors, their families, and displaced communities in states like Manipur. The outlet states that social media rumors further fuel discrimination and economic exclusion for Christians, who are often among the poorest citizens.
Amekidia, a 20-year-old Christian from Tanzania, escaped kidnapping and sexual abuse after refusing a forced marriage arranged by her family. Her parents expelled her from home in 2023 after she converted from African Traditional Religions. On September 15, 2025, she was abducted by two men and held in a nearby village. She escaped the next day and contacted her pastor, who reported the crime to the police. Despite receiving death threats, Amekidia remains free and is returning to school with support from Open Doors partners. The case highlights the severe persecution faced by young converts in the region.
Militants attacked a village in northern Nigeria, kidnapping dozens of churchgoers. A pregnant woman was taken captive along with her children. After giving birth in the camp without medical care, she endured nearly 120 days of captivity. She eventually escaped with her children, walking barefoot for two days without food or water. Tragically, her newborn and one child died during the journey. The mother and her two surviving children reached a village and are now receiving medical and pastoral care. Local partners report that other captives remain held by the militants.
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Two Christian men in Pakistan were recently acquitted of blasphemy charges after courts found insufficient evidence. One was released in July following unreliable witness testimony, while another was freed in June after a fabricated dispute. Meanwhile, a third man died in prison due to lack of medical care for diabetes after being falsely accused. Open Doors expressed gratitude for the acquittals but highlighted the severe risks of blasphemy accusations, which often stem from personal grievances and lead to violence. Pakistan ranks eighth on the World Watch List for Christian persecution.
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Data indicates that Christians in Nigeria face severe religious persecution, with daily killings averaging nine victims. Although authorities often blame general banditry, statistics reveal Christians are significantly more likely to be killed or kidnapped than Muslims in affected areas. Militant groups explicitly target believers for elimination or forced conversion. Advocacy groups urge global recognition of this crisis, highlighting that the nation ranks among the top countries worldwide for Christian persecution, demanding international attention and protection for vulnerable communities.
On Saturday, September 26, Christians across the Netherlands will participate in the Walk of Hope, a silent march through Utrecht. Organized by groups including Open Doors and ChristenUnie, the event aims to raise awareness for the 388 million Christians facing global discrimination. The walk starts at Utrecht Central Station at 11:00 AM and ends at Moreelsepark. According to the organizers, the initiative highlights the solidarity of Dutch believers with those suffering for their faith. The program features speeches and testimonies from Christians in Iran and Nigeria. This follows a successful first edition in Amsterdam last year, which drew hundreds of participants.
Two Christians were kidnapped by Boko Haram in a village in northern Cameroon near the Nigerian border. This group has caused ongoing violence, including murders and property destruction, since 2014, targeting local evangelical church members. A pastor reported that these attacks have severely disrupted families and threatened livelihoods during the harvest season. He urges global prayer for the victims, the community's faith, and the perpetrators' conversion. Cameroon ranks 37th on the Christian persecution list, with thousands fleeing violence in the region.
An Islamist militant group killed more than twenty people in multiple attacks in a region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Local contacts confirm deaths in a specific village, including a church elder and worship leader. Another pastor reports additional fatalities in the same area. Survivors fear further violence as church activities halt. The group, linked to the Islamic State, targets Christian communities with extreme brutality. Restrictions hinder information verification in the region, leaving believers in danger.
A church leader and refugee from Sudan shares his experiences amid the ongoing civil war, which has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis. With over 33 million people in need, the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces has displaced half the population. He reports that Christians face systematic persecution and that churches have been destroyed in a major city. Despite severe hunger and violence, he notes that believers find peace and hope in worship. The situation remains critical, with women and children particularly vulnerable to sexual violence and starvation.
A pastor in China has been released after nearly nine months in detention. He traveled to the United States to reunite with his family. Open Doors Nederland reported that while his release is a relief, eight other church members remain detained. Their charges were recently amended to include fraud and illegal business activities, which could lead to harsher sentences. The organization notes that authorities have intensified crackdowns on unregistered house churches across the country, affecting many believers beyond this specific case. (Source: Open Doors Nederland)
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Lawmakers in the Netherlands approved a motion urging the government to advocate for religious minorities in Egypt. Proposed by members of parliament and supported by advocacy groups, the initiative highlights ongoing discrimination and legal restrictions faced by groups such as Bahá’ís and Coptic Christians. It requests that the Netherlands push for improved freedom of religion within EU-Egypt cooperation. The organizations state this parliamentary decision provides significant moral and political support to these vulnerable communities facing severe persecution.
Thousands gathered in a village in central India to protest alleged forced religious conversions. A local committee organized the demonstration to defend indigenous culture, demanding an investigation into coercion by Christian leaders. Although the protest remained relatively peaceful, reports indicate that three Christian families were forcibly evicted from the village during the event. Local partners state the displaced families are now under police protection. The demonstrators issued a statement to state authorities, warning of further protests if no action is taken regarding their complaints about outside religious influence.
An advisor warns that ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran may overlook minority rights, particularly Christians. He argues that a framework focusing solely on security and sanctions relief could stabilize the regime while leaving citizens vulnerable to persecution. Christians are targeted because the state views their faith as a threat to national security, not due to foreign interference. He urges the international community to ensure any agreement includes human rights protections and religious freedom, rather than offering diplomatic silence that ignores ongoing injustices in the country.
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