Persecuted and Forgotten?: An ACN Report

It is scandalous and under-reported, but Christians are being persecuted for their faith around the world even today.Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has produced a report called Persecuted and Forgotten?, which includes the following information about Christians who face persecution in our world today.

1. In China, more than 2,000 churches and crosses were demolished within 12 months up to April 2016
2. In Egypt, it is illegal to convert from Islam to Christianity.
3. Within a month in Eritrea, May 2017, 122 Christians were arrested during a government crackdown. 33 women were jailed in a prison notorious for torture.
4. In India, 365 anti-Christian incidents were recorded during 2016; 10 people were killed, 145 beaten and physically assaulted and 34 women – including nuns – were raped.
5. In Iran, saying Mass in the main language, Farsi, is not allowed. Priests are required to ask a Muslim attending Mass to leave or else face possible arrest for alleged proselytism/seeking converts.
6. In Iraq’s Nineveh Plains, 12,970 homes were damaged or destroyed in Christian majority towns/villages during 2 year occupation by Daesh/Isis. 120,000 were displaced.
7. In Northern Nigeria’s Maiduguri Diocese, Islamist Boko Haram mass-killing and other violence caused 1.8 million to be displaced and left 5,000 widows and 15,000 orphans.
8. In North Korea, there are reports of public executions of Christians. The remaining faithful, numbering up to 500,000, meet in groups of 2 or 3 and silently mouth prayers.
9. In Saudi Arabia, churches are forbidden. Public Christian worship is banned, as is them import of Bibles. Converting to Christianity is punishable by death.
10. In Sudan, in the 12 months up until February 2017, the government gave notice of intent to destroy at least 25 churches.
11. In Turkey, at least 100 church properties have been seized over the past 5 years.
12. In Syria, Orthodox Patriarch Aphrem II has stated that Christians are exiting en masse and fears that one of the oldest church communities is on the way out.
13. In Pakistan, Fr James Channon, responsible for inter-faith cooperation, states that Christians are experiencing their worst time in the country’s history.

Visit www.acnuk.org/persecuted for more information. Please pray daily for all those who are persecuted and that the United Nations will challenge these Governments who are oppressing Christians and their right to religious freedom.