Study: In 2021, 5,898 Christians died for their faith

In 2021, more than 360 million Christians were persecuted in their communities and 5,898 died for their faith. These are the findings of the World Watch List report published by Open Doors' World Watch Research group. The report is based on monitoring the religious situation in 50 countries where there are obstacles to the practice of Christianity.

According to the report, 6,175 Christians have been detained, arrested, convicted or imprisoned and 3,829 have been abducted. The Algerian government has closed 13 churches and intends to close seven more. In Iraq, the Christian community has decreased from 1.4 million people in 2003 to less than 250, 000.

In India, radical Hinduism is gaining ground, with many states passing laws restricting conversions. This has caused an increase in violence against Christians. The picture is the same in neighbouring Myanmar.

In Nigeria, almost 100 million Christians are being repressed by the government and attacked by the terrorist Islamist group Boko Haram, as well as other radical Islamic organisations.

As reported, Christianophobia has also risen sharply in Europe. 

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