Religion Report finds more violence against Christians in Central Asia
Violence and authoritarian restrictions against Christians have increased worldwide in the past year, according to the international relief organization for persecuted Christians, Open Doors. The aid organization noted an increase in Central Asia and sub-Saharan Africa in particular.
15.01.2025, 03:41
15.01.2025, 03:47
SDA
This is reported by Open Doors in the World Persecution Index (WVI) 2025, which was published on Wednesday. According to the report, 380 million Christians worldwide, around one seventh of the world's Christian population, are at least highly exposed to persecution and discrimination because of their faith.
The WVI lists the 50 countries where it is most dangerous for Christians to live and profess their faith. For the third time in a row and for the 23rd time since the first WVI in 1993, North Korea ranks at the top of the index.
According to the report, 4476 Christians worldwide were killed in connection with the practice of their faith. According to Open Doors, the number of unreported cases is likely to be significantly higher. Attacks on Christian homes increased again from 21,431 in the previous year to 28,368. This is an increase of almost 33 percent, albeit less dramatic than in the previous year - the figure for 2023 was 4547. 136,000 Christians were forcibly displaced in sub-Saharan Africa alone. In total, around 16 million Christians in the region have been forced to flee over the past few years.
Worsening situation in Kyrgyzstan
"The threat from authoritarian regimes in Central Asia has worsened to such an extent that many Christians in the region are increasingly afraid," Frans Veerman, Executive Director of Open Doors World Watch Research, was quoted as saying in the organization's press release. "Christians are being targeted or are particularly vulnerable in countries plagued by increasingly autocratic regimes and radical elements."
The predominantly Muslim ex-Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan has moved up 14 places to 47th in this year's World Persecution Index. According to the aid organization, the country has experienced a sharp rise in violence against churches, including attacks involving stone-throwing and raids on places of worship. State controls and police attacks against religious communities have also intensified in neighboring Kazakhstan.
Suppression for years
In the strictly Islamic society of Yemen, which is partly controlled by the pro-Iranian Houthi militia, Christians have suffered extreme persecution for many years, according to the aid organization. The civil war that has been raging since 2015 has also led to increasing lawlessness and created space for the oppression of minorities such as Christians. The situation has recently worsened, with Yemen rising from fifth to third place.
The situation has also become more dramatic in Sudan, another Muslim-majority civil war country, which has risen from 8th to 5th place. According to the report, the country recorded an increase in the number of Christians killed, sexual assaults and attacks on Christian homes and businesses.
