Christian persecution across the globe has worsened in the past two years, according to a new report from Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
ACN launched Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2022-24 on Tuesday, highlighting that Christian persecution has significantly worsened in most of the 18 countries surveyed.
China, India and Nigeria, some of the most populous countries in the globe, were among the countries were persecution had increased in the past few years.
In the six African countries reviewed in the report, militant Islam was responsible for increased persecution, showing the epicentre of militant Islamist violence has shifted from the Middle East to Africa.
“Mass migration of Christian communities, triggered by militant Islamist attacks, has destabilised and disenfranchised them, raising questions about the long-term survival of the Church in key regions,” the report said.
Authoritarian regimes in China, Eritrea, India and Iran have also ramped up repressive measures against Christian populations.
Nicaragua was featured in the report for first time in response to extreme oppressive measures targeting Christians, notably the mass detention and expulsion of clergy.
There has also been an upsurge in violent attacks on Christians in Pakistan triggered by blasphemy allegations, and the detention of more than 850 people under anti-conversion laws in India.
Of the 18 countries in the survey, Vietnam was the only country where a slight improvement was recorded.
In its conclusion, the report called on to governments around the world to do more to combat persecution against Christians, rather than simply paying lip-service to the problem.
A full copy of the report can be found here.