January 16, 2019, World Watch Monitor
In its survey of how difficult it is to live as a Christian in 150 countries, the trend in the 2019 World Watch List is that almost half (73) showed extreme, very high or high levels of persecution. A year earlier, it was 58 countries.
New laws in China and Vietnam seek to control all expression of religion. In China, it’s the worst religious repression there’s been in more than a decade.
In Nigeria, 3,700 Christians were killed for their faith.
Hindu and Buddhist governments of India and Myanmar continue to deny freedom of religion to their Christian minorities.
Persecution comes from radical Islamic militias in Egypt, Libya, Somalia and other sub-Saharan countries. In Indonesia, 3 churches were attacked by suicide bombers.
In Mexico and Colombia, persecution comes when church leaders challenge corruption and cartels.
Globally, Christian women and girls face more persecution in family and social spheres; men and boys from the authorities or militias.
Open Doors estimates that 245 million Christians now experience ‘high’ levels of persecution in 73 countries – up from 215 million in 58 countries last year.