An estimated 300 Christians around the world face persecution for their faith, according to a new report on religious freedom. International Christian Concerns (ICC) Global Persecution Index 2025 It highlights threats ranging from violence and harassment to imprisonment and murder. The 116-page report also includes a country-by-country overview and names terrorist organizations and regimes responsible for persecuting Christians. premier christian news Reported.
North Korea remains one of the most dangerous places for Christians, as ICC President Jeff King pointed out, describing the country as a “giant prison state.”
“If you're a Christian, they're going to slowly kill you and take your children and your parents and you're all going to die,” Dr. King explained.
He estimated that the North Korean regime had killed approximately 1 million Christians.
According to Open Doors USA 2024 World Watch ListNorth Korea ranks among the countries with the most rampant persecution of Christians in the world.
Meanwhile, more than 100,000 Christians have been murdered in Nigeria, which the report also ranks as a serious crime. Dr. King pointed out that there are 3.5 million Christian farmers. kicked out For the past two decades, it has been a “stealth jihad” and “slow genocide” by Islamic extremists.
Additional findings included Russia's destruction of hundreds of religious sites in Ukraine and the expansion of Islamic extremism across Christian Africa. affected From beheadings to sexual violence to forced evictions to other heinous crimes and murders. In Nicaragua, the Catholic community persecuted This is due to the government of President Daniel Ortega, which has recently attacked and imprisoned evangelical Christians.
Nevertheless, Dr. King believes the church will ultimately prosper. in the midst of persecution. For example, Christianity is growing rapidly in Iran after decades of repression driving people away from Islam.
“This is probably the fastest growing church in the world,” King said, emphasizing that “God will win in the end.”
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Rattankhun Tombun
First publication date is January 9, 2025.
