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Open Doors Youth, PO Box 6, Witney, Oxon, UK, OX29 6WG

+44 (0) 1993 460015 / youth@opendoorsuk.org

We serve Christians around the world whose brave faith in Jesus means they are, beaten, threatened, imprisoned, tortured, falsely accused, disowned and hated.

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Libya

World Watch List ranking: 9

How many Christians?

36,300 (0.5%)

Leader

Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh

SUMMARY

Since the revolution in 2011 the situation for Christians has got worse and worse and violent extremist groups, like those affiliated with IS, control large strategic areas. The government says all Libyans are Sunni Muslims, though there are an estimated 36,300 Christians (the vast majority of these are migrants and not Libyan nationals). Churches for Libyans are prohibited.

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Could provide a young person from Central Asia with a Bible in their own language

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Could provide trauma care for a victim of violent persecution

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Libya: How are Christians persecuted?

  • Converts from Islam face extreme pressure from their family and community to renounce their faith. 
  • Extremist Islamist groups target Christians for kidnap and even murder. 
  • Believers are monitored on the internet and increasingly so since the arrest of several Libyan Christians in March 2023. 
  • In April 2025, ten Libyan Christians and a Pakistani Christian were given prison sentences between three and 15 years for alleged ‘blasphemy’ – that is, leaving Islam for Christianity. 
  • Women are accorded a lower status in Libyan culture. Some Christian women may be killed to ‘redeem’ the ‘honour’ of their family if their faith is discovered. They also face house arrest, domestic violence and sexual assault – if abuse is reported, social stigma means that there is little justice. The penal code reduces sentences for so-called ‘honour’ crimes, making life for Christian women even harder. 
  • Libyan Christian men who have converted from Islam face intense pressure to reject Jesus when they are discovered, leading to imprisonment, eviction or even torture. They can also be subjected to forced labour and slavery, crippling the families from which they are taken. 

Libya: WHY ARE CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED?

  • There is no single unified government in Libya. This increases instability and the ability of extremist groups to act violently without great consequence or restriction. 
  • The Libyan Constitution designates Islam as the state religion and Sharia (Islamic law) as the primary source of legislation – so leaving Islam is a criminal offence and can result in a jail sentence. 

Libya: More details

Who is particularly vulnerable?

  • Regions of high Islamist extremist activity pose the greatest threat to Christians, especially migrants. 
  • Foreign Christians who migrate to Libya, largely from other parts of Africa, face ethnic discrimination from extremist and criminal groups. They could be trafficked, kidnapped and abused in detention camps. Many are force into hard labour and those who attempt to flee often die at sea or because of how they are treated in camps. 
What has changed in the last year?
  • Libya fell by five spots on this year’s World Watch List ranking, largely because of fewer reported incidents of violence. 
  • Life continues to be extremely harsh for Christians in Libya, especially for converts from Islam and migrant Christians who are targeted by extremist groups. Such conditions force most believers underground. 
How is Open Doors helping?

In cooperation with local partners and churches, Open Doors supports believers in North Africa through leadership and discipleship training, trauma counselling, prayer and livelihood assistance.  

PRAY NOW

Lord, it seems like the situation in Libya has been hard for so long – we grieve for our brothers and sisters who risk death just for following Jesus, and we lament with them that the situation is so dire. We know You are a God of hope who can accomplish the impossible, so we boldly ask You to bring about a change this year. Bring Libyans to the knowledge of Your saving love and grace and help Libyan Christians find safe fellowship. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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North Korea

400,000 (1.5% of the population)

North Korea is the most dangerous place in the world to be a Christian. The leadership are viewed as divine, so those following Jesus pose a real threat to their ruling status. Those suspected of following Jesus will be arrested and interrogated. Up to 70,000 Christians are living in horrific labour camps.

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Somalia

Hundreds (in a population of 19.3 million)

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Yemen

A small number (exact figures are hard to define)

A country where Muslims who choose to follow Jesus could face the death penalty…

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Sudan

2.2 million (4.3%)

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Eritrea

1.7 million (44.2%)

There are 3.7 million people in Eritrea. Of these, 1.7 million are Christian, which is almost half the population.

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Syria

300,000 (1.3%)

The past year has seen a sharp increase in violence, including the murder of Christians, forced closure of Christian schools, and attacks on churches – including the bombing of a church in Damascus in June 2025.

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Nigeria

107.3 million (45.7%)

More believers are killed for their faith in Nigeria each year than everywhere else in the world, combined…

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Pakistan

4.8 million (1.9%)

PAKISTAN: How are Christians persecuted? PAKISTAN: Why are Christians persecuted in Pakistan?  *Names changed for security reasons.

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Iran

800,00 (0.8% of the population)

Converting to Christianity from Islam is illegal in Iran, a place where Christians ca be arrested simply for attending a house church…

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