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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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Iraq

World Watch List ranking: 18

SUMMARY

Iraqi Christians experience ongoing harassment and persecution. Last year, dozens of Christians were physically abused, abducted or driven away, with homes and businesses confiscated. In the north, huge numbers of Christians fled from so-called Islamic State (IS). Many have yet to return as bombing goes on. Violence has decreased, but Christians are far from safe and believers who’ve converted from Islam risk being shunned by their communities, or prosecuted under blasphemy laws.

EVERY £8

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

EVERY £26

Could provide trauma care for a victim of violent persecution

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LEVEL OF PERSECUTION:

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)

SOMALIA: How are Christians persecuted? SOMALIA: WHY ARE CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED?

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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%)

Conflict, targeted persecution, Islamic extremism and instability all mean Christians are counting the cost in Sudan…

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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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Libya

36,300 (0.5%)

Libya: How are Christians persecuted? Libya: WHY ARE CHRISTIANS PERSECUTED?

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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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