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

Mauritania

World Watch List ranking: 23

SUMMARY

In Mauritania, it is illegal to leave Islam and follow another faith. Converts face extreme pressure for bringing shame on their families; they are likely to be shunned or abused. They may be accused of apostasy in a religious court, with severe consequences, or prosecuted for ‘undermining national security by insulting Islam and threatening Mauritania’s sacred principles’. It is extremely risky for Christians to meet together - even foreign-born Christians worshipping publicly can be charged with trying to evangelise to Muslims.

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Could provide trauma care for a victim of violent persecution

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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 16.8 million)

SOMALIA: QUICK FACTS SOMALIA: THE BASICS The dangers of being a Christian in Somalia are extreme. Most, if not all, Christians in the country are converts from Muslim backgrounds. That makes each believer a high-value target for al-Shabaab, a militant group that has repeatedly expressed its desire to eradicate Christians from the country. If discovered, […]

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Libya

35,100 (0.5%)

Libya: QUICK FACTS Libya: The basics Libya continues to be a place with very little political stability. Much of the country is ruled over by militias. But a small number of Libyans have encountered Jesus and chosen to follow Him. It could cost them everything.  Converts from Islam face the most intense and violent pressure […]

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Eritrea

1.7 million (46%)

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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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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Nigeria

103 million (46.4%)

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

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Pakistan

4.2 million (1.8%)

PAKISTAN: QUICK FACTS PAKISTAN: THE BASICS A devastating attack on the Christian community in Jaranwala in August 2023 was a reminder of the hostile environment facing many believers in Pakistan. The attack on more than 20 churches and almost 100 homes was in response to two believers being accused of desecrating the Quran.  Pakistan’s notorious […]

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Sudan

2 million (4.3%)

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

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Iran

1.2 million (under 1.4% 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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Afghanistan

Thousands (in a population of 41 million)

If an Afghan’s Christian faith is discovered, it can be a death sentence, or they can be detained and tortured into giving information about fellow believers…

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