In times of totalitarian systems of rule, the persecution of Christians is increasing in the world. A process that is accelerating, according to the Christian aid organization “Open Doors”.
With all the talk of a thaw on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea remains on top in the statistics of horror. 18. Times in a row (!) North Korea occupies the first place on the “world watch index” of the Christian charitable organization “Open Doors”. As before, the pressure on Christians in all facets of life was extreme, says the report, by the Organisation to submit this Wednesday.
“Any deviation from the worship of the Supreme political leader” is regarded as a crime. In June, 2018 Donald Trump in Singapore had met the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. The potential impact of this meeting in the Open Doors report, however, in vain.
More murdered Christians
In June 2018, Kim Jong Un (l.) and Donald Trump (R) meet for the first time in person
The persecution of Christians is for “Open Doors” to a global Trend for more than ten years. Reason for this is the rise of totalitarian systems of rule. And in 2018 increased violence and persecution against Christians in the world. However, the extent of the increase in violence is intensifying, according to data of the Agency for several years, in many countries, increasingly rapid.
This is not to say that There are only more violence and persecution, because it is a Trend of the time, but it increases more than proportionally. So, the number of documented murders of Christians have increased, according to the report of 2782 in the year 2017 4136 in the previous year. By far the most died in one country: Nigeria.
According to data of the Agency have to suffer in more and more countries of the world Christians are under massive persecution. In his “world persecution index 2019” speaks to the organization of eleven countries, where the need of an “extreme persecution of Christians” to speak. Five years ago, this was true only for a country: North Korea. Hundreds of millions of Christians would have to suffer such extreme persecution.
India climb to number ten
The spectrum of the ten worst, threatening countries ranges from Africa to Asia. Not only the “usual Suspects” as Iran, Somalia, or the Sudan and war-torn regions such as Yemen and Afghanistan belong to this top group, but also to countries such as India and Eritrea. Syria follows only on place eleven.
As the condemned Christian woman Asia Bibi in Pakistan was released, raged on the streets of the Mob
The most famous single person in the past year, a symbolic figure of a persecuted Christian, and the “Open Doors” will be addressed, is the Pakistani Asia Bibi. The case of the simple woman, mother of several children, and caused global concern and international campaigns. Bibi, himself illiterate, was convicted in 2010 for alleged blasphemy to death. As of the end of October 2018, the Supreme court of Pakistan rejected the verdict, it came to days-long riots by Islamist extremists. For “Open Doors” is the dramatic case is indicative. Pakistan was next to Nigeria, the country with the highest levels of Violence against Christians. Violence against Christians is Commonplace. And especially Christian girls and women are at risk. In many cases, women would be forced, kidnapped, married forcibly, for the conversion.
Followed in your own family
In its materials, Open Doors “to various tracking” pattern. Because of the persecution by his own family – in the first place – in the case of a conversion from Islam to Christianity. Further dangers for Christians, the persecution by extremist groups like the Islamic state, Abu Sayyaf, or Boko Haram or the prosecution are the example of India – a society as a whole. But it is clear that this threat contexts, not only Christians, but also members of other religious minorities.
In Syria, churches are being destroyed today are evidence of past persecution
The statistics lists the 50 countries in which Christians after the presentation of the “Open Doors” in their religious freedom in the strongest and most disadvantaged will be followed. A shift is evident in the high threat posed by radical Islamists. From Iraq and Syria (the former) IS to have placed fighters in other countries in the Region, but also in Asia and southern Africa.
Comprehensive Surveys
The auxiliary is there to support claims to persecuted Christians in 60 countries around the world. The organization describes itself as non-denominational, but Evangelical the German Evangelical Alliance close. Is not always helped with emergency relief programs, but also with the supply of Bibles, support of their Translation and theological training.
The data for the world persecution index are determined by answers to an extensive questionnaire, the network of each year, own professionals, external experts and Church leaders to present on-site. Despite the weaknesses of the Ranking can help with an arrangement, because the respondents have a direct insight into the Situation of the country concerned.