Christians increasingly oppressed according to the ACN

Strikes by the Burmese junta against churches, arrests of priests in China, kidnapping of young women in Egypt… the new ACN report, entitled “Persecuted and forgotten?” hardly makes you smile. Relying on its local relays and on various data accessible to the public, the association of pontifical law analyzes the problems encountered by Christian communities in 18 countries. All are located in Africa and Asia, with the exception of Nicaragua (Central America). The study, carried out between August 2022 and June 2024, shows the evolution of these realities compared to the 2020-2022 results. Result: all countries except one present results ranging from “no change” (the situation remains just as difficult as two years ago) to “regressions” (persecutions or restrictions are clearly increased). “Not only do Christians face fundamental human rights violations in more countries than any other religious group, but the gap between them and the second most affected religious group has widened significantly,” the report explains..

The increase in Islamist violence

The study notes that militant Islamist attacks on Christians have moved from the Middle East to Africa. The six African countries mentioned (Egypt, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Mozambique, Souda, Eritrea) are thus recording a regression in the situation of Christians mainly due to jihadist attacks, which lead to population displacements. “Christians are not the only victims in armed conflicts in these regions, but they are disproportionately targeted by militants,” the study states. Thus in February 2024, the Islamic State Mozambique (EIM) attacked a dozen villages in the diocese of Pemba, destroying all the chapels and numerous infrastructures.

Christians “enemies of the state”

In Eritrea, China, India and Iran, local authorities have tightened their religious policies and repression against Christians, ranging from the confiscation of places of worship to anti-conversion laws (India). Legislation prohibiting blasphemy regularly leads to attacks against Christians. In Iran, where evangelization is prohibited, Christians are mainly converted Muslims, and must therefore live illegally, considered as internal enemies by the theocratic regime in place.

Women, privileged target

The report emphasizes that women are particularly victims of this oppression. He notes an increase in the number of kidnappings of Christian girls, forced marriages from the age of ten, as well as sexual violence.

Thus in May 2023, while the province of Kompienga (Burkina Faso) was the subject of numerous jihadist attacks, a group of Christian women were raped and some of them were kidnapped to become sex slaves.

The only positive note on the board: Vietnam recorded a “slight improvement” for having reestablished its diplomatic relations with the Vatican and simplified its procedures regarding the registration of religious groups.