Open Doors 2024 Watch List highlights persecution of sub-Saharan African Christians
United States RNS In its annual list detailing countries of concern when it comes to persecution against Christians, the watchdog organization Open Doors International highlighted outbreaks of violence against sub-Saharan African Christians, where 16.2 million were forced out of their homes at the end of 2022. The report, published at the beginning of every year, […]
Few persecuted Christians find refuge in US, new report finds
United States RNS Fewer Christians fleeing persecution in their native countries have found a safe harbour in the United States in the past half decade, according to a new report from a pair of Christian non-profits, which cites the effects of the pandemic and the dismantling of US refugee resettlement programs during the Trump administration. […]
Christian persecution higher than ever as Open Doors’ World Watch List marks 30 years
United StatesRNS In the three decades since the religious liberty organisation Open Doors has been compiling its World Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians face the most persecution for their faith, that persecution has never been worse. That’s according to the 2023 World Watch List released in the US on Tuesday evening, which showed North […]
Open Doors USA leaves Open Doors International, relaunches as Global Christian Relief
United StatesRNS Open Doors USA, the US-based arm of the global Christian persecution watchdog, has parted ways with Open Doors International and relaunched this month as Global Christian Relief. It maintains the same board of directors and CEO, David Curry. Open Doors USA is rebranding as Global Christian Relief. Image courtesy of GCR Meanwhile, in […]
Afghanistan displaces North Korea as the most dangerous place to be a Christian – report
RNS Afghanistan is the most dangerous country for Christians, according to an annual list put together by the Christian watchdog group Open Doors. It is the first time in two decades that North Korea has not been at the top of the list. Open Doors said the Taliban’s takeover of the Afghan Government in mid-August […]
Essay: Five reasons global persecution should matter to Christians in Australia
As Open Doors releases its annual World Watch List of countries where Christian persecution is greatest, MURRAY NOBLE, a leading researcher at Open Doors Australia, outlines why Christians in the West – and in Australia in particular – should care about the persecuted church…
Christians denied emergency COVID related food relief because of their faith – Open Doors’ report
The worldwide coronavirus pandemic has been a “catalyst” for the repression of Christian minorities around the world with some denied emergency relief because of their faith, according to Open Doors‘ latest annual report on the persecution of Christians across the globe. The report – known as the World Watch List – said that among those […]
Refugee data on religion disappears as fewer persecuted Christians admitted to US
RNS The US State Department no longer is making publicly available a number of statistics about refugees admitted into the United States, including their religious affiliation. A spokesperson for the department cited two main reasons for the changes, which took place Friday: the development of a new information technology system, which won’t be completed until […]
Open Doors warns of “rise of the surveillance state” as North Korea tops watch list again
RNS Imagine facial recognition technology to get into a house of worship and surveillance cameras inside. Or a “social score” system that awards points for good citizenship – and deducts them for sharing one’s faith, leading to penalties such as limiting where parents can send their children to school. It’s not the plot of a blockbuster […]
US pastor trapped in India over customs violation
RNS A US pastor has spent the past three weeks stranded in India after he was arrested and then released over a customs violation, according to his attorney. Pastor Bryan Nerren, a US citizen who heads the International House of Prayer Ministries in Shelbyville, Tennessee, was on his way to Nepal with two other pastors […]