“Close to . . . genocide.”

That’s how an alarming study recently commissioned and released by the British government described the current state of Christian persecution around the globe.

View Comments (3)

The final report, compiled by the Bishop of Truro the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen states that violence and oppression against Christians is increasing rapidly, and becoming more deadly.

“Evidence shows not only the geographic spread of anti-Christian persecution, but also its increasing severity. In some regions, the level and nature of persecution is arguably coming close to meeting the international definition of genocide, according to that adopted by the UN.”

The report states Christians make up “by far the most widely persecuted religion” among the one-third of the world’s population suffering some religious persecution.

Persecution on grounds of religious faith is a global phenomenon that is growing in scale and intensity. Reports including that of the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on ‘Freedom of Religion and Belief’ (FoRB) suggest that religious persecution is on the rise, and it is an “ever-growing threat” to societies around the world.

Though it is impossible to know the exact numbers of people persecuted for their faith, based on reports from different NGOs, it is estimated that one third of the world’s population suffers from religious persecution in some form, with Christians being the most persecuted group.

It’s chilling. According to the report, an estimated 80% of persecuted believers around the world are Christians….

Read and Sign the Petition to Protect Christians and Recognize and End the Genocide

As we explained to the U.N.:

Increasingly, we see attacks being carried out against Christians in countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, and now Sri Lanka. ISIS is on the run from Iraq and Syria, but the escaping fighters take with them their ideology and commitment to the destruction of Christians.

ISIS and its affiliates are spreading around the globe, promoting terror and perpetrating religiously based attacks . . . . It is estimated that since May of 2011 Boko Haram has killed more than 37,500 people, displaced 2.4 million, and created 228,000 refugees.

Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, and utilises its tactics of mass killings and kidnappings to instill fear and intimidate. They target Christians and anyone else whom they see as a threat to the establishment of an Islamic State.

Boko Haram’s atrocities have no limit. Horrific examples of its cruelty include: executing 59 boys in their sleep and burning down their school, utilizing mob violence to target Christians, and using fake preachers to massacre innocent worshipers.

These and countless other acts of terror and senseless sectarian violence provide an example of the gruesome and dehumanising atrocities targeting Christians and others who are vulnerable.

The ACLJ is fighting for endangered and dying Christians all around the world. We’ve stood before the U.N. multiple times demanding protection for Christian victims of the ISIS genocide in Syria and Iraq. We’ve also urged swift global action for Nigeria’s Christians living under the threat of murder or abduction by Islamic militias like Boko Haram and the Fulani Herdsmen….

As this British report indicates, the situation for Christians around the world has become dire. Innocent Christian men, women, and children are in grave danger. Some will not survive this year.

We will continue to fight to defend them. But we need the international community to hold countries committing or allowing this persecution accountable and uphold Christians’ fundamental right to live and worship freely without threat of retribution or violence. If world leaders don’t come together on behalf of endangered Christians, the outlook appears beyond grim – it’s unthinkable.

(Excerpt from ACLJ article by CeCe Hall.)