New ACN report: Persecution of Christians has worsened around the globe
New research from Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, Ireland has revealed that persecution against Christians is on the increase.
Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians oppressed for their Faith 2022-24 was launched in Dublin on Sunday November 17 by Archbishop Linus Neli of Imphal, India and Bishop Paul Demosey of Dublin Archdiocese. It highlights the fact that Christian persecution has significantly worsened in most countries surveyed.
Launching Persecuted and Forgotten? in Dublin are (left to right) Michael Kelly, Director of Public Affairs with ACN Ireland, Fr Gary Chamberland CSC, Director of the Notre Dame Newman Centre for Faith and Reason, Harry Casey, National Director of ACN Ireland, Archbishop Linus Neli of Imphal, India and Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin Paul Dempsey.
Archbishop Neli was in Ireland as a guest of ACN Ireland to speak about anti-Christian violence in his native state of Manipur.
Persecuted and Forgotten? provides global and regional analysis, examining the situation for Christians in 18 countries of key concern – from Nicaragua in Latin America to Myanmar in the Far East to Burkina Faso in West Africa – between summer 2022 and summer 2024.
Michael Kelly, Director of Public Affairs for ACN Ireland described the report as “a sobering read”.
“You’d think in the 21st Century that persecution against Christians would be a thing of the past, our research shows that it is very much a current reality for millions of Christians around the globe,” he said.
Mr Kelly said the research underlines the importance of ACN’s role in advocating for persecuted Christians.
The report states that militant Islam was responsible for the increased persecution in all six African countries reviewed, indicating that “the epicentre of militant Islamist violence has shifted from the Middle East to Africa”. It goes on to explain: “Mass migration of Christian communities, triggered by militant Islamist attacks, has destabilised and disenfranchised them, raising questions about the long-term survival of the Church in key regions.”
Countries where Christian persecution and oppression has increased include world powers such as China and India, as well as Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country.
For the first time in the report’s 18-year history, Nicaragua is featured in response to extreme oppressive measures targeting Christians, notably the mass detention and expulsion of clergy. The report features first-hand testimonies from survivors of anti-Christian attacks, in addition to details of incidents based on information obtained from ACN’s local contacts.
Recurring themes in the report include the displacement of Christian communities following attacks by extremist groups and the forced marriage and conversion of Christian women and girls, as well as the kidnapping and intimidation of priests and the publication of derogatory content about Christianity in school textbooks.
Other highlights from the report include an upsurge in violent attacks on Christians in Pakistan triggered by blasphemy allegations and the detention of more than 850 people under anti-conversion laws in India.
Anti-Christian persecution has been perpetrated by both state and non-state actors, such as terrorist organisations, other groups of religious extremists and criminal gangs. The report states: “Authoritarian regimes, including those in China, Eritrea, India and Iran, ramped up repressive measures against Christians, either in the name of religious nationalism or state secularism/communism. The restrictions included tougher sentencing for alleged insults against state ideology, confiscation of places of worship, increased arrests of clergy and laity as well as longer periods of detention.”
Vietnam is the only country in the report where a slight improvement was noted, especially because of “steps taken to re-establish diplomatic ties” with the Vatican.
