Members of the Al-Shabaab terror group patrolling Afgooye-Mogadishu road in Somalia, one of the most hostile nations to Christians. The group, which controls a large part of the country, has been responsible for a range of violent attacks in Somalia and has been affiliated with Al-Qaeda. Photo: Public Domain

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Uzay Bulut, May 31, 2025

Anew report by Open Doors, an international human rights organization that monitors Christian persecution on a global scale, confirms that Christianity is the world’s most persecuted religion. Except for North Korea, where the source of persecution is Communist and Post-Communist oppression, the cause of persecution in the other top 10 countries is mainly Islamic oppression. 

Every year, Open Doors releases its “World Watch” report of the 50 states that persecute Christians. According to the organization’s 2025 report, more than 380 million Christians across the world suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith.

North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan are all in the top ten list of countries where Christians are exposed to extreme persecution. 

The only NATO member country on the World Watch list is Turkey (number 45), where the Christian minority suffers from Islamic oppression, religious nationalism, dictatorial paranoia, and ethno-religious hostility.

Somalia

Somalia, which ranks number two, is one of the most hostile nations for Christians and Christianity. The collapse of Mohammed Siad Barre’s regime in 1991 turned Somalia into a failed state, where Islamists, local militias, and warlords vie for power. Despite the fractured nature of governance, terror group Al-Shabaab controls a significant portion of the country. Somalia’s 2012 Constitution underscores Islam as the state religion and elevates Sharia law above all else, effectively banning the propagation of other religions. In Somalia,

following Jesus is a matter of life and death. … The dangers have increased over the years, as the militants have increasingly focused on finding and eliminating Christian leaders.

Young female converts to Christianity remain extremely vulnerable, with many living in hiding. Commonly, a woman suspected of converting to Christianity will be humiliated in public, kept under strict house arrest, raped, abducted, forcibly married to a radical sheikh or killed. If already married, she will likely be divorced and have her children taken away to ensure that they are raised in an Islamic way. 

Yemen

Yemen, which ranks number three, is now ruled by three different powers, as well as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (ISIS). The civil war in Yemen, ongoing since 2015, has brought Yemen to the brink of collapse:

None of the powers involved are sympathetic to Christians, and the official constitution upholds Sharia (Islamic law) and no freedom of religion. The 1% of Yemenis from minority religions are severely marginalised. Relief aid is mostly distributed through local Muslim groups and mosques, which are alleged to be discriminating against anyone not considered a devout Muslim.

In Houthi-controlled areas it’s dangerous to possess a Bible or other Christian books. … Persecution has increased recently as the Houthis have gained more power. At least one Christian Yemenite has been killed for his faith and dozens of house churches can no longer meet. It’s especially dangerous in areas controlled by Islamic extremist groups. Many have fled the country. … In all areas of Yemen, displaying Christian symbols is dangerous and could lead directly to imprisonment, physical abuse, or even execution.

Libya

Libya, which ranks number four, has become divided into the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the Government of National Stability (GNS) since the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. On the geopolitical and ideological level, the country has become an international battlefield in which different military powers try to gain influence (i.e., the Turkish-Qatari-Pakistani Islamist axis supporting the GNU versus Emirati-Saudi-Egyptian dictatorship axis supporting the GNS.)  The internationally recognized GNU is now being rivalled by the eastern GNS. In this unstable political environment where both sides vie for supremacy, making Libya vulnerable for renewed armed conflict, Christians in the country bear the brunt of human rights violations:

Libyan Christians with a Muslim background face violent pressure from their families and communities to renounce their faith. Foreign Christians, especially those from sub-Saharan Africa, are targeted by Islamist militant and criminal groups. 

Both the transitional Constitutional Declaration (2011) and the 2017 Draft Constitution declare Islam the country’s religion and Sharia law the main source of legislation. 

Sudan

Sudan (number five), which has been struck by a civil war between two Muslim faction—the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF)—since April of 2024, is now home to the world’s largest displacement crisis and the world’s largest hunger crisis, with nearly nine million people having been forced to flee their homes. Neither side is sympathetic to Christians, and the conflict has given Islamists more opportunity to target them:

The scope and intensity of pressure on Christians has grown substantially this year, as the civil war has introduced extreme levels of violence and hardship. Churches, Christian buildings, and even private homes belonging to Christians have been forcibly occupied.

Christians are also experiencing exceptional hardship in the hunger crisis because local communities discriminate against them and won’t give them support. Much of the church in Sudan, which might have been able to help with aid distribution, is on the run.”

Eritrea

In Eritrea (number six), where the main religion is Islam, the People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) is the only political entity. Since Eritrea’s independence in 1993, PFDJ under the leadership of President Isaias Afwerki has exercised full control over Eritrea:  

Hundreds of Christians have been in detention for years. … The regime has become synonymous with absolute authoritarianism and is doing everything possible to maintain its power: It has arrested, harassed and killed Christians because they are considered to be agents of the West and hence a threat to the state and the government.

Daily life is heavily monitored, with phone calls and internet usage under constant scrutiny. Eritrea is often called the ‘North Korea of Africa’ due to extreme state control. Christians, especially those not recognized by the state, suffer the most. Extreme pressure, state-sanctioned violence and conscription are forcing some Christians to flee the country. 

Nigeria

In Nigeria (number seven), which is majority-Christian, a “silent” genocide is occurring:

Raids by Fulani militants, multiple groups of armed bandits, and terror groups Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State in West Africa) have terrorized Christian communities. Women and girls are abducted, raped, sexually enslaved, and killed by militants. In addition to being ‘married,’ girls abducted by militants have reportedly been used as human shields or leverage in negotiations.”

Pakistan

In Pakistan, which ranks number eight,

Notorious blasphemy laws are often used to target minority groups, but Christians are disproportionately affected. These blasphemy laws carry a death sentence. While this is seldom carried out, people accused of blasphemy are vulnerable to attack or murder by mobs. 

The number of Christian girls (and those from other minority religions) abducted, abused and forcefully converted to Islam (frequently backed by lower courts) is growing… Christians are also vulnerable to being trapped in bonded labor.”

Iran

In Iran, which ranks number nine, 

Unrecognized converts from Islam to Christianity face severe religious freedom violations, primarily from the government and, to a lesser extent, from society and their families. The government views these converts as a threat, believing they are influenced by Western countries to undermine Islam and the regime.

Recognized historical communities such as Armenian and Assyrian Christians are state-protected but treated as second-class citizens.

Afghanistan

In Afghanistan (which ranks number ten), where the Taliban gained control in 2021,

If converts are discovered, the family, clan or tribe may try to preserve its ‘honor’ and deal with the convert through pressure, violence or even murder. If a convert’s faith is discovered by the government, many Afghan believers have no other option but to try to flee. Women and ethnic minorities experience additional oppression, Christians among these groups live under unthinkable pressure.

Whether it is the Middle East, Asia, or Africa, there is a clear pattern regarding the treatment of Christians by Muslims. In each case, Christians and other non-Muslims are oppressed, exposed to violence or the threat of violence, and discriminated against in majority Muslim countries. And the source of persecution in those countries is not only the government. In most cases, the wider Muslim community is also hostile to non-Muslims – including those Muslims who have converted to Christianity. There is little to no religious freedom, or even basic decent living, for non-Muslims trying to survive under Islam. 

Europe must take note, ban Sharia law and reshape its refugee and migrant policy, keeping in mind the tyrannical nature of Islam.