(ANALYSIS) On Jan. 13, Open Doors, an international NGO advocating on behalf of persecuted Christians, released their annual World Watch List. The World Watch List assesses 50 countries where Christians face the most severe types of persecution.

The newly published data reveals that, during the reporting period between October 2019 and September 2020, more than 340 million Christians were living in countries where they might suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith. Among this number, 309 million Christians were living in countries where they might suffer very high or extreme levels of persecution.

As Open Doors emphasized, “That’s one in 8 worldwide, 1 in 6 in Africa, 2 out of 5 in Asia, and 1 in 12 in Latin America.” 

Open Doors’ research identified that during the reporting period, 4,761 Christians were killed for their faith, 4,488 Churches or Christian buildings were attacked, 4,277 Christians were unjustly arrested, detained or imprisoned, 1,710 Christians were abducted for faith-related reasons. On average, every day, 13 Christians are killed for their faith, 12 churches or Christian buildings are attacked, 12 Christians are unjustly arrested, detained or imprisoned, and 5 Christians are abducted for faith-related reasons. In the 21st century, it is still not possible to practice religion or belief safely. 

Open Doors also noted that for the first time in the list’s 29-year tenure, every country in the top 50 is ranked as experiencing very high or extreme levels of persecution, scoring more than 60 points out of 100. North Korea ranks number one, as the world’s worst persecutor of Christians, for the 20th consecutive year. Being a Christian in North Korea is a death sentence. If not killed, Christians are taken to labor camps as political criminals.

“Kim Jong-un is reported to have expanded the system of prison camps, in which an estimated 50,000-70,000 Christians are currently imprisoned,” the report states.

Nigeria entered the top 10 for the first time, reaching the maximum violence score. Nigerian Christians face violent attacks from Islamic extremist groups, including Boko Haram, Fulani Muslim militia, Daesh affiliate ISWAP) especially in Northern Nigeria and the Middle Belt. In Nigeria, “Men and boys are particularly vulnerable to being killed. The women and children they leave behind are often displaced to informal camps, face sexual violence, and are even at risk of abduction and forced marriage.” 

China has entered the top 20 for the first time in a decade, due to ongoing and increasing surveillance and censorship of Christians and other religious minorities. In China, “the policy of ‘Sinicizing’ the church has been implemented nationwide, as the Communist Party limits whatever it perceives as a threat to its rule and ideology. Thousands of churches have been damaged or closed. In some parts of China, children under the age of 18 aren’t allowed to attend church—part of the country’s efforts to stunt future growth.” While China is ranked 17th as a place where Christians are subjected to high levels of persecution, the situation of all religious groups in China is dire and has been deteriorating over recent years. Considering the current trends of persecution in China, it is expected that China will soon be toping the Open Doors charts and competing with North Korea as the worst place to live as a Christian. 

Open Doors further noted that COVID-19 has been having an adverse effect on the situation of the persecuted communities: “COVID-19 acted as a catalyst for religious persecution through relief discrimination, forced conversion, and as justification for increasing surveillance and censorship. Extremist attacks opportunistically spread further throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, from Nigeria and Cameroon to Burkina Faso, Mali, and beyond.”

The World Watch List 2021 paints a concerning picture of the situation Christians face around the world. However, it does not stop with Christians. In countries where Christians, and especially Christian minorities are persecuted, other religious minorities are subjected to similar treatment. This is a concern for us all. In the 21st century, nobody should live in fear of their life because of their religion or belief.

Ewelina U. Ochab is a legal researcher and human rights advocate, PhD candidate and author of the book “Never Again: Legal Responses to a Broken Promise in the Middle East” and more than 30 UN reports. She works on the topic of persecution of minorities around the world. This piece was re-published from Forbes with permission