the facts - christian persecution

Throughout the Middle-East, Christians face an exhaustive amount of persecution, which includes but is not limited to: Death for refusal to convert, extrajudicial killings, poor treatment from refugee camp inhabitants and administrators, persecution from non-Christian neighbors, false blasphemy allegations (which often result in long-term imprisonment and death) arbitrary arrests and imprisonment, abductions/kidnappings, denial of services, political marginalization and economic persecution. In certain parts of the Middle East, Christians continue to receive ongoing threats from Iran-backed Shiite militia and groups out to take control of Christian-owned land and property. - In the last 100 years, Christianity went from 20% of the population in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region to under 4%.

 Christians are becoming extinct in Iraq, those who have not been murdered or fled due to persecution face increased pressure and violence from multiple different extremist groups. They have lost their family, livelihood, jobs, homes and all possessions they have worked for and owned (in some cases for generations, passed down from family). Within 20 years, Iraq's Christian population has dropped from 1.5 Million to under 240,000. 

In the same manner Christians have fled Iraq, they have been killed or forced to flee from Syria, which was known for having one of the largest Christian communities in the Middle East. Christians face violence, sexual abuse, kidnapping, death and other forms of persecution from different religious groups in Syria as well as from locals. Additionally, Christians face extortion and have been run out of their communities by locals who don't want to live with Christians.

In Saudi Arabia, it is illegal to publicly profess faith in Christ and to be a Christian. Additionally, it is illegal to have a Church or ANY form of public mass and/or Christian religious gathering. For converts from Islam, you will almost certainly be publicly executed. In Saudi Arabia, our Brothers and Sisters in Christ must keep their faith completely secret and out of public life. Christians visiting from other countries (which is rare that they are allowed to visit) risk being arrested if they share their faith with Muslims. It is not uncommon for a Christian to be falsely charged with apostasy if they upset a Muslim resident, which will end in detention (undetermined amount of time) or execution. Additionally, rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment are a constant problem in Saudi Arabia, especially with Christian women whom work as housemaids in homes are especially vulnerable. 

North Africa is a very precarious place for Christians, in recent years, Islamic extremist groups have targeted Christians and churches both individually and en masse in numerous violent and deadly acts of persecution. Christians have been slaughtered on bus rides, in churches, at home and in their communities. ISIS has vowed to exterminate the Christians of North Africa and other religious groups are helping expedite their cause. Outside of physical violence, our Brethren face a deep spiritual issue.  For Christians in North Africa, most everyone around them is Muslim. With that, in Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Tunisia (all are on the 2020 World Watch List - OpenDoors), Christians with Muslim backgrounds continuously face enormous pressure from immediate and extended families to renounce their faith in Christ and return to Islam. Institutionally, Christians face extreme economic persecution, denial of basic services and political marginalization. There are extreme restrictions on building or obtaining land for worship which prevent Christians from congregating. 

In Egypt, Christians are being slaughtered in the churches and rather than help the Christians, the politicians of there make it extremely difficult to rebuild churches and/or other religious institutions after being destroyed. In just the last decade, there have been over 28 attacks on Christians, which include car bombs, shootings, church bombings, arson attacks as well as attacks on individuals. There have been numerous instances of Christians speaking up in Egypt about their situation and then being arrested and falsely charged with belong to a "terrorist group" for refusal to stop printing stories about Christian persecution. Our Brethren face many difficulties in Egypt, especially converts. However, they must also deal with kidnappings, abductions and forced conversions, denial of basic services, institutional discrimination, extrajudicial killings as well as many other forms of persecution.                        

Very bluntly, there is absolutely no recognition of the Church in Libya and they have no religious freedoms, at all. Libyan Christians who hail from Muslim families face especially harsh treatment and forced with violence and pressure to renounce Christ and return to Islam. There is no freedom of speech for Christians nor do we receive equal treatment. There is no recognition of the church (as a whole) and no churches being built or permitted to be built. Libya is an especially violent country for Christians, which has only gotten worse due to Libya having no central government.  Christians who publicly express their faith and attempt to share the Gospel with others face the risk of arrest and violence at the hands of their families, neighbors, co-workers, special communities or violent Islamic militants.