Quick Facts
Statistics
- In the 25 years that statistics have been kept, the persecution of Christians has reached record numbers each year for the past three years with 2016 being the worst year yet. (Source: Open Doors USA *)
- Millions of Christians face interrogation, arrest, torture, and/or death because of their religious convictions and cultural/ethnic identification (Source: Open Doors USA)
- While about 30 percent of the world’s population identifies as Christian, 80 percent of all acts of religious discrimination are directed at Christians. (Source: International Society for Human Rights)
- Groups such as Daesh (ISIS) have committed genocide. (Source: U.S Secretary of State John Kerry, March 17, 2016)
- Ten years ago there were nearly one million Christians in Iraq, with a large majority in Mosul. Today, there are just a few dozen in that city. (Source: Open Doors USA)
- Each year, more than 3,800 Christians are killed for their faith, more than 2,400 Churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and some 9,200 forms of violence are committed against Christians. (Source: Open Doors USA).
- Christians face persecution in more than 60 Countries (Source: U.S. State Department)
- Between 2007 and 2014, Christians have been targeted for harassment in more countries than any other religious group. (Source: Pew Research)
- Religious persecution was the focus of only 2.5 percent of reports published by Human Rights Watch between 2008 and mid-2011. Fewer than half of those reports focused on Christian persecution. (Source: Under Caesar’s Sword **).
- Christian responses to persecution are almost always nonviolent and, with very few exceptions, do not involve acts of terrorism. (Source: Under Caesar’s Sword)
* Open Doors USA is a non-profit organization based in Santa Ana, California.
** Under Caesar’s Sword is a research project that is a partnership of Notre Dame and Georgetown universities.
Further Reading
- H.R.390 - Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act of 2017
- H.R.565 - Save Christians from Genocide Act
- Senate Resolution 162
- Security Council Requests Creation of Independent Team to Help in Holding ISIL (Da’esh) Accountable for Its Actions in Iraq
- Why Christians Deserve Attention, Georgetown University Religious Freedom Project
- Is this the end of Christianity in the Middle East?
- Christians in the Middle East: And then there were none. Fed up and fearful, Christians are leaving the Middle East
- Christian persecution hits all-time high worldwide (Christian Post)
- Christian persecution hits all-time high worldwide (CNN)
- Pavlich: The plight of Christians
- Christians the most persecuted group in world for second year
- Definition of Christian Persecution
- USCIRF (US Commission on International Religious Freedom) Reports and Briefs
Quick Links
Quick Facts
Twitter Feed
The Latest
SEN. RUBIO URGES HELP FOR DISPLACED MIDDLE EAST CHRISTIANS
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Sen. Marco Rubio emphasized Wednesday that with the increasing persecution of Christians in the Middle East, complacency with the current situation is not an option for the United States.
Leading Senators and Members for Religious Freedom urge stronger action to protect religious liberty
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Six members of Congress stressed the need for the U.S. government to take a more vigorously active role in protecting endangered Christians in the Holy Lands and the Middle East.
Join Our Mailing List
