Imagine living in a country where simply identifying as a Christian could have you killed.
For nearly 340 million Christians around the world, this is an everyday reality.
Open Doors World Watch List has composed a list of the most dangerous areas in the world to be a Christian in 2021, and the top 5 countries may surprise you.
From sexual assault to rape, imprisonment, and torture, here is a list of the most dangerous countries to be a Christian.
#5 – Pakistan
It’s no surprise Islam is the dominant religion in Pakistan, with Christians making up less than 2 percent of the entire population.
But in Pakistan, being a Christian automatically classifies you as a “second class citizen” – which means Christians are shunned and looked down upon.
Christians are often given low-paying and dirty jobs, which they are forced to take just to survive and feed their families.
Even more horrific, young teenage girls are frequently sexually assaulted and raped by Islamic men in effort to “convert them” to Islam since they are then coerced to marry the same men who victimized them.
#4- Libya
In Libya, the percentage of Christians is even less, making up just .5 percent of the entire population.
And here, there is no freedom of religion or speech. If one is caught sharing their faith publicly, it could lead to their arrest – even death.
Those who have converted to Christianity from Islam face severe pressure from their families to renounce their Christian faith, and if they don’t, they are blacklisted from entire communities.
Even foreigners who visit and share their faith face persecution in Libya.
#3- Somalia
In Somalia, the number of Christians is reduced to just hundreds.
Since Islam is such an integral part of their history and culture, if a person is even suspected to be a Christian they could be killed.
Suspected Christian women are often raped and sexually assaulted in order to force them into an Islamic marriage.
If a man converts to Christianity, he puts his entire family at risk of death.
#2- Afghanistan
The number of Christians in Afghanistan isn’t even quantified it is so small.
In Afghanistan, if one decides to become a Christian, they have two options: flee the country, or be murdered.
Since it is considered a dishonorable act to leave one’s family and convert to Christianity, if a family member finds out one of their own claims to be a Christian, they will kill them to protect their family’s “honor.”
Mother. Daughter. Father. Brother. It doesn’t matter.
#1- North Korea
Being a Christian in North Korea automatically gets you sent to a concentration camp or killed outright.
There is no in-between.
Even though 1.5 percent of the population identifies as Christian, very few Christians actually live long enough to share their faith.
Open Doors reports:
“These inhumane prisons have horrific conditions, and few believers make it out alive. Everyone in your family will share the same punishment. 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.”
Pray Without Ceasing
We must never stop praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters from around the world.
Daily, they are put in horrific circumstances for their faith and continue to suffer in unimaginable ways.
If you’re interested, Open Doors has a prayer app you can download which will send you regular and specific reminders to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world being persecuted for their faith.
“If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.” 1 Corinthians 12:26
May we stand united as one body and pray without ceasing for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world, and may God give them continued courage to stand strong in their faith.
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