Press Release
13 February 2009

'NEW RESEARCH SHOWS CHRISTIANS WORLDWIDE FACING INCREASING HOSTILITY IN PRACTISING THEIR FAITH', SAYS OPEN DOORS

2009 World Watch List shows persecution worsening in Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq

Christians worldwide, both in the UK and overseas, are today facing increasing levels of persecution. That is the keynote finding of Open Doors' annual World Watch List report of the worst 50 nations for persecuting Christians which was published today.

Eddie Lyle, chief executive of Open Doors UK and Ireland, said: "the persecution of Christians is now a global issue. In the UK the recent cases involving Caroline Petrie, the nurse who was suspended by North Somerset Primary Care Trust for offering to pray with a patient, and the churchgoer who was struck off her local authority's register of approved foster carers after the 16 year old Muslim girl she was looking after converted to Christianity, highlight a global trend, of increasing antipathy towards Christians."

Open Doors' major new report, now in its seventh year, shows that it has become much harder to practice as a Christian in many parts of the world, especially in the Middle East although North Korea is still by far the most dangerous place on earth to be a Christian. Saudi Arabia and Iran are ranked second and third.

Afghanistan has climbed three places up the list to 4th, as a result of increased pressure from the Taliban movement during 2008; the situation in the country is tense even in areas where fighting is not taking place. Gayle Williams, a Christian aid worker in the capital Kabul was killed last year because, according to the Taliban, she was spreading Christianity. In Somalia, one of the most lawless places on earth, the number of incidents against Christians increased dramatically in 2008, heralding its dramatic movement, seven places up the List, to 5th.   

Another dramatic mover is Iraq, which has moved up five places, from 21st to 16th. After a short period of fragile peace at the end of 2007, last year Iraq's Christian minority faced increasing violence. Churches were attacked or damaged by bombs, Christians received death threats and several were murdered, abused and/or kidnapped.

Islam is the official religion in Saudi Arabia, Iran, Afghanistan, Somalia, the Maldives and Yemen; the countries occupying positions two to seven.

Elsewhere, there are some limited grounds for optimism. Persecution in Buddhist Bhutan mainly comes from the family, the community, and the monks who yield a strong influence in the society. Cases of atrocities (i.e. beatings) have been decreasing in number; this may continue as a result of major changes in the country, including the implementation of a new constitution guaranteeing greater religious liberty.

Christians still faced immense pressure in China in 2008. The government shut down house churches, arrested and physically harmed Christians. This was however less worrying than the previous year, as there were no reports of Christians being kidnapped or murdered because of their faith.

Many of the nations which feature on the World Watch List are signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees freedom of conscience and religious expression. Article 18 says:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance".

The findings from the World Watch List are backed up in a new book being published by Open Doors. A Time to Speak, tells the stories of Christians in the UK who have been persecuted for their Christian faith. Author David Waite explains, "Persecution is beginning to knock on the door of the Western Church and just as every country has characteristics peculiar to the area in which it lies, so the persecution of the Western Church is different to that which other parts of the Church has experienced…it is more subtle, more secretive and often happens behind closed doors."

Eddie Lyle concluded; "The increase of persecution against Christians is a disturbing global trend that that should be on the radar of all governments and citizens. The plight of Christians in Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq can no longer be ignored. Our response must be a determined one; combining a tenacious commitment to advocacy and a readiness to demonstrate sacrificial Christian love by turning the other cheek."

WWL Report January 2009

  Severe persecution
  Oppression
  Severe limitations
  Some limitations
  Some problems

  Country Name January 2009 January 2008 Trend Variation
1. Korea, North 90,5 90,5 0 0,0
2. Saudi Arabia 67,0 64,5 - 0,0
3. Iran 67,0 64,0 - 0,0
4. Afghanistan 63,0 57,5 - 0,0
5. Somalia 60,5 54,5 - 2,0
6. Maldives 60,0 61,0 0 0,0
7. Yemen 57,5 57,5 0 5,0
8. Laos 55,0 56,5 0 0,0
9. Eritrea 55,0 55,0 0 7,5
10. Uzbekistan 54,5 55,0 0 0,0
11. Bhutan 53,5 58,0 + 0,0
12. China 52,0 55,0 + 0,0
13. Pakistan 51,0 48,0 - 0,0
14. Turkmenistan 50,0 54,0 + 0,0
15. Comoros 50,0 50,0 0 0,0
16. Iraq 49,0 42,5 - 0,0
17. Qatar 48,0 47,5 0 0,0
18. Mauritania 48,0 42,5 - 0,0
19. Algeria 46,5 37,5 - 0,0
20. Chechnya 46,0 46,0 0 1,5
21. Egypt 45,5 46,0 0 0,0
22. India 45,0 37,5 - 0,0
23. Vietnam 42,5 46,0 + 0,0
24. Burma/Myanmar 41,5 42,0 0 0,0
25. Libya 41,0 42,5 0 0,0
26. Nigeria (North) 41,0 37,0 - 0,0
27. Azerbaijan 39,5 42,5 + 0,0
28. Oman 39,5 41,0 0 6,0
29. Brunei 38,5 39,0 0 1,5
30. Sudan (North) 36,5 41,5 + 0,0
31. Zanzibar Islands 36,0 43,0 + 0,0
32. Kuwait 36,0 36,0 0 0,0
33. Cuba 35,5 40,0 + 0,0
34. Tajikistan 35,0 34,5 0 0,0
35. United Arab Emirates 35,0 34,0 0 6,0
36. Sri Lanka 34,5 35,5 0 0,0
37. Jordan 34,5 34,0 0 0,0
38. Djibouti 34,0 36,0 0 0,0
39. Turkey 33,0 36,0 + 0,0
40. Morocco 32,5 33,0 0 1,5
41. Indonesia 30,5 26,0 - 0,0
42. Palestinian Territory 29,5 29,5 0 1,5
43. Bangladesh 29,0 26,0 - 0,0
44. Belarus 28,0 30,0 0 5,0
45. Ethiopia 28,0 28,0 0 5,0
46. Syria 28,0 27,5 0 0,0
47. Tunisia 26,5 26,5 0 0,0
48. Bahrain 26,0 27,5 0 1,5
49. Kenya (North East) 24,5 26,0 0 0,0
50. Kazakhstan 22,0 18,5 - 0,0

Copyright © 2009 Open Doors International

Media Enquiries:

Iain Taylor
Taylor Communications
01732 740573 or 01732 461060
www.opendoorsuk.org

Notes to Editors:

The World Watch List is compiled from a specially-designed questionnaire of 50 questions covering various aspects of religious freedom. A points value is assigned depending on how each question is answered. The total number of points per country determines its position on the WWL.

The questions differentiate between the legal, official status of Christians (e.g. Does the constitution and/or national laws provide for freedom of religion?; Are individuals allowed to convert to Christianity by law?) and the actual situation of individual Christians (Are Christians being killed because of their faith?; Are Christians being sentenced to jail, labour camp or sent to a psychiatric hospital because of their faith?). Attention is paid to the role of the church in society (Do Christians have the freedom to print and distribute Christian literature?; Are Christian publications censured/prohibited in this country?) and to factors that may obstruct the freedom of religion in a country (Are Christian meeting places and/or Christian homes attacked because of anti-Christian motives?).

The "variation" column gives an indication of how certain we are about the information obtained. Sometimes information is unconfirmed or incomplete. In that case, the "variation" will rise. Thus some countries may be ranked lower on the list because complete information is not available.

Founded in 1955, Open Doors is an international charity serving persecuted Christians in around 45 countries around the world. Its work involves:

  • Raising awareness of persecuted Christians and mobilising prayer and support in the UK
  • Strengthening the faith of Christians behind closed borders through printing and delivering Bibles, Christian literature and teaching/training materials
  • Befriending and caring for persecuted Christians by visiting them, writing letters and praying for them
  • Enabling believers at risk to earn a living by providing livelihood and literacy training and self-help opportunities
  • Equipping evangelists and pastors through theological and leadership training courses and training seminars and supporting Bible colleges