The persecution against Christians continues to worsen in various regions of the world. The pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) presented its new biennial report this Tuesday, October 27, which shows a deterioration of the situation in ten of the 18 countries analyzed, with none recording a general improvement over the past two years.
The study, titled Persecuted and Forgotten? A Report on Christians Oppressed for their Faith 2024-2026, covers the period from August 2024 to June 2026. According to the data released by the organization, around 413 million Christians live in countries where serious violations of religious freedom occur, while about 220 million are directly exposed to persecution.
Among the countries where the situation has worsened are China, Nigeria, and Pakistan. The report also examines Myanmar, Burkina Faso, North Korea, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Mali, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Syria, Sudan, Turkey, and Vietnam.
Islamist violence continues to drive Christians out of Africa
One of the main areas of concern is in sub-Saharan Africa, where the expansion of jihadist groups has led to killings, kidnappings, destruction of churches, and mass displacement of populations.
In Cabo Delgado province in northern Mozambique, the Islamist insurgency that began in 2017 has left more than 2,000 Christians dead, according to data collected by ACN. The attacks include beheadings, kidnappings, and the destruction of homes and places of worship.
The situation is also particularly serious in Burkina Faso and Mali, where Islamist organizations control or maintain an armed presence in large areas of the territory. Some Christian communities have been forced to adopt Islamic norms of dress and conduct, while others have suffered killings and expulsions.
In Nigeria, millions of Christians are among those internally displaced as a result of conflicts and violence.
The report warns that this exodus could permanently alter the religious composition of some African regions, especially where Christian communities have been established for generations.
«They whipped us with lashes and chained our legs»
Among the testimonies collected by Aid to the Church in Need is that of Solomon Ako, a 33-year-old Christian from northern Nigeria who was kidnapped during an attack on his village.
His captors demanded that the hostages abandon Christianity and convert to Islam. When they refused, they were beaten.
«They whipped us with lashes. They chained our legs,» Ako recalls, describing the conditions of his captivity.
His testimony reflects one of the forms of persecution denounced in the study: violence carried out directly against individuals and communities because of their religious affiliation.
ACN notes, however, that the conflicts affecting Christians cannot always be explained solely by religious motives. In many cases, ethnic tensions, political instability, poverty, and competition for land overlap with religious differences.
The organization warns that this complexity should not lead to ignoring the religious dimension of numerous attacks.
Iran, India, and Nicaragua: arrests, restrictive laws, and attacks against the Church
Outside Africa, the report identifies other forms of persecution related to the actions of authoritarian governments and the growth of religious nationalism.
In Iran, arrests of Christians nearly doubled during a twelve-month period. Authorities maintain close surveillance over Christian communities, especially converts from Islam.
In India, ACN recorded more than 700 incidents of violence against Christians during 2025. The study links this increase to hostility toward religious minorities and the expansion of so-called anti-conversion laws.
Various Christian organizations denounce that these norms, officially presented as measures against forced conversions, are used to persecute religious activities and restrict the freedom of Christian communities.
In Nicaragua, the report documents the continuation of repressive measures by Daniel Ortega’s regime against the Catholic Church. These include the arrest and expulsion of priests, restrictions on ordinations, and the confiscation of church institutions.
ACN also notes that Nicaraguan authorities have prevented the entry of people carrying Bibles into the country.
The persecution of Christians has become «tolerated,» denounces a U.S. bishop
During the presentation of the report, the Bishop of Brooklyn, Robert J. Brennan, warned of the normalization of religious persecution in various parts of the world.
«What is surprising is the extent to which the persecution of Christians has become something ordinary, I would dare say tolerated, as part of global reality,» the prelate stated.
Brennan insisted that knowing about these situations should foster solidarity with those who suffer for their faith.
«As Christians, we pray and cry out for respect for religious freedom for all people in all countries,» he added.
The study identifies three major factors behind the deterioration of the situation: extremist violence, the actions of authoritarian governments, and religious nationalism. Added to these is forced displacement, which is leaving numerous Christian communities without the possibility of remaining in their places of origin.
Spain prepares to light its cathedrals in red for persecuted Christians
The publication of the report coincides with preparations for a new international awareness campaign promoted by Aid to the Church in Need.
In Spain, cathedrals, churches, and monuments will be lit in red to remember the Christian communities that suffer persecution and discrimination because of their faith.
The initiative will have one of its main moments on November 18, with prayer and awareness activities aimed at giving visibility to a reality that affects millions of faithful around the world.
The complete ACN report brings together country analyses, statistics, and testimonies about the conditions in which persecuted Christian communities live.