Aid to the Church in Need reports global Christian persecution crisis

A new report by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), titled “Persecuted and Forgotten?”, warns of a global decline in religious freedom. The study indicates that approximately 413 million Christians live in countries where religious freedoms are seriously violated, with over 220 million facing direct exposure to violence, abduction, discrimination, or forced displacement.

The report examined 18 countries and found that conditions deteriorated in 55% of them, with no significant improvements noted in any of the assessed nations. Sub-Saharan Africa is identified as the primary epicenter of violence, specifically in countries such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In Asia, the report documents increased state control over religious practices in China, over 700 incidents targeting Christians in India, and concerns regarding forced conversions and abductions in Pakistan. Additionally, the study highlights restrictions on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua, including reports of individuals being prevented from entering the country while carrying Bibles.