Persecuted Christians

Gunmen abducted more than 100 people from the Mutunji community in Zamfara State in northwest Nigeria this weekend for not paying a tax imposed by the bandits. A leader in the community was also killed, according to locals. The bandit’s leader, Damana, sent a ransom letter to the community demanding 110 million nairas (about $135,000 U.S.). He also threatened to abduct more people if the...
Read More About Jihadists on Motorcycles Kidnap 110 in Nigeria »

In the Muslim-majority Southern Philippines, Christians can face persecution and opposition. An undercover community of Christians are sharing stories from the Bible to disciple and encourage the next generation of the church. Ten-year-old Wahid* has already learned a powerful truth – words that he can cling to in the difficult times ahead. Where Wahid lives in the Southern Philippines,...
Read More About Secret storytelling helps young converts learn about Jesus »

The sun blazes mercilessly and the air is heavy with dust in rural Pakistan, where a man named Rahim toils his days away. He was a brick kiln worker, a man who had known the taste of labor from the moment he could remember. For generations, his family had toiled under the scorching sun, their lives intertwined with the clay that would become the building blocks of the world. Rahim...
Read More About A Brick Kiln Worker’s Tale of Survival »

China has sent 600 North Korean refugees back to North Korea, where they are likely to face torture, imprisonment and even death. Hundreds more face the same threat. Timothy Cho – a North Korean escapee and Open Doors spokesperson – is urging Parliament to act in response. China has sent hundreds of North Korean refugees back to North Korea - where they face great danger China has...
Read More About China sends hundreds of North Korean refugees back to extreme danger »

Despite the measures allocated by the government in Yerevan for the tens of thousands of exiles who fled the Armenian-majority area militarily taken by Baku, many people still have nowhere to sleep and are forced to spend the night under the open sky. No one trusts the promises of the Azeris who have already erased all traces of Christian roots Despite all the efforts of the Yerevan...
Read More About The plight of Karabakh Armenian refugees »

Azerbaijan announced a military operation into Nagorno-Karabakh (Armenian: Artsakh) on the night of Sept. 18, after nine months of a  brutal blockade  on the region. Terming it as a “anti-terrorism operation,” the Azerbaijani assault began with heavy artillery shelling of both military and civilian centers, drone strikes, and securing strategic mountain corridor points.  ...
Read More About Azerbaijan Claims Control of Artsakh »

Ming* in China faces increasing digital surveillance and persecution - but continues to take great risks to serve the church. Find out how digitial surveillance is increasing in China - and how Open Doors partners are helping Ming trust again. Imagine that someone knows that you’re reading this article. They know where you’re sitting, and who you’re with. They know the last thing you...
Read More About Who's watching Ming? Digital surveillance in China. »

German language Die Verfolgten, die niemand aufnimmt Da europäische Länder wie Deutschland beinahe alle Asylanträge von verfolgten Christen aus Pakistan ablehnen, flüchten viele von ihnen über ein schnell erworbenes Touristenvisum nach Thailand – meistens die einzige Möglichkeit sich vor Peinigern in Sicherheit zu bringen. Doch erweist sich die Zuflucht als Sackgasse. Keine...
Read More About UNSCHULDIG GEFANGEN »

Visiting the shops, heading to church, going to school – normal, everyday activities. That’s what three of our sisters recently did Egypt, only they have yet to return. It reflects a deeply alarming trend facing Christian women and girls in the country, making them fearful of leaving their own homes. Please pray.   At around 11am, 27-year-old Miriana Boutros from Al Tlihat in...
Read More About Three Christian women left their homes in Egypt but did not return »

Christians in Vietnam have recently shared a series of sad stories of persecution with Open Doors local partners. The country is number 25 on the World Watch List, and Christians often face violent persecution – particularly converts who belong to the country’s ethnic communities, who are considered to have betrayed their traditional faith. In these three stories, you can meet Christians who...
Read More About How Vietnamese Christians are keeping the faith despite losing their homes and churches »

Egyptian Christians, especially those struggling with poverty, frequently experience pressures to convert to Islam from Muslim-majority neighbors. These pressures sometimes come in the form of financial offers, marriage proposals, or even blatant accusations and framing for crimes they did not commit.   Christian widows or Christian girls whose father has passed away are even...
Read More About Christian Women in Egypt Experience Extra Vulnerabilities »

Please pray for the family of a young Christian in Egypt who was brutally murdered for his faith by his colleague. Please note that you might find some of the content below distressing. Egypt is number 35 on the World Watch List, in part due to the dangers facing Christians at their workplaces A young man in Egypt was tragically murdered by a colleague who later told police, “I hate...
Read More About Young man in Egypt murdered by colleague using bulldozer ‘because he is Christian’ »

There is a fresh and aggressive crackdown on Christians in Iran, with more than 50 converts arrested in the past seven days – and the number could well rise. Your urgent prayers are needed following the arrests of more than 50 Christian converts in a wave of incidents over the past seven days in Iran, and there are fears this could rise. This fresh and aggressive crackdown on...
Read More About Fresh crackdown on Christians in Iran with arrests of more than 50 converts »

Baher is a young Christian in Egypt who had to work in a dangerous quarry – it’s the only job offered to Christians in his community. After two tragedies, he felt completely hopeless. But God is using Open Doors local partners to change his perspective. If you’d gone to visit Baher* in his village in Egypt a few years ago, you’d have been greeted with a sad sight. Baher was about 20 and...
Read More About Baher thought he’d lost everything. Here’s how he found hope again »

The far eastern Indian state of Manipur does not often feature in international headlines. Located over 2,000km from New Delhi in a rugged region filled with jungles, its long history of ethnic and religious tensions has too long been ignored. Recently though, with violence raging across the state, that has changed, and the area has come under intense scrutiny by the Indian government and...
Read More About Hundreds of Houses of Worship Destroyed in Manipur, India »

A devastating attack by Islamic militants on a school in Uganda has left at least 40 children killed and six abducted. Please pray for all who are mourning this atrocity. A neighbour reports hearing students at Uganda’s Lhubiriha Secondary School singing gospel songs shortly before a horrific attack that left at least 40 people dead, mostly children. The sustained attack was carried out...
Read More About Christian students targeted in horrific Uganda attack: please pray »

Violent persecution is escalating across sub-Saharan Africa – but you haven’t abandoned your brothers and sisters there. Here are three stories of how your gifts and prayers are transforming lives in countries where Christians face increasing danger for choosing to follow Jesus. Thank you for standing up to violent persecution – please keep supporting believers like Apevia, Blessing, Lydia...
Read More About “We live in peace today because of your help”: how you’re changing lives in Nigeria, Niger and Togo »

Mary (name changed) was a courageous young woman from Nigeria who boldly shared her faith with Fulani militants after they kidnapped her during a raid on her church. We are sad to report that, shortly after we received her interview, Mary passed away due to an unrelated illness. Mary’s family have told us that they wish for her story to be shared so that other young women like her will...
Read More About Boldness and courage in Nigeria: Mary’s story »

Ayuba was only 20 when his father was murdered by Islamic extremists in a vicious attack on his village. Here's his extraordinary story, from seeking vengeance to choosing to forgive. And here's how you can help believers like Ayuba stand up to violent persecution. Ayuba was just 20 years old when his father was killed by Islamic Ayuba* vividly remembers the day that Boko Haram...
Read More About Ayuba’s name was on Boko Haram’s hit list. He’s forgiven the man who put it there. »

 After being attacked by militants on the Easter weekends of 2021 and 2022, a Christian farming community in North Central Nigeria’s Plateau State gathered to worship again on Good Friday of this year. The worshipers numbered about 300 persons, including adults, children, and senior citizens. Most were seated on the floor, others on stones. The few who could afford it sat on plastic...
Read More About Christians Worship Inside a Burnt Church in Nigeria »

We interviewed one of our staff members based in Pakistan to get her personal experience dealing with the dynamics of her faith and gender in the fundamentalist Islamic country. This is our conversation: People in the west often have a view that Pakistan and other Islamic countries create suffocating cultures for women, especially Christian women. What has your experience been...
Read More About On the Ground: Persecution as a Christian Woman in Pakistan »

In recent months, our persecuted church family in Laos have been suffering for their faith in different ways. Here, a few Open Doors partners share some of their stories and ask for prayer. All names in this article have been changed. Our church family in Laos are facing increasing pressure to renounce their faith –particularly in rural areas Believers’ homes demolished for the...
Read More About Laos: homes demolished, Bibles confiscated, and Christians barred from burial »

Rania in Egypt became a Christian after her son was miraculously healed and saw a vision of Jesus – today, she is learning to see her true value as God’s beloved daughter. “If I would show you my face, this could cost me my life.” Rania* grew up in a devoutly Muslim community near Cairo, Egypt. Becoming a Christian has endangered her – but she knows it is the best decision she ever made....
Read More About How miraculous healing changed Raina’s life and identity »

Her name is Aneeta and she is 24 years old. She was found after eight hours and this was made possible thanks to the intervention of the local parish priest. However, the girl's family was transferred to another village to avoid further retaliation. Her name is Aneeta and she is 24 years old, yet another Christian girl kidnapped in broad daylight from a village in the province of...
Read More About Sindh: Christian kidnapped by Muslims freed »

Sahar from Iran was thrown out of her home for following Jesus. She later went to prison. Today - thanks to people like you - she helps other women like her see change. “Who will take care of my son? Who will tuck him in at night?” These are the questions Sahar asked herself the night her husband demanded she leave their home. She was in a taxi on the way to her parents, not knowing if...
Read More About How Sahar from Iran is seeing change »