The international Catholic organization Aid to the Church in Need released a report highlighting the alarming rise in persecution of Christians worldwide. Covering the years 2022-2024 across 18 countries, the report was presented in the British Parliament on October 22, as noted by the organization’s press office.

The report shows an unprecedented surge in religious violence against Christians, with the highest levels recorded in Africa. Researchers noted similar findings from other global studies, pointing to an escalation in persecution. The report documents various forms of oppression, including increased arrests for blasphemy, forced relocations, deportations, property seizures, forced conversions, threats, and kidnappings. Responsibility for these actions lies with both governmental bodies and independent entities such as terrorist and extremist groups, as well as criminal networks.

Special emphasis is placed on Christian persecution in authoritarian regimes like China, Eritrea, India, and Iran, where oppression often has political or ideological motives. Alongside statistics, the report raises concerns over Christian migration from high-risk regions. The Christian population has plummeted in Syria and Iraq due to ongoing persecution; in Syria, numbers dropped from 1.5 million to around 250,000 since 2011, while in Iraq, Christians now represent less than 0.5% of the population.

In African countries like Burkina Faso, over 10% of the population has been displaced due to religious persecution. Vietnam stands as an exception, showing improvement due to progress in diplomatic relations with the Vatican.