August 22 has been designated by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief.
The day is dedicated to those who have suffered persecution and attacks because of their religious beliefs, with particular emphasis on members of religious communities and minorities. It also highlights the need to provide meaningful support to victims and their families.
The United Nations condemns all forms of violence, terrorism, and violent extremism committed in the name of religion. It also stresses that terrorism must not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group.
Freedom of religion or belief is a fundamental human right. Interfaith and intercultural dialogue, human rights education, and the protection of places of worship are essential in combating intolerance, discrimination, and hate crimes.
Open Doors: More Than 388 Million Christians Face Persecution and Discrimination
More than 388 million Christians worldwide face high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith, according to Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List.
In the 50 countries included in the annual ranking, more than 315 million Christians face very high or extreme levels of persecution. According to the organization, one in seven Christians is persecuted worldwide, rising to one in five in Africa and two in five in Asia.
North Korea remains at the top of the list, with a score of 97 out of 100. It is followed by Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Syria, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya, and Iran.
As Open Doors notes, “Christianity still has no place in North Korea,” while even the slightest indication that someone worships Jesus can have severe consequences.
Syria Returns to the Top 10 – Orthodox Communities Also Targeted
Particular attention is given to Syria, which rose from 18th to sixth place on the World Watch List. The rise is attributed to increasing violence, attacks against churches, and the killing of Christians.
In June 2025, a suicide attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of Mar Elias in Damascus killed 22 Christians and injured 63 others. The Syrian government attributed the attack to an Islamic State cell.
In Hama, gunmen attacked the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, destroying church property and religious symbols. They also desecrated graves in a nearby Christian cemetery.
Following the attack on the Church of Mar Elias, many Christians stopped attending church for fear of further attacks. Believers have been forced to conceal Christian symbols and avoid publicly displaying their faith, particularly in Muslim-majority areas and at checkpoints.
According to the report, vehicles equipped with loudspeakers have driven through Christian neighborhoods in Damascus, calling on residents to convert to Islam. Leaflets have also been posted on churches demanding that believers convert or pay the jizya, a special tax historically imposed on non-Muslims.
Syria’s historic Christian communities—the largest being Orthodox, followed by Melkite Catholics—face increasing pressure from the authorities and extremist groups, as well as broader social hostility. The report refers to attacks, intimidation of clergy, constant surveillance, and bureaucratic obstacles affecting church activities and the restoration of places of worship.
Open Doors estimates that approximately 300,000 Christians remain in Syria today, compared with 1.1 million in 2015. This steep decline has left the remaining Christian communities even more vulnerable.
Sub-Saharan Africa at the Epicenter
Open Doors describes sub-Saharan Africa as the “epicenter of violence against Christians.” Fourteen countries in the region now appear on the World Watch List, with a combined population of more than 721 million. Nearly half identify as Christian, while one in every eight Christians worldwide lives in these countries.
Over the past decade, violence scores across these countries have more than doubled. Sudan, Nigeria, and Mali are the three countries that received the maximum possible violence score.
Political instability, armed conflict, insurgencies, and weak state institutions have left Christian communities vulnerable. In some cases, Christians are directly targeted, while in others they are caught in the crossfire or placed at greater risk because of their faith.
More Than 4,800 Christians Killed
During the period covered by the report, the number of Christians killed because of their faith increased from 4,476 to 4,849.
Of these, 4,491—93% of the global total—were killed in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria accounted for 3,490 deaths, compared with 3,100 the previous year.
At the same time, 224,129 Christians were forced to leave their homes, go into hiding elsewhere in their countries, or flee abroad. The corresponding figure in the previous year was 209,771.
Church Closures and Restrictions on Religious Life
The report stresses that persecution does not take the form of physical violence alone. In several countries, churches are forced underground, religious gatherings are halted, and Christian communities are isolated.
In Algeria, 47 churches have closed in recent years, while more than 75% of Christians have lost access to organized church fellowship. Similar pressure is reported in Tunisia and Mauritania.
In China, stricter regulations have forced many unregistered churches to split into small, secret gatherings of between 10 and 20 people. Pastors of unregistered communities frequently face accusations of economic crimes or fraud.
Nepal returned to the list in 46th place after a three-year absence because of increased violence against religious minorities. By contrast, Bangladesh’s violence score fell by 20% following a relative easing of political unrest.
Despite these difficult circumstances, the report also highlights the resilience of Christian communities. Aweis Ali, a Christian from Somalia who has experienced the devastating effects of persecution firsthand, said:
“People thought that the Somali church growing was impossible because of all the killings. But what was impossible is, in fact, now possible, because the growth of the church is huge in Somalia.”
The World Watch List is compiled annually by Open Doors’ World Watch Research department. The 2026 report covers the period from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025.
