Christians faced record level of violent attacks in 2023, Open Doors warns.
Open Doors, an organization that monitors persecution and supports the Church in over 60 countries, released its World Watch List 2024 on Wednesday, documenting trends and ranking the 50 worst countries in the world when it comes to Christian persecution.
According to the data, at least 13 Christians were killed for their faith per day in 2023, on average, with 4,998 Christians killed in the World Watch List 2024 yearly reporting period that ended on Sept. 30, 2023.
At least 14,766 churches and Christian properties were attacked worldwide during that time, with Open Doors reporting a seven-fold increase in attacks on churches and Christian-run schools, hospitals and cemeteries.
"Attacks on churches and Christian properties sky-rocketed in 2023, as more Christians than ever recorded faced violent attacks," the report states.
Open Doors warns that more than 365 million (one in seven) Christians face high levels of persecution for their faith.
In an interview with CP, Ryan Brown, CEO of Open Doors U.S., speculated that one of the reasons for the increase in violence against Christians is that the perpetrators feel that they can act without fear of repercussions. While things may differ depending on the country, Brown called on governments in these regions to protect Christians, including through laws they may already have on the books.
As the leader of the watchdog group noted, Jesus warned Christians repeatedly that they would face hatred and abuse for their faith. FP.
