PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD: “WE ONLY ASK FOR THE RIGHT TO EXIST”

On February 14, Open Doors presented in the European Parliament the World Watch List 2024, an annual index that ranks the countries where it is most difficult to profess and practice the Christian faith. The event, organized by Miriam Lexmann MEP (EPP), featured Christian converts from Yemen and Sudan who were threatened, persecuted and exiled after their conversion.

The Open Doors report revealed that at least 365 million Christians worldwide face real threats to their lives and communities, with more than 4998 Christians killed in faith-related attacks last year. This persecution is not limited to a specific region, but is spreading around the world, with a worrying increase in violence in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in countries such as Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Somalia.

In this context, the survivors made an appeal: “We only ask for the right to exist”. In addition, the speakers urged the European Union to defend the human rights of those who are at risk because of their beliefs, advocating a diplomatic approach that encourages interfaith dialogue and protects religious freedom.

Open Doors, with its extensive experience in assisting persecuted Christians in more than 70 countries, stressed the importance of global solidarity in the defense of fundamental rights. Also, at the conclusion of the event, they asked the institutions to be the voice of those people who, unfortunately, have been forcibly silenced.