Religious Freedom Under Siege: A Global Emergency

People holding hands with Bibles on table

Christian persecution worldwide has reached an all-time high, with 388 million believers—one in seven globally—facing violence that demands urgent defense of religious liberty under President Trump’s America First leadership.

Story Highlights

388 million Christians endure high levels of persecution or discrimination, up 8 million from last year.
4,849 Christians killed for their faith, an 8% rise, with Nigeria accounting for 72% of deaths.
Sub-Saharan Africa sees violence scores surge to 88%, driven by Islamic oppression and militants.
Syria jumps to #6 on the World Watch List post-Assad, with church bombings killing dozens.
Projections warn martyrdoms could double in 2026 without global intervention.

Record Highs in Global Persecution

Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List documents 388 million Christians facing high levels of persecution or discrimination worldwide. This figure represents one in seven believers, an increase of 8 million from the previous year. The report covers data from October 2024 to September 2025, released in January 2026. Key metrics reveal 4,849 Christians killed for faith-related reasons, marking an 8% rise concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa. Nigeria alone saw 3,490 deaths, comprising 72% of global killings. These conservative estimates reflect absolute minimums due to widespread underreporting.

Nigeria Leads in Christian Killings

Fulani militants in Nigeria’s Plateau and Benue states launched attacks in June 2025, killing over 200 Christians. The country recorded more than 7,000 Christian deaths in the first 220 days of 2025. Herder clashes often mask deliberate anti-Christian targeting, according to experts. Sub-Saharan Africa’s average persecution score climbed from 68 to 78 between 2016 and 2026, fueled by Islamic oppression and organized crime in 10 of 14 nations. This surge underscores threats to traditional family values and religious freedom that conservatives cherish.

Syria’s Dramatic Rise Post-Assad

Syria entered the top 10 at #6 on the World Watch List, leaping 12 places after Assad’s fall, with a persecution score of 90 out of 100. Islamist extremists bombed Saint Elias Church in June 2025, killing 22 worshippers. Fragile states enable militants to exploit power vacuums, intensifying attacks on churches and believers. The top 10 list includes North Korea at #1 for the 24th year, followed by Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, Eritrea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Libya, and Iran. These regimes blend communist control, Islamic extremism, and state fragility.

Additional violence metrics show 224,129 Christians displaced, a 7% increase, alongside 67,843 abused (up 24%), 5,202 sexually assaulted (up 30%), and 4,712 detained (up 313%). Property attacks reached 25,794, with 3,632 churches damaged or closed. Short-term impacts include trauma among children fearing school and IDP crises in Nigeria, Myanmar, and Cameroon. Long-term, destroyed farms exacerbate poverty, while social scars from abductions and forced marriages—1,147 cases, up 40%—threaten communities.

Expert Calls for Advocacy

Open Doors CEO Ryan Brown links rising persecution to church growth provoking opposition from extremists. 21Wilberforce President Wissam al-Saliby views the World Watch List as a vital tool for religious freedom advocacy. Release International warns of doubled martyrdoms in 2026 absent action, criticizing Nigeria’s “herder clashes” narrative. Christianity Today confirms Nigeria’s dominance in killings and sub-Saharan score surges, despite debates on root causes. Figures remain conservative due to access barriers and cultural taboos on reporting assaults.

Regionally, one in five African Christians and two in five Asian Christians face risks, with one in 12 in Latin America affected. Sudan’s 2023 civil war displaced 10 million and destroyed churches. India reported 50 daily incidents in 2025 and over 1,600 detentions. These trends, accelerating since 2019, signal entrenched extremism that erodes fundamental rights President Trump champions—individual liberty and protection from government overreach or radical ideologies.