News by email Donate

Suggestions

Top Stories

Most Read

Popular Videos

iraq-christians-main_article_image.jpg
REX/Gail Orenstein/NurPhoto
World News

Study shows Christian persecution is on the rise

by Eno Adeogun

Speaking at the launch of 'Persecuted and Forgotten' by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), the study's co-author, John Pontifex, told Premier Christianity is on the brink of being wiped out in certain countries.

He said: "We've got a ticking bomb going on here, in that Christians in certain parts of the world haven't got very much time left for their situation to be resolved.

"The ticking bomb is particularly expressed in the extent to which there is a migration of Christians. In Iraq there were 1.2 million Christians 15 years ago and there are now barely 200,000 left.

"If that rate of decline continues, what we're going to see is an end to Christianity in the foreseeable future."

His claim was supported by Archbishop Issam John Darwish, Melkite bishop of Zahle, in Lebanon, who was one of four speakers invited to the charity's event at the House of Lords to give personal accounts of Christian persecution in their countries.

Aid to the Church in Need
Decapitated statue of Our Lady in the destroyed St Addai's Church, Karemles, northern Iraq

He told the attendees of the event chaired by Lord Alton of Liverpool, that the number of Christians in the Middle East is declining because so many have fled.

He added: "We urge Syrians, and especially Christians to return to the homeland. We ask that Western Governments stop facilitating the immigration of Christians from the Middle East."

The report also found that the scale of persecution against Christians in China, Egypt, Eritrea, India, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria and Turkey had worsened in overall terms between 2015 and 2017, than within the preceding two years.

Aid to the Church in Need

Saudi Arabia was the only country out of the 13 reviewed where this persecution remained unchanged.

The report highlighted the point that "it's now or never to save Christians from persecution" and it's vital to share light on the plight of Christians around the world.

The report concluded: "At a time in the West where there is increasing media focus on the rights of people regardless of gender, ethnicity or sexuality - to name but a few - it is ironic that in many sections of the media there should be such limited coverage of the massive persecution experienced by so many Christians."

Listen to John Pontifex from Aid to the Church in Need, speaking with Premier's Eno Adeogun:

A Monthly Gift Of $11 Makes A World Of Difference

In a world of fake news there’s never been a greater need for quality Christian journalism. Premier’s mission is to provide the Church with the most up to date and relevant news, told from a Christian perspective. But we can’t do it without you.

Unlike many websites we haven't put up a paywall — we want to keep our journalism free at the point of need and as open as we can. Premier’s news output takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. No one in the USA is sharing news like we are across radio, magazines and online so please help us to continue that today.

For a monthly gift of $11 or more we’d also be able to send you a free copy of the brand new Premier Bible, a wonderful Anglicised version of the NLT packed with exclusive bonus content, reading plan and resources to help you get the most out of scripture.

Your monthly support will make a world of difference. Thank you.

Support Us
Continue the conversation on our Facebook page

Related Articles

Sign up to our newsletter to stay informed with news from a Christian perspective.

News by email

Connect

Donate

Donate