Christian persecution

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Christian persecution has occurred from the very beginnings of Christianity and continues today. Currently, more than 200 million Christians around the globe suffer unjust and illegal imprisonment, abuse and sometimes death at the hands of corrupt officials and regimes because of their faith.[1]

Statistics

Violence against Christians is under-reported by the mainstream media,[2] and it doubled between 2017 and 2019.[3]

In 2015 and 2016, the Center for Studies on New Religions was reported that Christians were the most persecuted of any type of group in the world, with almost 600 million Christians being affected by persecution and 90,000 killed in 2016 alone.[4][5] Between 2005 and 2015, over 900,000 Christians were martyred for their faith.[6] According to Open Doors USA in January 2018, at least 215 million Christians globally face severe persecution,[7][8] and according to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), over 500 million Christians face persecution.[9] According to Pew Research Center, restrictions on religious liberty increased in 2016 for the second year in a row, with Christianity being the most affected.[10] According to a 2017 report by Open Doors USA, the persecution of Christians is growing and is being seen in an increasing number of countries,[11] and it reported that the number of Christians facing persecution rose 14% between 2015 and 2018.[12][13] A 2017 report by Pew Research, concerning 2014 and 2015, yielded similar findings.[14]

The countries with the most extreme persecution of Christians, as of 2017, tend to be Muslim nations, even though the most anti-Christian nation is North Korea.[15] As recorded between November 1, 2015, to October 31, 2016, Pakistan had the largest number of Christians killed and churches attacked.[15] The U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom reported in May 2017 that religious freedom around the world was "worsening in both the depth and breadth of violations."[16] According to the organization Save the Persecuted Christians in December 2019, Christian persecution by Islamists in Africa was "gaining traction."[17]

According to a 2015–2017 ACN study, Christians comprised 75% of all the victims of religious persecution around the globe.[18] According to the news agency Fides, at least 447 Roman Catholic missionaries alone were killed from 2000 through 2017.[19]

Despite strong persecution in the Middle East, thousands of Muslims are turning to Christ.[20]

Ancient Rome

Early Christian persecution was severe in the ancient period of the Roman Empire. Christians were most commonly executed by crucifixion and being put in arenas with lions. The emperor Nero was one of the most notorious persecutors, while the Great Persecution under Diocletian and Galerius was the last and worst persecution campaign against Christianity.

This persecution continued up through the fourth century, when Constantine's Edict of Milan in 313 A.D. promulgated a doctrine of religious tolerance. In 391 A.D., Christianity became the state religion of Rome, gaining strength after Constantine's conquest of Rome from his fellow caesars of the time.[21]

Persecution generally ended in the Roman Empire in 313 A.D., with the Edict of Milan.

Middle Ages

The Waldensians, who followed the Bible alone, rather than the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, were persecuted for their faith. Other Christians were persecuted during this time.

Reformation Europe

See also: Protestant Reformation

During the Protestant Reformation many martyrs to the faith on both sides were persecuted and killed, most notably Jan Hus, Thomas Cranmer, William Tyndale, John Fisher, and Thomas More.[22]

Modern world

In the contemporary period, Christians continue to be attacked by governments in communist countries like China and North Korea, and by hostile religious forces including Muslims in Africa, and by Hindus in India. Christians in the Middle East suffer from particularly strong persecution, and according to the Christian organization Open Doors in 2018, the number of professing Christians in the Middle East is declining and almost on the verge of disappearing.[23]

While very few Christians are killed for their faith in the West, persecution of Christians has grown in Europe and the Americas since the 20th Century, and it is seen in various ways, such as social, cultural, and legal persecution. In many Western countries, homeschooling, which is popular with many Christians, is illegal.

Africa

Large-scale rioting and violence between Muslim and Christian communities are common in parts of Africa, such as Nigeria and Sudan.

Algeria

Algeria is predominantly Muslim, like every other North African country. It is a crime in the country to "incite a Muslim to change his religion," and Christians have been persecuted for sharing the gospel with others.[24]

Libya was an ally of the US against the jihadis until Obama armed the jihadis to overthrew the government. One of their first acts was the mass beheading of Christians.

Egypt

The Coptic Orthodox church is the largest Christian group in Egypt.[25] Majority of the violence against Christians in the 1990s were from Islamic extremists.[25] However, there have been some incidents of violence against Christians due to communal tensions.[25] In 2007, Coptic Christians in Egypt were attacked by some Muslim rioters.[26]

Libya

On February 12, 2015 twenty-one Coptic Christians were mass beheaded in Libya after President Obama liberated the country for "humanitarian" purposes.

Nigeria

Northern Nigeria is predominantly Muslim, and the northern Nigerian states officially ascribe to Sharia Law.

In addition to persecution from the local government and society, Islamic terrorist groups, such as Boko Haram, also persecute Christians. One notable incident of Christian persecution occurred in June 2018, when militant Muslim Fulani herdsmen murdered at least 200 Nigerian Christians in four days.[27] In 2019, Islamists killed over 1,000 Christians in Nigeria.[28]

Persecution and violence against Christians happen regularly in Nigeria.[29][30]

South Africa

In the early 21st century, the left-wing South African government became increasingly hostile toward theologically conservative Christianity.

In March 2019, a South African court forced the Dutch Reformed Church to recognize same-sex "marriage" and drop its former opposition to it.[31]

Sudan

Main article: Christians in Sudan

Asia

China

As with all forms of public assembly, the Chinese Communist Party keeps a tight rein on all religious activity,[32] including those of Christians.[33][34] While thousands of state-sanctioned churches exist in China, the process for obtaining a permit for a new church is cumbersome, and to be approved, clergy must also take exams over communist ideology.[35] There is a shortage of Chinese-born ministers who would pass state qualification, and Chinese citizens are forbidden by law to worship at churches with foreign-born pastors.[35] For all of the above reasons, the vast majority of Christians in China opt to worship at underground "home churches." Leaders and members of these churches face fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of church property.[36] In some extreme cases, an underground church is labeled a cult, which the CCP uses to justify some of the worst of its persecution, including torture and forced labor.[37]

The Chinese government forces all practicing religions in the country, including Christianity, to conform to the nation's communist ideology.[38] Kindergartners are forced to sign an atheist manifesto.[39] The Chinese government acted to crack down on Christians evangelizing their children.[40][41]

Chinese president Xi Jinping is very opposed to Christianity and began a renewed crackdown.[42] In 2017, after Islamic extremists killed two Chinese Christian missionaries, rather than protect Christians, the Chinese government enacted further persecutions against Christianity.[43] That same year, the Chinese government made it illegal for Christian parents to take their children to church.[44][45][46] Also in 2017, it was reported that in China's Jiangxi province, the government had a plan of denying important poverty relief packages to Christians unless they replaced images of Jesus they had with images of President Jinping.[47] In April 2018, the Chinese government banned online sales of Bibles, among other actions against Christians.[48] In 2019, the government required all religious texts to be rewritten to conform with communist ideology,[49] and it required all religious groups to promote Communist Party principles.[50]

In 2018, it was reported that the level of persecution against Christians in China was at its highest level since Mao Zedong,[51] and subsequent studies had similar findings.[52]

India

See also: Naxalites and Hindu fanatics

The Naxalites are Marxist-Leninist atheistic groups that have been designated as terrorists by the Government of India; because they seek to establish an atheist state, they have inflicted violence against Christians, including beheading clergy in front of their wives and children,[53] and shooting Christians.[54]

Hindus comprise the religious majority in India. Proponents of the Hindutva ideology, often called Hindu fascism and Hindu nationalism, want to convert India into a Hindu nation in which other religions must assimilate to the Hindu religion and culture in order to establish a cultural hegemony of Hinduism at the expense of other religions.[55] In India, Christians have faced repeated attacks from Hindus.[56] Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons, aged 8 and 10, were burned to death in Orissa in 1999 by Hindus.[56] In 2007, Hindus attacked Christians in the state of Orissa.[56] Ninety-five churches were destroyed in the attack.[57]

Indonesia

Islam and Sharia Law have been reported to be gaining influence in Indonesia. He served as Deputy Governor of Jakarta prior to 2014, when Governor Joko Widodo was elected President of Indonesia. Although having an approval rating of 76%, many Indonesians voted against Jakartan Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama in the April 2017 gubernatorial election due to religious factors.[58][59] Purnama, a Christian, was found guilty of blaspheming Islam in May 2017 and was sentenced to two years in prison.[59]

Examples of Islamic intolerance in the country:

Iran

Main article: Christians in Iran

Iraq

For a more detailed treatment, see Genocide of Christians by ISIS.

Persecution of the country's Christian minority has increased dramatically since the 2003 American invasion of Iraq. Christian archbishops were abducted in January 2005 [60] and February 2008.[61] The Pope told President George Bush that "Particularly in Iraq, Christian families and communities are feeling increasing pressure from insecurity, aggression and a sense of abandonment."

Myanmar

Myanmar also known as Burma is ruled by a highly repressive, authoritarian military regime. The country was placed under concern by the International Religious Freedom Act in 1999 and a wide array of sanctions are in place for its violations of human rights. Population estimated 6 percent Christianity and rapidly growing. The junta has not allowed permanent foreign religious missions to operate and confiscated all remaining assets since the 1960s. Proselytizing is forbidden, and the printing of Bibles in the country is strictly prohibited. Disobeying the junta and Burmese Christians will be killed, imprisoned and other human rights violations.[62]

North Korea

Main article: Religion and Atheism in North Korea

There are approximately 12,000 practicing Christians in North Korea.[63] Christians often face torture, imprisonment, and are often murdered.[64] According to human rights organizations, outside the officially sanctioned churches, Christians in North Korea can face harsh penalties.[63]

Pakistan

See also: Persecution of Christians in Pakistan

Christians in Pakistan have come under increasing attack in recent years.[65] In 2004, three Christians were killed due to attacks by Islamists.[65] Several Christian leaders in Baluchestan received threats.[65] The Blasphemy Laws of Pakistan under Section 295 of the Pakistan Penal Code is used as a tool for Christian persecution.[65] Some of the madrassas in Pakistan promote Islamic terrorism.[65] President Pervez Musharraf recently in a speech called for scrutiny of the Blasphemy laws and to reform the madrassas.[65] In Pakistan, Christian mother Asia Bibi remains on death row for a sixth year on a charge of blasphemy, which she denies. Politicians who have tried to defend her or repeal the law have been assassinated. To date, the Supreme Court has seems unable to find judges willing to consider her appeal. A hearing in October was postponed after 150 Muslim clerics issued a fatwa against the court.[66]

In 2017, a Pakistani teenager from a Christian family was beaten to death by his schoolmates from allegedly drinking out of the same water cooler as them, while a nearby teacher did nothing.[67]

Russia

For a more detailed treatment, see Yarovaya law.

Any Christian can face persecution in Russia if they are not a member of the official Church of Russia, the Orthodox Church.

On February 6th, 2019, Dennis Christensen, a Danish adherent of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, was sentenced to six years in prison for religious extremism.[68] More have been detained awaiting their prison sentences.

Syria

Main article: Christians in Syria

Turkey

In Turkey, there have been incidents of persecution of Christians. In 2006 and 2007, one Catholic Priest and three Protestant evangelists were killed; churches were also attacked.[69] In 2007, one German and two Turkish Christians were killed by Islamic extremists in Southeast Turkey.[70]

Vietnam

Main article: Religion and Atheism in Vietnam

Europe

According to the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe, Christian persecution on the continent is increasing, in the form of government attacks as well as non-government vandalism and desecration of churches, cemeteries, and Christian symbols.[71]

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, there have been incidents of persecution of Christians. In 1998, local Church of God in the town of Vratza was attacked by skinheads.[72] On July 21, 2004, the Bulgarian police force invaded the Bulgarian Orthodox churches across the nation and forcibly dragged out over 160 priests.[73]

France

In 2016, the French Senate passed a bill making it illegal to post pro-life information on the internet.[74] In February 2017, both houses of the French parliament passed the bill, with the National Assembly's more severe and broad wording ultimately being adopted.[75] As of March 2017, the bill was being reviewed by France's Constitutional Council.[76] Regardless, this law would effectively criminalize the freedom of speech (at least on the internet) of those who support the true human right to life for unborn human beings,[74] and it illustrates the opposition to equal rights in the country.[77] France is already spiritually dead.

While this is a pro-life restriction, rather than an official restriction on Christianity, biblical Christians strongly hold pro-life views based on the Bible, and their freedom to advocate against legalized murder, including on biblical grounds, will be restricted. Also, the law could have a slippery slope and affect churches and Christian denominations.[74]

Germany

Germany's government – like the governments of numerous other European countries – strongly opposes homeschooling, and homeschooling has been illegal in the country since the Third Reich enacted a law on this matter in 1938.[78] The German government bans homeschooling because it argues it must "counteract the development of religious and philosophically motivated parallel societies," something which nullifies religious freedom and parental control.[79] In 2013, for example, German authorities confiscated four homeschooled children from a Christian family who homeschooled in order to give their children a Christian education – the German government did this simply because the parents were not sending their children to the government school.[80] In 2008, a German homeschooling family traveled to the U.S. and applied for asylum,[81] something which they were guaranteed in 2014.[82]

Sweden

In 2017, a Swedish local government unit forced a Christian preschool to ban prayer to God under the country's Education Act, but the preschoolers were subsequently instructed to thank the sun and the rain before meals.[83][84][85]

Sweden has also denied asylum for persecuted Christians despite accepting large numbers of Muslims not facing persecution.[86]

Finland

In 2019, a Finnish legislator and former minister can under criminal investigation for promoting her biblically-based view that marriage is between a man and a woman.[87]

United Kingdom

See also: Persecution of Christians by homosexuals in UK

In 2010, a Christian street preacher was arrested for causing "harassment, alarm or distress" by calling homosexuality a sinful practice according to biblical teachings.[88] In 2015, another street preacher was fined for calling homosexuality an abomination.[89]

A pastor in Northern Ireland was charged and tried for making comments (in 2014) in one of his sermons against Islam that were considered "grossly offensive." Although he was found not guilty (in 2016), he should have never been tried in the first place, as Christians should be able to freely express and advocate their biblically-based theological positions.[90]

In 2014, the UK government banned the teaching of creationism in every school that receives government funding.[91] In 2016, a teacher at an Anglican school in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire was harshly criticized for stating on Twitter (in response to another teacher) that "Evolution is not a fact. That’s why it’s called a theory! There’s more evidence that the Bible is true."[92] In 2018, the UK Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills gave a Christian school its lowest ranking possible for quality of learning because it taught creationism and integrated its biblical values into its curriculum (aka. giving its students a Christian education, as a Christian school).[93][94] These are only a few of many examples of social persecution in the West, regarding numerous subjects, including creation science, the pseudoscientific theory of evolution, and homosexuality.

In early 2017, two Christian street preachers in Bristol were convicted for quoting the King James Bible in public because they supposedly used "threatening or abusive words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person . . . and the offence was religiously aggravated."[95][96][97]

In October 2017, Oxford University banned a Christian organization, the Christian Union of Oxford’s Balliol College, from appearing at a fair because it would "alienate" students because of Christianity being an "excuse for homophobia and neo-colonialism."[98]

In November 2017, Tim Farron, a Christian and the former leader of the Liberal Democratic Party who resigned due to the incompatibility of his faith and his position, admitted that social persecution of Christianity is a real thing and that the culture sees it as dangerous.[99]

In December 2017, the London Assembly called on its mayor "to clarify the powers available to [police] to arrest and prosecute" pro-life activists, claiming with no evidence that the "anti-choice campaigners" engage in “obstruction, intimidation and harassment."[100]

Despite admitting large numbers of migrants from Muslim countries,[101] the UK government refused to admit one Pakistani Christian woman for asylum in 2018[102][103] and an Iranian Christian woman in 2019.[104] The government made bigoted claims, such as that Christianity somehow not being a "peaceful religion" and because they requested asylum while also believing in Jesus as Savior.[105]

In public schools, students who are not homosexuals or transgender are increasingly harassed and viewed as "weird."[106]

Americas

Canada

Like the rest of the West, the Canadian government (currently, the Liberal Party of Canada under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau) has become more hostile towards Christianity. In 2017, a local school district, the Battle River School Division, ordered a Christian school to stop teaching "offensive" passages from the Bible, something that would alter the Christian message and omit key portions of the Bible from being taught.[107][108][109]

In 2017, the Canadian government chose to ban employers who oppose abortion or homosexual "marriage" from being able to receive summer job grants for students,[110][111][112] and in March 2018, the Canadian House of Commons voted 207–93 against reversing the requirement that employers sign an attestation affirming their support for such issues.[113] In January 2018, Prime Minister Trudeau indicated that pro-life speech is not protected speech. When asked on where the Canadian government limits free speech, Trudeau mentioned abortion, stating that "an organization that has the explicit purpose of restricting women’s rights by removing rights to abortion, the right for women to control their own bodies, is not in line with where we are as a government and quite frankly where we are as a society."[114][115]

In June 2018, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled against an explicitly Christian law school, saying that is was "proportionate and reasonable" for some Canadian law societies to deny accreditation to the school's graduates because the school opposed homosexuality due to its Christian values.[116]

In 2018, Canadian activist Bill Whatcott faced being unjustly sentenced to two years in prison for what his persecutors claimed was his committing "Wilful [sic] Promotion of Hatred against an identifiable group" – AKA passing out pamphlets at a 2016 "gay pride" parade that shared the Christian message that homosexuality is a sin and that repenting of all sin leads to "the free gift of eternal life."[117]

The New Democratic Party government of Alberta heavily promoted the homosexual agenda in the state's education system, such as forcing Christian schools to create Gay Straight Alliance Clubs even if only one student wanted one, and threatened to defund religious schools if they do not remove religious content from their curriculum.[118]

United States

Persecution mainly exists in ridicule, liberal bias, bigotry and/or religious discrimination of traditional Christian family values by Hollywood.[119][120][121] If this is further tolerated, there is a distinct possibility that violence against Christians could be next. Numerous Christians, whether business owners or other people, such as Kim Davis or Roy Moore, have been persecuted in various ways (lawsuits, loss of business, arrest, threats, etc.) for holding on to their sincerely-held beliefs and refusing to bow down to the homosexual agenda.

Don Feder, founder of a group called Jews Against Anti-Christian Defamation, used his condemnation of the 2005 film "V for Vendetta" to say, "It's very much in keeping with what has become Hollywood's standard anti-Christian message – that Christians are hypocritical hate-mongers, with tendencies toward violence, who are waiting to seize the reins of government and persecute unbelievers."[122] David Limbaugh says, "This anti-Christian bias manifests itself in unflattering portrayals of Christians in Hollywood films and entertainment television."[123]

In a government report released in 2016, Martin R. Castro, the chairman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, claimed that "The phrases “religious liberty” and “religious freedom” will stand for nothing except hypocrisy so long as they remain code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, Christian supremacy or any form of intolerance."[124][125][126][127]

In 2014, Houston mayor Annise Parker, a leftist and the first openly-homosexual mayor of the city, illegally issued subpoenas on pastors, ordering them to turn over sermons concerning homosexuality.[128][129][130]

On October 1, 2017, a homosexual coffee shop owner kicked several Christians out of his shop because he claimed their very presence "offended" him.[131] Leftist organizations which regularly make demands for Christians to be forced to serve homosexuals with no exceptions, such as the ACLU, hypocritically remained silent on this incident.[132] In one reported instance (out of many), the owners of a Pennsylvania bridal shop chose to close their business because of threats from homosexual activists.[133]

Christianity is increasingly coming under attack at public education institutions. For example, in October 2017, Wayne State University, a public institution, de-recognized InterVarsity Christian Fellowship as the student group required its members to be Christians.[134]

The owner of the Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado, Jack Phillips, has come under repeated assault for his non-compliance with state-imposed liberal ideology. After winning a Supreme Court case (on very narrow grounds) protecting his religious freedom with regards to being forced to violate his conscience by corrupt Colorado state officials, other left-wing groups, including satanists and transgender people, jokingly requested cakes expressing their anti-Christian points of view, and he even was sued for this with the willing assistance of the same state officials who have been illegally persecuting him in deliberate ignorance of the Supreme Court ruling.[135]

In 2019, the State of California attempted to evict an elderly woman from a veterans' home because she led Bible studies.[136]

  • In 2019, Virginia's government prosecuted a real estate agent for displaying "Jesus loves you" and John 3:16 in her email signature.[137]

Cuba

The communist Cuban regime has regularly persecuted Christians.

In 2019, a Cuban pastor and his wife were sentenced to two years in prison for homeschooling their children.[138]

Oceania

Australia

In July 2017, the Queensland Department of Education and Training issued an unofficial policy banning Christmas cards, any reference to Jesus, or anything else that might be seen as Christian evangelizing by primary school students.[139]

Leading up to the 2017 same-sex "marriage" referendum, many Christians and "no" voters were afraid to speak out against legalizing homosexual "marriage" due to the fear of social persecution.[140]

New Zealand

In 2017, Family First, a socially conservative organization that supports marriage being defined as between a man and a woman, had its status as a charitable organization wrongly taken away by the Charities Registration Board due to its stance on marriage.[141]

In 2019, professional rugby player Israel Folau was fired from Australia's rugby team simply because he spoke out against Australia's legalization of same-sex "marriage" by quoting Scripture when his team publicly supported the decision.[142]

See also

Further reading

References

  1. ↑ International Persecution of Christians
  2. ↑ Byas, Steve (April 22, 2019). Violence Against Christians Under-reported. The New American. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
    See also:
  3. ↑ Vondracek, Christopher (April 22, 2019). Under siege: Violent attacks on Christians double since 2017. The Washington Times. Retrieved April 23, 2019.
    See also: See also:
  4. ↑ Chiaramonte, Perry (January 6, 2017). Christians the most persecuted group in world for second year: Study. Fox News. Retrieved January 7, 2017.
  5. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (April 16, 2017). Easter 2017, Christians ‘Most Persecuted Group in the World’. Breitbart News. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  6. ↑ Nearly 1 million Christians reportedly martyred for their faith in last decade. Fox News (from The Christian Post). January 17, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  7. ↑ Mora, Edwin (January 11, 2018). Study: Over 200 Million Christians Worldwide Facing Severe Persecution. Breitbart News. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  8. ↑ Chiaramonte, Perry (January 11, 2017). Christian persecution continues to rise, more incidents against women in 2017, new report says. Fox News. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  9. ↑ Mora, Edwin (November 24, 2018). Report: Half a Billion Christians Facing Global Persecution. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 25, 2018.
  10. ↑ Multiple references:
  11. ↑ Chiaramonte, Perry (February 2, 2017). Christian persecution seen in more locations across the globe, new report shows. Fox News. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
  12. ↑ Christian persecution continues to rise; women most exploited, group says. Fox News. January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  13. ↑ Murphy, James (January 17, 2019). Persecution of Christians Is On The Rise Worldwide, According to New Report. The New American. Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  14. ↑ Hadro, Matt (April 17, 2017). Pew study: Religious persecution spread to more countries in 2015. The Washington Times. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Tanner, Georeen (April 14, 2017). Christian persecution: How many are being killed, where they are being killed. Fox News. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
  16. ↑ Williams, Thomas D., PhD (May 16, 2017). Report: International Religious Freedom Worsening in both ‘Depth and Breadth’. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 16, 2017.
  17. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (December 11, 2019). Report: Islamic Persecution of Christians ‘Gaining Traction’ in Africa. Breitbart News. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
  18. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (October 16, 2017). Report: 75% of Victims of Religious Persecution Are Christians. Breitbart News. Retrieved October 16, 2017.
  19. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (October 6, 2018). Report: 447 Christian Missionaries Killed Since 2000. Breitbart News. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
  20. ↑ Thousands of Muslims reportedly turning to Christ in Middle East. Fox News (from The Christian Post). January 11, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  21. ↑ "... in 391 AD, Christianity became the official, and only, state religion of the empire." The Legacy of Rome
  22. ↑ See
    List of Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation (en.wikipedia.org) and
    List of Protestant martyrs of the English Reformation (en.wikipedia.org)
  23. ↑ Kent, Simon (January 16, 2018). Report: Middle East Christians on the Eve of Destruction. Breitbart News. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  24. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (October 15, 2018). Christians Charged with ‘Inciting a Muslim to Change Religion’ in Algeria. Breitbart News. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Egypt
  26. ↑ Egyptian Coptic Christians Attacked by Violent Mobs
  27. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (June 30, 2018). Christian Death Toll Rises to 200 in 4-Day Muslim ‘Killing Spree’ in Nigeria. Breitbart News. Retrieved June 30, 2018.
    See also:
  28. ↑ Bohon, Dave (December 31, 2019). Over 1,000 Nigerian Christians Slaughtered by Islamists in 2019. The New American. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  29. ↑ Murphy, James (March 24, 2019). Silent Slaughter: Media Quiet as Muslims Kill Hundreds of Christians in Nigeria. The New American. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  30. ↑ Kraychik, Robert (March 24, 2019). Human Rights Activist: Islamists Murdered 70,000 Christians in Nigeria over Last 20 Years. Breitbart News. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
  31. ↑ Multiple references:
  32. ↑ Multiple references: See also:
  33. ↑ Bohon, Steve (December 15, 2018). Church in China Under Intense Attack by Communist Government. The New American. Retrieved December 15, 2018.
  34. ↑ Kuo, Lily (January 13, 2019). https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jan/13/china-christians-religious-persecution-translation-bible. The Guardian. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 [1]
  36. ↑ Persecution Of Christians Around The World
  37. ↑ Torture testimony of Liu Xianzhi
  38. ↑ Martel, Frances (September 7, 2017). Government Christian Leader: ‘Theology Shall Reflect Chinese Culture’. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  39. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (February 22, 2019). Chinese Kindergartners Forced to Sign Atheist Manifesto. Breitbart News. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
  40. ↑ Cimmino, Jeffrey (September 3, 2019). China cracking down on teaching religion to children. Washington Examiner. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  41. ↑ Bohon, Dave (September 5, 2019). Communist China Prohibiting Children From Converting to Christian Faith. The New American. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  42. ↑ Multiple references: See also:
  43. ↑ China Ramps Up Christian Persecution After Two Missionaries Are Murdered. CBN News. September 5, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  44. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (September 12, 2017). Chinese Gov’t Bans Christian Children from Attending Church, Vows Punishment to Offenders. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  45. ↑ Hodges, Mark (September 11, 2017). Chinese gov’t bans kids from attending church services. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  46. ↑ Haverluck, Michael F. (September 11, 2017). China: Children not allowed at church. OneNewsNow. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  47. ↑ Martel, Frances (November 14, 2017). China Urges Rural Christians to Replace Jesus Images with Xi Jinping. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  48. ↑ Multiple references:
  49. ↑ Mass, Warren (December 24, 2019). China Orders People of Faith to Rewrite Religious Texts to Conform to Party Line. The New American. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  50. ↑ Barillas, Martin M. (January 6, 2020). Chinese govt demands Christians use religion to ‘spread Communist Party principles’. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
  51. ↑ Multiple references: See also:
  52. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (August 8, 2019). Report: Religious Freedom in China at 40-Year Low. Breitbart News. Retrieved August 8, 2019.
  53. ↑ Pastor Beheaded by Radical Communists. iCommitToPray.com (17 October 2019).
  54. ↑ INDIA: Naxalites shoot Christian dead in Chhattisgarh. Barnabas Fund (28 February 2019).
  55. ↑ A submission to the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review: India
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 56.2 Hindu Extremists Attack Indian Churches, Torch Home of Prominent Christian
  57. ↑ Communal violence in Kandhamal District, Orissa: India
  58. ↑ Cochrane, Joe (April 19, 2017). Jakarta Governor Concedes Defeat in Religiously Tinged Election. The News York Times. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  59. ↑ 59.0 59.1 Hayward, John (May 9, 2017). Jakarta Governor Found Guilty of Blasphemy Against Islam, Jailed for Two Years. Breitbart News. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  60. ↑ Archbishop abducted in Iraq
  61. ↑ Iraqi Chaldean archbishop seized
  62. ↑ The Demand for Bibles in Burma is Growing Despite Enormous Persecution of Christians Christian Freedom International
  63. ↑ 63.0 63.1 Eyewitness: Christianity in North Korea
  64. ↑ North Korea
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 65.2 65.3 65.4 65.5 Religious freedom update - Pakistan
  66. ↑ Violent persecution set to rise in 2017
  67. ↑ Montgomery, Jack (September 12, 2017). Pakistani Christian Beaten to Death by Muslim Classmates ‘Whilst Teacher Read Newspaper’. Breitbart News. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  68. ↑ Russia jails Dane for six years in Jehovah's Witnesses purge
  69. ↑ Turkey
  70. ↑ One German and two Turkish Christians killed in Southeast Turkey
  71. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (November 19, 2019). Observatory Releases Report on Christian Persecution in Europe. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
    See also:
  72. ↑ Bulgarian Christians under attack from skinheads and ultra-nationalists
  73. ↑ Bulgaria
  74. ↑ 74.0 74.1 74.2 McMorris, Bill (December 7, 2016). French Senate Passes Pro-Life Website Ban. The Washington Free Beacon. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  75. ↑ Multiple references:
  76. ↑ Hurd, Dale (March 11, 2017). Strangling the Pro-Life Movement: What in the World Is Going on in France?. CBN News. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  77. ↑ Morrison, Robert (April 4, 2017). France Reneges On Equal Rights For All By Banning Pro-Life Websites. The Federalist. Retrieved February 11, 2018.
  78. ↑ International Homeschooling on Shaky Ground. Answers in Genesis. October 1, 2007. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  79. ↑ Looy, Mark (April 29, 2013). Homeschooled and Now Without a Home to School In? Answers in Genesis. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  80. ↑ Multiple references:
  81. ↑ Huston, Warner Todd (February 1, 2010). Homeschooling German Family Awarded Political Asylum in U.S., Where is U.S. Media? Breitbart News. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  82. ↑ Berry, Susan (March 4, 2014). Homeland Security Will Not Deport German Christian Homeschoolers the Romeikes. Breitbart News. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  83. ↑ Chretien, Claire (June 28, 2017). Gov’t bans prayer to God; Christian preschool forced to thank ‘sun and rain’ for meals instead. LifeSite News. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  84. ↑ Hale, Virginia (June 26, 2017). Christian Preschoolers Banned from Saying ‘Amen’, Talking About the Bible. Breitbart News. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  85. ↑ Preschoolers in Sweden Banned from Saying 'Amen,' Mentioning the Bible. CBN News. June 29, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  86. ↑ Freiburger, Calvin (May 31, 2019). Sweden joins United Kingdom in denying refuge to persecuted Christians. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  87. ↑ Kirkwood, R. Cort (September 5, 2019). Top Finnish Pol in Trouble for Posting “Homophobic” Bible Quote and Comment on Facebook. The New American. Retrieved September 5, 2019.
  88. ↑ Blake, Heidi (May 2, 2010). Christian preacher arrested for saying homosexuality is a sin. The Telegraph. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  89. ↑ Tufft, Ben (March 29, 2015). Street preacher quoting from the Bible fined for calling homosexuality an 'abomination'. The Independent. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  90. ↑ Turpin, Simon (January 8, 2016). Northern Ireland Pastor Not Guilty of Criticising Islam. Answers in Genesis. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  91. ↑ Sevcik, JC (June 18, 2014). Teaching creationism as scientifically valid now banned in all UK public schools. UPI. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  92. ↑ Turpin, Simon (February 4, 2016). Teacher Ridiculed for Saying Evolution Is Not a Fact. Answers in Genesis. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
  93. ↑ Burgess, Kaya (February 16, 2018). Primary pupils taught creationism in science lessons at Kings Kids Christian School. The Times. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  94. ↑ Kumar, Anugrah (February 18, 2018). UK School Punished for Teaching Creation, Bible; Kids Saying Other Faiths Follow 'False Gods'. The Christian Post. Retrieved March 9, 2018.
  95. ↑ Turpin, Simon (March 6, 2017). The Loss of Free Speech in the UK and How We Should React as Christians. Answers in Genesis. Retrieved March 9, 2017.
  96. ↑ Weatherbe, Steve (March 2, 2017). Christian street preachers arrested, fined for ‘challenging Muslims,’ ‘homophobia’. LifeSite News. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  97. ↑ Berrien, Hank (August 3, 2017). These British Pastors Were Just Arrested For ‘Challenging Muslims’. The Daily Wire. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
  98. ↑ Christian group at Oxford University banned from fair out of fear it would 'alienate' students. Fox News. October 11, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  99. ↑ Williams, Thomas D. (November 29, 2017). Liberal Democrat Tim Farron Warns That Christians Now Deemed as ‘Dangerous’ and Unsuitable for Politics. Breitbart News. Retrieved November 29, 2017.
  100. ↑ Deacon, Liam (December 23, 2017). ‘Orwellian’: London Assembly Votes to ‘Arrest and Prosecute’ Pro-Life Christians. Breitbart News. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  101. ↑ Duke, Selwyn (March 26, 2019). U.K. Politician on Migration: No One Asked Us if We Wanted Our Culture Destroyed. The New American. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  102. ↑ McKay, Hollie (November 18, 2018). UK slammed for not granting asylum to Pakistani Christian Aasia Bibi over security fears. Fox News. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  103. ↑ Montgomery, Jack (November 25, 2019). Theresa May Refuses Asylum for Pakistani Christian Hunted by Lynch Mobs to Appease British Muslims. Breitbart News. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  104. ↑ Duke, Selwyn (March 23, 2019). UK Official Mocks Man’s Christianity; Says it’s NOT a Religion of Peace. The New American. Retrieved March 24, 2019.
  105. ↑ Llorente, Elizabeth (March 21, 2019). UK denies asylum to Iranian convert to Christianity, saying the religion is not 'peaceful'. Fox News. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  106. ↑ Glover, Suzanne (April 23, 2019). 'Why is my teenage girl picked on for NOT being gay or trans?' A disturbing look at how teachers and pupils have turned tolerance on its head. Daily Mail. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
  107. ↑ Canadian District Bans Christian School from Teaching 'Offensive' Parts of Bible. CBN News. June 22, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  108. ↑ Haskins, Justin (June 24, 2017). Canadian Christian school under attack for teaching ‘offensive’ Bible verses. The Blaze. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  109. ↑ Foley, Avery (August 6, 2017). Canada Forces Government Speech and Bans Bible Verses. Answers in Genesis. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  110. ↑ Laurence, Lianne (December 14, 2017). BREAKING: Canada won’t fund student summer jobs unless employers support abortion. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  111. ↑ Cannolly, Amanda (December 15, 2017). Canada Summer Jobs program will no longer fund anti-abortion, anti-gay groups. Global News. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  112. ↑ Duke, Selwyn (January 23, 2018). Canadian Government: Christian Students Need Not Apply. The New American. Retrieved January 23, 2018.
  113. ↑ Mainwaring, Doug (March 19, 2018). Canadian Parliament votes down motion against pro-abortion oath for gov’t funding. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  114. ↑ Richardson, Bradford (January 13, 2018). Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau scolds pro-lifers as ‘not in line’ with society. The Washington Times. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  115. ↑ Laurence, Lianne (January 13, 2018). Trudeau: Believe what you want, but ‘we draw the line’ if you try to restrict abortion. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  116. ↑ Multiple references: Laurence, Lianne (June 15, 2018). Canada’s top court rules against Christian law school: LGBT ‘rights’ trump religious freedom. LifeSiteNews. Retrieved June 17, 2018. See also:
  117. ↑ Multiple references:
  118. ↑ Multiple references:
  119. ↑ Survey: Americans Believe Religious Values Are 'Under Attack' Anti-Defamation League, November 14, 2008
  120. ↑ [Brad Pitt proclaims he is for gay marriage and against traditional American Christians, August 2009]
  121. ↑ Anderson, Troy (June 4, 2019). The War to Destroy Christianity in America. The New American. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  122. ↑ see David Hinckley, "Is Hollywood anti-Christian?" New York Daily News May 15th 2009
  123. ↑ The Media and Hollywood War Against Christianity NewsMax, October 2, 2003
  124. ↑ Showalter, Brandon (September 9, 2016). Religious Freedom Is 'Code Word' for Bigotry, Christian Supremacy, US Civil Rights Commissioner Says. The Christian Post. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  125. ↑ Kellner, Mark A. (September 8, 2016). ‘Religious freedom,’ ‘liberty’ just ‘code words’ for intolerance, U.S. Civil Rights chairman says. The Washington Times. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  126. ↑ Chairman of U.S. Commission on Civil Rights calls the phrases ‘religious liberty’ and ‘religious freedom’ code words for discrimination, intolerance, racism, sexism, homophobia, Islamophobia, and Christian supremacy. Religion News Service. September 8, 2016. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  127. ↑ Carter, Joe (September 13, 2016). U.S. Civil Rights Commission: ‘Religious Freedom’ Is Code Word for Racism, Homophobia, and ‘Christian Supremacy’. The Gospel Coalition. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  128. ↑ Starnes, Todd (October 14, 2014). City of Houston demands pastors turn over sermons. Fox News. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  129. ↑ Starnes, Todd (October 29, 2014). Houston mayor drops bid to subpoena pastors' sermons. Fox News. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  130. ↑ Hallowell, Billy (August 3, 2015). Houston Gov’t Subpoenaed Pastors’ Sermons. Now, They’re Fighting Back. The Blaze. Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  131. ↑ Multiple references:
  132. ↑ Randall, Amber (October 10, 2017). ACLU Silent On Gay Coffee Shop Owner Who Kicked Out Christians [VIDEO]. The Daily Caller. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  133. ↑ Tennant, Michael (March 12, 2018). Christian-owned Bridal Shop Closes Under LGBT Threats. The New American. Retrieved March 12, 2018.
  134. ↑ Parke, Caleb (March 7, 2018). Christian group sues Michigan university after it is kicked off campus. Fox News. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
    After a lawsuit threat, the university allowed back the Christian group:
  135. ↑ Multiple references:
  136. ↑ Tennant, Michael (March 11, 2019). Elderly Woman Threatened With Eviction From Veterans’ Home for Leading Bible Studies. The New American. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  137. ↑ Newman, Alex (September 15, 2019). Virginia Persecutes Christian Realtor Over “Jesus Loves You”. The New American. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
  138. ↑ Martel, Frances (April 23, 2019). Cuban Pastor, Wife Sentenced to 2 Years in Prison for Homeschooling. Breitbart News. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
    See also:
  139. ↑ Multiple references:
  140. ↑ Zaimov, Stoyan (September 29, 2017). 'No' Voters on Gay Marriage in Australia Afraid of Being Branded 'Bigots,' Mocked If They Speak Out. The Christian Post. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  141. ↑ Ham, Ken (September 12, 2017). New Zealand Group Supporting Traditional Marriage Loses Charity Status. Answers in Genesis. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  142. ↑ Multiple references: See also:
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