Violence and persecution driving global Christian exodus, report warns

Millions of Christians are fleeing their homes due to conflict, extremism, and religiously motivated violence, according to a new report by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The charity’s latest report, *Persecuted and Forgotten?*, warns that conditions for Christians have worsened in 10 of the 18 countries it examined, including China, Nigeria, and Pakistan. None of these countries showed an overall improvement in the well-being of Christian communities.

The report, covering August 2024 to June 2026, highlights the growing threat to Christian populations in Africa and Asia. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly affected, with attacks and displacement potentially altering the religious makeup of entire regions. In Nigeria, at least a million Christians are among more than 3.5 million internally displaced people. Many have fled violence by bandits, ethnic groups, and jihadists, especially in the north and Middle Belt.

Survivors describe harrowing experiences of persecution. Solomon Ako, a 33-year-old from northern Nigeria, recounted how militants kidnapped him from his village near Zaria. They demanded he renounce his faith, beat him, and flogged him with whips. His legs were chained, and he was held underwater for hours at a time. Such accounts illustrate the extreme measures used to suppress Christian identity.

In Burkina Faso, Islamist militants control at least 40 percent of the country. Christians are forced to observe Islamic customs, including dress codes, and some have been executed without trial. Similar threats exist in neighboring Mali and Mozambique, where Christian communities face killings, abductions, and the destruction of places of worship.

The report underscores the global scale of the crisis, noting that six of the 10 countries most affected by terrorism in the 2026 Global Terrorism Index are in Africa. In the Middle East, the situation is equally dire. Syria’s Christian population has declined by more than 80 percent since 2011. Church leaders warn of an existential threat, and the report cites a suicide attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus that killed 23 people.

The findings reflect a broader pattern of persecution and displacement, with Christian communities increasingly targeted in conflict zones. As the report warns, the future of these communities hangs in the balance, demanding urgent attention and action.

Source: Read the original report