The 6 communist and 37 Islamic regimes that most persecute Christians in 2022

Communism and Islam are once again the greatest threats against the life and religious freedom of Christians in the world, just as they were in 2021.

Spain is one of the five European countries that most violate the freedoms of Christians
The situation facing the Christian minority in Afghanistan with the Taliban

5,898 Christians have been killed for their faith in the last year

Today the Christian NGO Open Doors has published its report World Warch List 2022. The report reveals some data that shows the degree of persecution and harassment suffered by Christians in many parts of the world:

• More than 360 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.
• In the last year, 5,898 Christians have been killed for their faith.
• Likewise, 6,175 Christians were arrested for their religious beliefs.
• Likewise, 5,110 churches were attacked.
• 1 in 7 Christians is persecuted worldwide.
• 1 in 5 Christians is persecuted in Africa.
• 2 out of 5 Christians are persecuted in Asia.
• 1 in 15 Christians are persecuted in Latin America.

Afghanistan happens to top the list, which includes 6 communist dictatorships

In this year's ranking, North Korea moves into second place on the list of 50 countries that most harshly persecute Christians. The first place is now occupied by Afghanistan, controlled by the Taliban for a few months.

The list includes 6 communist dictatorships: North Korea (position 2), Eritrea (6), China (17), Vietnam (19), Laos (26) and Cuba (37), which enters strongly on this list of the persecution (it was not included in last year's). These five countries have a population of 1,549 million people, which is almost a fifth of the world's population.

Islam is the cause of persecution against Christians in 37 countries on the list

Among the 11 countries with extreme levels of persecution against Christians, Islam is the cause of persecution in 8 countries: Afghanistan (1), Somalia (3), Libya (4), Yemen (5), Nigeria ( 7), Pakistan (8), Iran (9), and Saudi Arabia (11).

In addition, among the countries with very high levels of persecution, we also find Islam as a cause in Sudan (13), Iraq (14), Syria (15), Maldives (16), Qatar (18), Egypt (20), Uzbekistan ( 21), Algeria (22), Mauritania (23), Mali (24), Turkmenistan (25), Morocco (27), Indonesia (28), Bangladesh (29), Central African Republic (31), Burkina Faso (32), Niger (33), Tunisia (35), Oman (36), Jordan (39), Democratic Republic of the Congo (40), Mozambique (41), Turkey (43), Cameroon (44), Tajikistan (45), Brunei ( 46), Kazakhstan (47), Kuwait (49) and Malaysia (50).

Note that the list includes some countries that some ascribe to "moderate Islam", a so-called moderation that does not appear to include respect for religious freedom.

You can see here the video published by Open Doors with the data of the WWL 2022:

A report published annually since 1990

Open Doors has been preparing this World Watch List (WWL) year after year since 1990. In it, "it classifies the countries where it is most difficult to live the Christian faith. The report is compiled by regional experts and audited by an external organization specializing in religious freedom. The WWL is credited as the most complete and reliable report of its kind. Through interviews and analysis of data on the ground, the list provides an accurate picture of the hardships persecuted Christians experience around the world."

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Photo: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images. Catholics waiting to receive communion during Palm Sunday mass at a "house church" near Shijiazhuang, China.