Church executions, worshippers burned alive and child brides forced to convert to Islam: Growing persecution of Christians around the world is highlighted in horrific new report

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Recent figures from the Pew Research Center show that Christians experienced harassment, ranging from verbal abuse to physical attacks and killings, in 165 countries in 2023.

Published: 13:55 GMT, 15 November 2026 | Updated: 13:55 GMT, 15 November 2026

Christians are facing escalating violence and persecution across the world, with worshippers burned, entire villages destroyed and young girls abducted, forcibly converted to Islam and married off to their captors, according to a damning new report.

From Islamist attacks in Africa to state-sponsored repression in Asia, the report paints a disturbing picture of religious freedom deteriorating across the globe.

Recent figures from the Pew Research Center show that Christians experienced harassment, ranging from verbal abuse to physical attacks and killings, in 165 countries in 2023.

Christians were targeted in more countries than any other religious group, with the disparity growing at a time when harassment of religious communities worldwide had reached record levels.

Separate research by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) estimates that approximately 220million Christians are directly exposed to persecution.

Its report, Persecuted and Forgotten? 2024-26, found that conditions had deteriorated in 55 per cent of the 18 countries examined since the previous assessment.

Africa has emerged as one of the most dangerous regions for Christians, with six of the ten countries most affected by terrorism in the Global Terrorism Index 2026 located there.

Burkina Faso ranked second, followed by Niger in third place, Nigeria in fourth, Mali in fifth, Somalia in seventh and the Democratic Republic of Congo in eighth.

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