Countries with Rise in Religious Hostilities
(image credit: pixabay)
Pew Research released a report earlier this month noting religiously motivated hostilities rose for the third year in a row (PDF here). Drivers of such is related to harassment of religious minorities and the ripple-effect of Hamas’ attack in Israel and the country’s response in Gaza.
Of the 198 countries studied in 2023 (most current period), fifty-five had high or very high levels of hostilities. Governments with very high religious restrictions include China, Iran, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Syria, and Uzbekistan. Nigeria, India, Israel, Syria, Bangladesh, and Pakistan scored very high when it came to harassment and violence done by individuals and nongovernment organizations (including terrorist groups). The researchers noted these data point toward an increase in governments “clamping down on religious beliefs and practices,” while nongovernment hostilities tend “to rise and fall with events” (7). On a slightly positive note, Ethiopia and the Philippines moved from the high category into the “moderate” category (8).
Twelve of the fifty-five countries are new to the Social Hostilities list:
Europe
Belgium
Norway
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Sub-Saharan Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Sierra Leone
Tanzania
Asia-Pacific
Thailand
Türkiye
Americas
Guatemala
Middle East-North Africa
Sudan
If you are interested in the details supporting the addition of these twelve to the list, see the full report (pgs 9-11).
Countries with Very High Government Restrictions on Religion:
Afghanistan
Algeria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Brunei
China
Egypt
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Israel
Laos
Malaysia
Maldives
Mauritania
Morocco
Myanmar
Pakistan
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
Syria
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Examples of evidence may be found for these countries and their placement in the report (see pgs 15-18). Attention is given to Christians in Laos where homes were destroyed after eight families converted to the faith, Orthodox Christians in Ethiopia (24), and Roman Catholics and evangelicals in Nicaragua (25). The Government of Türkiye deported noncitizen Christians “in an attempt to curb the spread of Christianity” (26). In India, more than 250 church buildings were burned and over 200 people killed (26) (Hindu temples and synagogues were also destroyed.). Other killings of Christians were noted in Kenya, Nigeria, and East Asia (27).
During 2023, Christians and Muslims experienced more “physical harassment as well as verbal and other nonphysical harassment” than other groups (28). Open Doors noted that the number of Christians in persecution rose to 388 million in 2026 (see Vatican article on Open Doors report).
Religious opposition is prevalent throughout the world and increasing in many contexts. While this is not exclusive to followers of Christ, it is a matter the Church must take into consideration. We must work to be persons of peace (Matt 5:9). If we suffer, let us suffer for righteousness and not because of our methods or personal agitation (1 Pet 3:14). We should pray for leaders that we may remain at peace and the gospel would spread rapidly and with honor (1 Tim 2:1-4; 2 Thes 3:1). We should remember our brothers and sisters in chains (Heb 13:3).
Some things to know before we go.
The five billion remain.