The 2013 World Watch list is out

USA (MNN) ― A priority for Open Doors is keeping track of the world's countries according to the intensity of persecution Christians face for actively pursuing their faith. Today, Open Doors released the 2013 World Watch List, and there are a few surprises.

The most notable trend Open Doors researchers found was the increase of persecution in Africa. Fundamentalist variations of Islam rapidly gained influence on the continent. On the one hand, this was due to focused attacks, such as Boko Haram in Nigeria (#13). On the other hand, the influence of Islam increased through infiltration in different social and economic areas. Open Doors saw a similar pattern in several African countries.

According to Paul Estabrooks with Open Doors, "There were five newcomers on the top 50 list. In fact, one of them jumped all the way to Number 7 in the top ten. That was a huge surprise. That was Mali. The other four are Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, and Niger."

Why are they on the list now? Eastabrooks says, "These countries of Africa are experiencing Islamism more significantly than they have before, and it's resulted in challenges for Christians in those countries and a deterioration of that situation."

Tanzania (#24), Kenya (#40), Uganda (#47) and Niger (#50) also moved onto the World Watch List, and Ethiopia is one of the strongest risers (from #38 to #15) on the list. In addition, the small African country of Eritrea made the Top 10 for the first time at #10. Libya climbed from #26 to #17.

"We do not necessarily distinguish one overall plan from one source in the whole of Africa. However, we do see that radical Islamic groups are patiently waiting for the right time to show their power," says Jerry Dykstra, a spokesman for Open Doors. "Apart from the pattern of violent attacks, we see that radical Muslims are infiltrating into politics, business, and the judicial power, such as introducing Sharia family courts. On a number of occasions, Muslims were ready to step into a power vacuum: take Mali, for example, where Touareg rebels and Muslim fundamentalists gained power in April 2012."

"Mali used to be a model country," says Dykstra. "The situation in the north used to be a bit tense, but Christians and even missionaries could be active. Currently, the situation in northern Mali is somewhat similar to Saudi Arabia. Christians are simply no longer allowed to be there."

A pastor from the northern part of Mali told Open Doors that he was informed that Muslim fundamentalists were planning to kill all Christians. He warned all the members of his congregation to leave. That happened. Hundreds of Christians fled from the north to the south of the country or neighboring countries.

North Korea is still #1 when it comes to persecution of Christians. For the 11th consecutive year, the hermit communist country heads the World Watch List. Possessing a Bible alone can be a reason for a Christian to be executed or sent to a prison camp along with three generations of his or her family. It is estimated that between 50,000 and 70,000 Christians suffer in horrific prison camps. The intense persecution has continued under new leader Kim Jong-un. The number of defectors to China greatly decreased in 2012, and half of those who try to defect do not make it.

"Nothing much has changed under new North Korean leader Kim Jong-un," says Dykstra. "In fact, persecution of Christians has increased. Reportedly one labor camp alone could hold up to 6,000 Christians."

Apart from North Korea, the Top 10 on the World Watch List consists of eight countries where extreme Islam poses the largest threat for Christians. They are (from #2 to #9): Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Maldives, Mali, Iran, and Yemen. Worldwide, Open Doors reports an increase in the persecution of Christians.

Outside of Mali, Syria made the largest jump on the World Watch List. The country is 11th on the list, compared to 36th in 2012. For years under the regime of President Assad, Christians were allowed the freedom to worship but not evangelize. Estabrooks says, "Many Christians have fled the country because the opposition to the Assad Regime is predominately Islamic. They are Islamists. They are strong believers that Islam should dominate all of society, and they have very little tolerance for Christians."

Is there good news? Yes. China continued its descent on the World Watch List. Estabrooks says, "Five years ago, China was in the top 10 countries where persecution was severe. Now, China has dropped significant. Last year it was #21. 

This year it has dropped down to #37." However, house searches, arrests, and the confiscation of Bibles and Christian books no longer occur on a large scale. Instead, the government forces many church leaders to keep an accounting for their whereabouts--a way to keep them subdued and under control. At least 100 Chinese Christians are still in prison.

Egypt has also descended on the World Watch List, going from 15th to 25th. Nevertheless, the country's score does not show any improvement. The drop is a result of Open Doors' change in methodology to monitor and chart the persecution of Christians. The Christians with a Muslim background are facing the most serious problems. Apart from that, Egypt is going through a difficult stage. Islamist groups, such as the Muslim Brotherhood, are gaining more power after the election of Mohammed Morsi last summer.

More than ever before, the World Watch List provides an insight into the overall spectrum of the persecution of Christians in all spheres of life (private, family, community, national, and church.) The freedom to come together and the degree in which Christians are exposed to acts of violence are also included in the monitoring. This results in a balanced scoring, taking into account both the impact of violent incidents and less visible, structural developments threatening the position of Christians.

To get the entire World Watch list, click here.   

Need for U.S. Christians to Push for Freedom of Persecuted Church

Bill to amend the International
 Religious Freedom Act will put
 greater focus on ending religious
 persecution in U.S. foreign policy,
 but it needs more support first.
 (Photo by Joe Benjamin)

USA (MNN) ― Open Doors USA recently launched a new campaign to support the new religious freedom bill in Congress. An average of 100 million Christians are persecuted each year for claiming faith in Christ. This bill would help those suffering for their faith...if it is taken seriously.

The bill HR 1856 was presented in mid-May and is currently in the House of Congress. If this bill gets enough attention to be put to a vote, it would amend the original International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). It would draw in more funds for the U.S. Commission of International Religious Freedom and fix the problems with the first bill.

The U.S. Commission is like the watchdog for the State Department. They make sure that the State Department is promoting religious freedom. The U.S. Commission also does important reporting and works with other countries to improve their religious freedom record.

Open Doors USA Advocacy Director Lindsay Vessey says, "Promotion of international religious freedom as a general concept really means that people in different countries would have the ability hopefully to practice their faith freely. We see that about 70% of people in the world do not have the freedom to practice their faith."

This includes not only practicing your faith, but even sharing it with others. "In many parts of the world, it's illegal to proselytize or to share your faith. So this would have a huge impact on the ability for people to live out their faith and share the Gospel like Christ has called us to do," says Vessey.

Missionaries overseas suffer many forms of persecution for the work that they do. The freedom to spread the Gospel and lack thereof is a major issue that needs to get in front of Congress.

In the past, international religious freedom has been marginalized in the government. One way this is seen is that all ambassadors of various programs report directly to the Secretary of State. But the Ambassador for International Religious Freedom has been reporting to an under-secretary. If HR 1856 is passed, the International Religious Freedom Ambassador would report directly to the Secretary of State as well.

Advocacy, supporting and programming are just a few things that additional funding will allow the IRF office to utilize for promoting religious freedom. The bill would also require the State Department to act on their designations for "Countries of Particular Concern." And foreign reserve officers would receive training for religious freedom.

In order for HR 1856 to be taken to Congress for a vote, the bill needs more co-sponsors. There are 21 members of Congress co-sponsoring the bill so far. Open Doors is encouraging Christians to write their U.S. Representatives and ask them to support the bill.

Vessey states, "I've talked to many members of Congress and their staff who say, ‘Well, we'll consider doing something like this if we hear from our constituents.' So it's really important that they hear from you and that they know that you want them to co-sponsor this bill."

There is a pre-written letter on the Open Doors USA Web site. You can go to www.opendoorsusa.org and fill in your name and address for the letter to send it to your U.S. Representative.

This bill needs to be passed soon before the US Commission of IRF loses their funding in September. It is critical that Christians act now. The advancement of the Gospel could be greatly helped when pressure is put on other governments to end religious persecution. HR 1856 would help do that. The time is now to stand up for our brothers and sisters in Christ and be heard.