Nigeria ranks high in list of countries that persecute Christians

diamond hope

January 15, 2018 9:12 AM

Although a large percentage of Nigerians practice Christianity, they are still very much persecuted.

Recently Open Doors USA has released a report on the global persecution of Christians ranking the top 50 countries where most severely persecuted and Nigeria has secured the 14th position.

The World Watch List is published at the beginning of each year and uses the data from Open Doors field workers and external experts to quantify and analyze persecution worldwide.

The list which is published on Open Doors USA website was followed by the group stating that the various forms of Christian persecution can be defined under the umbrella of "any hostility experienced as a result of identification with Christ."

North Korea clinched the top spot, with Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan, Pakistan, Eritrea, Libya, Iraq, Yemen, and Iran, in the top 10. Nigeria came 14th in the ranks as a result of what the organization described as "ethnic cleansing based on religious affiliation," which was said to be becoming nearly common for Christians in a number of sub-Saharan African countries.

It was also noted that terrorism connected with extreme Islam continues to plague many African nations, resulting in increased persecution of Christians.

Open Doors USA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), David Curry, also noted that "The overall numbers signal an increase in violence especially against women," stating that "it’s imperative we continue to advocate and call leaders to prioritize issues of religious freedom."

diamond hope

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