32,000 voices and counting for the persecuted Church
Two-thirds of humanity — more than 5.4 billion people — live in countries without full religious freedom.
Statistics uncovered by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) found that out of 196 countries, serious violations of religious freedom occur in 62 of them. Of these, 24 are classified as countries of “persecution” and 38 as “discrimination”. Only two nations, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka, showed improvements.
“The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion — protected under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights — is not only under pressure, in many countries it is disappearing,” warned Irish woman Regina Lynch, Executive President of ACN International.
ACN identified authoritarianism as the principal driver of religious repression. In 19 of the 24 countries in the persecution category, and in 33 of the 38 countries with discrimination, governments apply systematic strategies to control or silence religious life.
In China, Iran, Eritrea and Nicaragua, the authorities employ mass surveillance technologies, digital censorship, restrictive legislation and arbitrary detentions to suppress independent religious communities.
Islamist extremism also continues to expand, particularly across Africa and Asia. In 15 countries, it is the main cause of persecution, and in another 10, it contributes to discrimination.
The Sahel has become the epicentre of jihadist violence with groups such as Islamic State – Sahel Province (ISSP) and JNIM causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands, the displacement of millions and the destruction of hundreds of Christian churches and schools.
Ethno-religious nationalism, meanwhile, drives the repression of minorities in parts of Asia. In India and Myanmar, Christian communities suffer from aggression and legal exclusion. In India, the situation can be defined as “hybrid persecution” — a combination of discriminatory laws and violence carried out by civilians but encouraged by political rhetoric.
The decline in religious freedom has also been aggravated by armed conflicts affecting countries such as Myanmar, Ukraine, Russia, Israel and Palestine.
Wars and religious-based violence have triggered a silent displacement crisis. In Nigeria, attacks by armed groups linked to radicalised Fulani herders have left thousands dead and entire communities uprooted.
In the Sahel — especially in Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali — whole villages have been destroyed by Islamist militias. In Sudan, civil war has wiped centuries-old Christian communities off the map.
Organised crime has also emerged as a new agent of persecution. In Mexico and Haiti, armed groups murder or kidnap religious leaders and extort parishes to assert territorial control.
The erosion of religious freedom also extends to Europe and North America. In 2023, France recorded nearly 1,000 attacks on churches; in Greece, more than 600 acts of vandalism took place; and similar spikes were observed in Spain, Italy, and the United States including desecrations of places of worship, physical assaults on clergy, and disruptions of religious services. According to ACN, these acts reflect a growing climate of ideological hostility towards religion.
For the first time in its history, Aid to the Church in Need has launched a global petition calling on governments and international organisations to ensure the effective protection of Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees every person the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
“Why this petition? Because the right to believe — or to live according to one’s convictions — is in decline in 62 countries, affecting billions of people. Over the past 25 years, ACN has documented how religious persecution destroys communities, fuels conflict and forces millions to flee. Now, more than ever, religious freedom must be defended and protected worldwide,” said Ms Lynch, inviting everyone to support the petition, while mentioning the slogan of this initiative: “Religious freedom is a human right, not a privilege”.
We have now surpassed 32,000 signatures worldwide. Signatures collected by ACN will be presented to international institutional leaders, national governments, and the United Nations, as we show tangible support to Christians being persecuted for their faith around the world and call for the world’s leading institutions to take immediate action to defend the rights of Christians worldwide.
Please stand up for persecuted Christians worldwide and sign our very important petition before November 2026. Petition: https://acninternational.org/petition/