WAHALA! See 7 Countries Where Christmas Is BANNED As Christians Aren’t Allowed To Celebrate; Details
While thousands of Brits will attend church services across the country on Christmas Day, millions of Christians will be forced to celebrate secretly.
According to source, 365 million Christians worldwide experience persecution or prejudice simply for practicing their faith, accounting for one in every seven people.
Every year, Open Doors (a religious movement group) produces a global ” watch list” that includes the 50 nations where Christians endure the most severe persecution. The next World Watch List will be revealed on January 15.
The source examines the top seven nations on the Open Doors list where Christians are imprisoned, deported to labor camps, or even killed simply for practicing their faith.
North Korea
There are some 400, 000 Christians in North Korea’ s 26 million- strong population, according to Open Doors. Many are held in labour camps and prisons because of their faith.
Believers in Kim Jong- un’ s country face a life of hard labour or are even killed on the spot if they are discovered. Family members can suffer the same fate.
Worship is ” extremely dangerous” , has to be done in ” utmost secrecy” and at ” grave risk” , according to Open Doors.
An ” anti- reactionary thought law” which came into force in December 2020 makes being a Christian or owning a Bible a serious crime.
Tens of thousands of Christians are believed to be in labour camps across North Korea, with Christian women ” acutely vulnerable” to sexual violence.
Somalia
It is hard to know how many Christians live in Somalia because they are forced to live in ” extreme secrecy” . Open Doors reports estimates of only a few hundred.
Christians in Somalia are high- value targets for al- Shabaab militants, who aim to eradicate them.
Many Christians have fled for their lives, with dangers worsening as militants hunt down faith leaders.
Christian women may face house arrest or forced marriage, while men may face pressure to convert.
Libya
Estimates suggest there are about 35, 100 Christians in Libya, making up 0. 5% of the North African country’ s 7. 1 million people.
Open Doors reports that converts from Islam in Libya face severe violence from their families and communities, including house arrest, abduction, sexual violence, and murder.
The lawlessness in Libya allows Christians to be easily targeted, and the country ranks two on its World Watch List in 2024.
Yemen
Only a small number of people are Christian in Yemen, with the exact number unknown as worshippers have to practise in great secrecy.
State and Islamic law mean it is forbidden to convert to Christianity, with ” severe” repercussions for converting, such as forced divorce, losing custody of children, arrest and so- called ” honour” killings.
The civil war in Yemen has also made matters worse for the country’ s Christians, according to Open Doors.
Aid is limited and is ” mostly” distributed by Muslim groups and mosques, some of which are alleged to have discriminated against anyone who isn’ t considered a devout Muslim.
Pakistan
Many Christians in Pakistan face a hostile environment, underscored by a ” devastating” attack on a Christian community in Jaranwala in August last year.
Twenty churches and over 100 homes were targeted after two Christians were accused of desecrating the Koran.
According to source, Pakistan’ s ” notorious” blasphemy laws are regularly utilized against minorities, with Christians being ” disproportionately” victimized.
Believers can be coerced into becoming Muslims, while Christians are barred from jobs that are judged unclean and demeaning, such as sewer cleaners and brick kiln workers.
According to source, Pakistan has 4. 2 million Christians, accounting for 1. 8% of the country’ s total population of 234 million.
Afghanistan
If a Christian’ s faith is discovered in Afghanistan, it can mean a death sentence, detention and torture.
When the Taliban reclaimed power in 2021, many Christians fled the nation, but some stayed and kept their beliefs hidden.
According to Open Doors, Christian women face ” an incredibly difficult” situation, despite the fact that women are generally more vulnerable.
The number of Christians in the country is estimated to be thousands. However, as elsewhere in the world, precise figures are difficult to come by because believers are required to practice their faith in such secrecy.
