It’s worth considering before you travel.
For several years the international charity human rights organization “Open Doors” publishes an annual list of the “World Watch List” containing a list of countries, where they often harass and violate the rights of Christians. According to the organization, to date, over 100 million of people suffer in many countries due to the fact that they profess the Christian faith. Talk about the 10 countries in which Christians have the worst of all.
10. Libya
More or less free to visit the Church in Libya can only foreigners and migrant workers. Local residents, converts from Islam are forced to hide this fact, otherwise, they risk their lives. To preach Christianity in the country banned the import of the text of the Bible into the country is also prohibited. There are cases of violence against the Christian minority are usually with the connivance of local authorities.
9. Iran
Christianity in Iran is professed by about 169 thousand people, which is about 0.5% of the total population. Despite the fact that in Iran against religion are much more liberal laws than in other middle East countries, the local people often suffer from all sorts of harassment. Churches are under permanent control of the government, they are often tested.
8. Sudan
The first list of countries that violate religious rights was published in 1999. The Sudan was already in the list, and since then never left it. In the country, conversion from Islam to another religion is punishable by death. And the killing of Christians by Muslims, the authorities simply turn a blind eye. Many Christians, accused of spreading their faith was arrested. Those who were more fortunate were simply deported from the country. Others were tortured and often sentenced to death for refusing to renounce their faith.
7. Somalia
Sweat the reports of international organizations, every year the pressure on Christians in this country increases. Islamic leaders and government officials publicly and openly declare that in Somalia there is no place for Christians. Many charitable organizations in the country is prohibited as the authorities describe them as “Western spies and Christian crusaders”. In contrast to the official authorities, radical groups are much tougher, many of them put their goals to destroy all Christians and their local communities.
6. Pakistan
The Constitution of Pakistan expressly and irrevocably establishes Islam as the state religion, but nominally guarantees citizens the right to freedom of religion. Federal Shariat court of Pakistan empowered to abolish any law in the country if he is against Islam. Christina in Pakistan, slightly more than 1% of the total population and often with them in the country are treated as second-class citizens. A few Christian churches and temples are under full control of the authorities and are often the targets of attacks.
5. Syria
Christians in Syria, about 20% of the population. At least it was so before the civil war in 2011. Since precise calculation is somewhat complicated. Then, different data for this time from the country had to run up to 700 thousand Christians. How many of those who remained in the country and has been subjected to harassment, to say almost impossible. But in the recent cases of kidnappings and killings of Christians quite often.
4. Afghanistan
In Afghanistan, Christianity is traditionally seen as a “Western religion.” The number of Christians in the country is negligible and is less than 1% of the total population of the country. People who maintain their faith have to keep it a secret, risking the fact that they can renounce family, and in the General public and all possible far more serious consequences. There are no churches, all Christian communities are the secret. Even foreign Christians working in the country cannot feel safe there. For example, in 2014 in Afghanistan was killed several employees of the international organization Christian aid.
3. Eritrea
Eritrea is a country on the red sea coast, which was formed only in 1993, after receiving independence from Ethiopia. Unlike Afghanistan, for example, where the proportion of Christians is very small, in Eritrea, about half the population are Christians of various denominations. In 2002, the government required the registration of religious groups under the pretext of registration has outlawed all religions except the four main — Islam, the Eritrean Orthodox Church, Evangelical Church of Eritrea, the Roman Catholic Church. Since then, the state actively intervenes in the Affairs of the spiritual in an attempt to take full control of all religious institutions in the country. In August 2005 the role of Patriarch of the Eritrean Orthodox Church became purely ceremonial, and the management of the Affairs of the Church moved to a state-appointed layman. A year later, the Patriarch was deposed by the Holy Synod of the Eritrean presumably under pressure from the government and sent under house arrest.
2. Iraq
According to the Constitution of Iraq 2005 Christians equal rights with Muslims and are free in performing their religious needs. But at the same time, the Constitution of Iraq contains allegations forbidding to enact laws contrary to Sharia. Today Christians of all denominations make up about 3% of the population of Iraq. Since 2003, their number was reduced several times due to the frequent attacks by insurgents and religious extremists.
1. North Korea
This list of North Korea heads for the 14th year in a row, and while there is no reason to assume that the situation of Christians in the country will improve in the future. Kim Jong-UN continues to consolidate all power in the country in their own hands, believing that citizens should worship only him and his predecessors, not any gods. The official government of North Korea is in principle a negative attitude to any religion, but Christianity and is considered to be something Western and hostile ideological point of view. The few Christian believers in North Korea are forced to meet secretly and do not dare to share their faith even with family members, fearing the arrests and labor camps. According to observers, imprisoned in the camps of North Korea is up to 70 000 Christians. Usually them before the courts charged with trying to overthrow the government through religious activities in order to achieve the maximum terms of punishment or even public execution.
