Ten Worst Persecuting Nations

Taking Stock, Tearfully

The Open Doors organization has just published its global review of the state of oppression and persecution of Christians. It has identified the fifty top persecuting states in the world. What would be your guess for the three worst persecuting nation-states in the world?

The full publication can be read here:



This infamous list and its attendant commentary by Open Doors is very helpful for focusing prayer and concern. A glance at the list shows that unsurprisingly the most common feature is that Islamic nations are engaged in the systematic persecution and oppression of Christians. However, the worst persecutor, the country that tops the infamous fifty list is North Korea.

In first position on the World Watch List 2010 is again North Korea, the country where every religious activity is recognized as insurrection to the North Korean socialist principles. The situation for Christians is extremely harsh at this moment, even though the North Korean regime is slowly and steadily losing her iron control on North Korean society, and Kim Jong Il's physical health worsened after his stroke. . . . (M)any Christian believers were exposed during North Korea's strict searches. During the mentioned campaigns, the North Korean regime especially targeted secret Christians all over North Korea to arrest and kill them.

They have arrested and tortured Christians in various horrible ways, such as sometimes using them as a means of testing biological or chemical weapons. In spite of these inhuman circumstances, Christianity is growing and chances to hear the gospel are growing, especially for those who live in cities nearby China.

When the North Korean government arrests a Christian, they also extend it normally to three generations, arresting the children and grandparents as well.

In second place is Iran--which has stepped up systematic persecution of Christians and churches since the internal unrest and protests against the Ahmadinejad regime.

Many church services are being monitored by the secret police. Believers that are active in churches or the cell group movement are being questioned, arrested, beaten and put in jail. Individual believers are being oppressed by society under pressure of the authorities.

In third place is Saudi Arabia.

Religious freedom does not exist in the Wahhabist kingdom where citizens are only allowed to adhere to one religion: Islam. No legal protection is provided for freedom of religion, nor does this protection exist in practice. The legal system is based on Islamic law (Sharia). Apostasy – conversion to another religion – is punishable by death if the accused does not recant. Although the government recognizes the right of non-Muslims to worship in private, the public practice of non-Muslim worship is prohibited.

Non-Muslim worshippers who engage in such activities risk arrest, imprisonment, lashing, deportation, and sometimes torture. Believers from a Muslim background also run the great risk of honor killing if their family or social environment discover their new faith.

As the Word of God declares, when one member of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer. Their pain and anguish and suffering is to be ours as well. This is no time for being found at ease and in comfort.