Persecuted Christians

The Latest

Burned vehicles after Good Friday raid on April 7, 2023, in Ngban, Benue state, Nigeria.

Advocates for persecuted Christians in Nigeria question U.S. report that portrays Fulani as victims

May 2, 2023

By Jonah McKeown

Advocates for persecuted Christians in Nigeria are criticizing a new report prepared by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.   Read more

City of Tripoli, Libya.

Christians arrested in Libya on charges of preaching and apostasy from Islam

Apr 18, 2023

By ACI MENA

Last week Libya’s Internal Security Agency launched a campaign to arrest Libyan citizens and foreigners accused of apostasy from Islam... Read more

Janada Marcus, 22, was forced to flee Boko Haram with her family twice before the terrorists attacked them again, killing her father and kidnapping her.

‘My parishioners shot dead in cold blood’: Priests, lay faithful describe attacks in Nigeria

Mar 8, 2023

By Peter Pinedo

Aid to the Church in Need has released firsthand testimonies of Catholic faithful who have survived torture, kidnappings, and massacres. Read more

Syrian archbishop-elect Father Jacques Mourad.

New Syrian Catholic archbishop tells how he survived captivity by Islamic State

Jan 23, 2023

By Ana Paula Morales

The appointment of Father Jacques Mourad, a Syrian priest, as archbishop was confirmed by Pope Francis on Jan. 7. Read more

Pope Francis speaks at his general audience in Paul VI Hall on Jan. 18, 2023.

Pope Francis: Jesus is ‘the unsurpassed model of evangelization’

Jan 18, 2023

By Courtney Mares

At his weekly public audience, Pope Francis said that one of the best images to represent Jesus’ style of life... Read more

Map of Nigeria.

Nigerian musician files lawsuit with Supreme Court challenging blasphemy conviction

Dec 16, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

ADF International says the appeal has the potential to overturn Northern Nigeria’s blasphemy laws. Read more

Deacon Ebrahim Lallo, a Syriac Catholic Deacon from the town of Bartella, Iraq, painted the icon “Mary, Mother of Persecuted Christians,” which will be in the shrine in Clinton, Massachusetts.

A Marian shrine for persecuted Christians to open in Massachusetts

Oct 20, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

The installation at St. John the Guardian of Our Lady Parish in the Diocese of Worcester will be followed by... Read more

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Pastor and more than 80 others kidnapped in attacks on two Nigerian churches

Sep 23, 2022

By Zelda Caldwell

On Sept. 17, militants raided the Cherubim and Seraphim Church in Suleja in Niger state and abducted dozens of worshippers... Read more

Former Celtics player Enes Kanter Freedom will be the keynote speaker at the March for the Martyrs,

This Muslim NBA vet is marching for persecuted Christians on Saturday

Sep 23, 2022

By Joe Bukuras

Enes Kanter Freedom, a practicing Muslim from Turkey, will be speaking at the Sept. 24 March for the Martyrs in... Read more

Tower Bridge, London

The story behind London’s new Shrine to Mary, Mother of Persecuted Christians

Sep 8, 2022

By Madeleine Teahan

What may well be the first shrine in Europe dedicated to persecuted Christians will be blessed today in central London,... Read more

Displaced Nigerians camped near St. Francis Xavier Parish in Agagbe, Nigeria, in 2022.

Catholic parish in Nigeria struggles to feed thousands uprooted by violent attacks

Aug 12, 2022

By Douglas Burton, Masara Kim

From May 1 to June 30, 70 unarmed persons across Benue State in north-central Nigeria were killed in attacks by... Read more

Bishop Jude Arogundade in Washington, D.C., on June 30, 2022 outside the Belmont House, where he attended a breakfast social with U.S. congressmen and religious freedom advocates.

Nigerian bishop, a former New Yorker, calls church massacre ‘my own Sept. 11th’

Jul 6, 2022

By Shannon Mullen

Bishop Jude Arogundade wants the world to know that a genocide against Christians is happening in Nigeria. Read more

Bishop Emmanuel Badejo of Oyo preaches the homily at the funeral of the Owo Pentecost massacre victims, June 17, 2022.

Nigeria church massacre: At funeral, bishop urges Christians to 'refuse to be crushed by the tragedy'

Jun 17, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

“In these coffins, a part of Nigeria lies dead, too," Bishop Emmanuel Badejo said. Read more

Map of Nigeria.

TRACKER: Where are Christians in Nigeria being killed?

Jun 15, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

More Christians are killed for their faith in Nigeria than in any other country worldwide — at least 4,650 in... Read more

The European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

European Parliament backs persecution report criticized by Catholic Church

May 4, 2022

By CNA Staff

COMECE said the report ‘rendered invisible’ millions of believers persecuted for their faith. Read more

An anti-Christian slogan graffitied on a Coptic church in Egypt.

Months later, nine Egyptian Christians still detained after protests to rebuild church

Apr 5, 2022

By Kevin J. Jones

Months after protests of the government’s apparent refusal to approve the rebuilding of a damaged church, nine Christian protesters in... Read more

Sister Suellen Tennyson, a member of the Congregation of the Marianites of Holy Cross, who was abducted in Burkina Faso April 4, 2022.

American nun abducted in Burkina Faso

Apr 5, 2022

By Jude Atemanke

Prayers are being sought for the safe release of Sister Suellen Tennyson, 83, an American Catholic nun who was reportedly... Read more

Pro-government demonstrators march in support of the regime after the weekly Friday Prayers, Jan. 5, 2018, in Tehran.

Iran is squeezing Christians and other minorities out of the Middle East, researcher says

Feb 22, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

A researcher with the Philos Project told journalists today that Iran is using incremental strategies to squeeze non-Muslims out of... Read more

Icon of the 21 Martyrs of Libya. Image courtesy of Tony Rezk, via tonyrezk.blogspot.com

Lord Alton commemorates bravery, solidarity of the 21 Coptic Orthodox martyrs

Feb 15, 2022

By Jonah McKeown

A British human rights campaigner on Tuesday commemorated the seventh anniversary of the martyrdom of 21 men, known as the... Read more

A crucifix which was destroyed during an attack on Saint Kisito minor seminary in Bougui, Burkina Faso, Feb. 10, 2022.

Minor seminary in Burkina Faso attacked

Feb 11, 2022

By CNA Staff

Saint Kisito de Bougui, a minor seminary in Burkina Faso, was attacked overnight, the pontifical charity Aid to the Church... Read more