(ZENIT News / London, 11.30.2024).- A grim picture of religious freedom emerges from the latest report by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), revealing severe restrictions or outright violations in nearly a third of the 196 countries surveyed. The 2023 report, released on November 20, underscores escalating threats in nations like Burkina Faso and Nicaragua, where religious persecution has intensified dramatically.
Global Deterioration of Religious Liberty
The ACN report, published biennially, sheds light on the global erosion of religious freedom. An alarming 62% of the world’s population resides in countries where the right to practice, express, or change one’s faith is gravely compromised. Of the 61 nations where freedom of religion is restricted, 47 have experienced significant declines since the previous report, with only nine showing improvement.
John Pontifex, the report’s editor, notes that while the findings encompass various faith traditions, from zoroastrianism to Hinduism, the plight of Christianity stands out. «The strategic focus of militant Islamist aggression has shifted decisively from the Middle East to Africa,» Pontifex said, highlighting a concerning trend of targeted violence.
Africa: The New Frontline of Persecution
While Islamist militancy persists in the Middle East—evident in regions like Idlib, Syria—Africa has become the epicenter of extremist violence. Nations such as Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Mozambique bear the brunt, with insurgencies displacing millions and leaving communities devastated. The report reveals that jihadist groups now control up to 40% of the territory in Burkina Faso and Mozambique, with Christian women facing heightened risks of sexual violence and forced displacement.
The destabilization in these regions has not only fractured Christian-Muslim communities but also driven countless Christians from their ancestral homes. According to ACN, these systematic attacks amount to a deliberate strategy of terror designed to marginalize and uproot Christian populations.
Nicaragua’s Rapid Decline
Nicaragua’s inclusion in the report for the first time signals growing international concern. The government’s “extreme oppressive measures” against Christians—ranging from mass arrests of clergy to expulsions of Church leaders—mark a new low. The report describes a calculated campaign to suppress religious expression and silence dissenting voices.
These developments echo ACN’s warning that ignoring the plight of Christians risks overlooking broader violations of human rights.
A Call to Act
ACN, founded in 1947 to assist war refugees, has evolved into a Pontifical Foundation committed to supporting persecuted Christians worldwide through “information, prayer, and action.” The foundation emphasizes that religious persecution is often a harbinger of wider societal instability, urging global solidarity to safeguard the universal right to religious freedom.
«Religious liberty is not just a matter of faith; it is a cornerstone of human dignity,» the report concludes, appealing to the global community to heed the warning signs and stand in defense of persecuted minorities.
As the international community grapples with these findings, ACN’s message is clear: defending religious freedom is essential to upholding human rights and fostering global peace.
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