15 January 2025
102 MPs came to the parliamentary launch of the World Watch List 2025 on 15 January – which means that many MPs have heard how crucial it is to respond to escalating religious persecution. The event was particularly important this year, as about half the MPs who attended were newly elected last year. You can find out here if your MP attended.
At the launch, co-hosted by Bishop Philip Mounstephen and the Rt Hon. Sir Stephen Timms MP, parliamentarians and others heard first-hand accounts of persecution from Christians from Nigeria, Bangladesh and East Africa.
“What part are we playing?”
Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, opened the launch by sharing some of the headline trends of persecution that are revealed in the World Watch List 2025 report.
“This year, Open Doors research finds that more than 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith,” she said. “That is an increase of 15 million since last year and represents one in seven Christians globally.”
“More than 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination.” Henrietta Blyth, CEO
Henrietta Blyth confirmed that North Korea was, once again, the most dangerous country for believers – but far from the only place where Christians face intensifying persecution: “Rising authoritarianism – particularly in Central Asia – sees Christians being hounded by governments who want to stifle public criticism and peaceful dissent,” Blyth told the MPs.
Among the other notable findings from Open Doors research, Blyth also highlighted increasing persecution in Yemen (now #3 on the World Watch List) under rising Houthi rebel power, the millions of Christians displaced by persecution in sub-Saharan Africa, and countries including Algeria and Afghanistan where the church has been driven totally underground.
Blyth concluded by sharing a video of the World Watch List top 10, with a challenge to the audience of parliamentarians: “As you watch this and listen to tesimonies from Christians in Bangladesh and sub-Saharan Africa, I have one question for you: what part are we called to play in addressing this?”
World Watch List
Post expires on March 21st, 2025