By Pravin Periasamy
The worsening state of Christian persecution in many parts of the world is deeply troubling and warrants urgent addressing.
A report in 2023 compiled by the Open Doors group said that around 365 million Christians suffered some form of persecution – a 7.35% increase from 2021. Its findings also found that one in seven Christians worldwide fell prey to wanton violence, including one in five in Africa and one in seven in Asia.
Open Doors estimates a staggering 5,621 Christians were killed for faith-related reasons globally. In all, 14,766 Christian churches and properties were desecrated.
Some segments of the Christian community are even in danger from extremist forces that want to erase their religion and culture.
The Christian community would benefit from a renewed international policy framework which can provide them with the resources needed for their protection. The future wellbeing of those in peril depends on this.
The ongoing genocide in Palestine has also affected local Christian communities, with air strikes damaging their holy sites.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a regular pledge or periodic auto-donation to Aliran
- Become an Aliran member
Recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on the international community, particular the broader Christian and Islamic communities, to rally together in a formidable alliance to call for regional peace.
Malaysia has boldly expressed its opposition to the violence suffered by religious groups, citing its peaceful multicultural landscape as testament to the nation’s commitment to peaceful coexistence. The country has boldly stifled attempts by radical groups to target religious minority groups. This has allowed the various religious group to practise their faiths safely.
As of now, there is no such international policy framework for efforts to protect the Christian community and deter communal violence by radical forces.
Organisations like the UN are working on initiatives to address religious persecution. However, the problem persists with a lack of focused advocacy campaigns that target specific threats to Christians.
Such measures are necessary, as they help to generate international awareness. One reason Christians are persecuted is that ruling powers in a host of countries see the community as a threat.
The traction that such advocacy campaigns have is important. It draws attention to the regions where Christians are persecuted the most. Several countries in Africa and other parts of the world have turned a blind eye to the suffering of their respective Christian communities.
This places greater pressure on these regions to proactively exercise the political will to crack down on persecution. This can be achieved in two phases:
First, the issue has to be tabled in UN-organised councils, conferences and summits so that policy recommendations and support from other nations can be gauged. This would help to increase dialogue and make the issue more visible.
The second phase work towards the implementation of measures to counter persecution. It is important to assure the Christian community that there would be space for them to take refuge should they be displaced. The UN ought to encourage other nations to temporarily house persecuted Christians under a comprehensive asylum scheme so that the victims can gain access to crucial humanitarian aid. At present, the humanitarian aid to help Christians in conflict-ridden nations is often thwarted.
The UN could also collaborate with established Christian aid organisations to coordinate aid programmes for displaced Christians. In this way, these Christians would be able to receive social support and guidance for them to undergo the process of documentation. This would allow Christians who have fled conflict regions to be redirected to safer regions, where they can be formally naturalised into public life. In this way, they will be able to practise their faiths freely.
The UN could also empower humanitarian organisations operating in conflict-ridden regions through funding. These funds will enable these groups to increase their capacity to provide medical and educational aid to affected Christian communities.
The UN must take a stronger stand against such persecution in light of the growing violence against persecuted Christians. Neglecting the community would only result in prolonged persecution.
It is through global unity that the world will be able to exercise the political will to counteract the violence inflicted on Christian communities.
Pravin Periasamy is networking and partnership director of the Malaysian Philosophy Society.
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
I am surprised to read about the persecution of Christians or the Christian community. The author should have specify where. I do not see this happening in Europe. The evangelical Christians are Trump supporters. Is he referring to certain countries in the Global South as it is called today or the Indian sub-continent.