The Freedom of Religion Victim’s List: Documented Cases

Published on: 7 May 2024

DOHI STAFF

Every year the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) identifies and documents victims that have been “imprisoned, or detained, have disappeared, been placed under house arrest, been tortured, or subjected to forced renunciation of faith for their religious activity or religious freedom advocacy by the government of a foreign country” and, as such, the Commission recommends that they be designated as a country of particular concern (CPC) or, if a nonstate actor, the Commission recommends they be designated  as an entity of particular concern (EPC).

As of March 2024, the USCIRF has placed 2,282 individuals on the Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victim’s List. Of those, 838 are Christians. They are suffering grave injustices in their respective countries because of their faith in Jesus Christ.

Door of Hope International works in a number of these countries to strengthen and rebuild the suffering church. We would like to highlight several countries from the USCIRF’s list which have been marked as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ and ask that you pray for the Godly men and women imprisoned for Christ:

ERITREA: 61 Christians are currently detained or disappeared by authorities.

Protestants are one of three Christian denominations the Eritrean government officially recognizes. Officials, however, have disappeared or detained several religious leaders and members from unregistered Protestant denominations for their religious activities. The government’s arbitrary enforcement of laws makes any type of regular and public practice of faith difficult.

Pastor Naizghe and Gebremeskel, both arrested in May 2004, are spending their 20th year in prison for their leadership role in a network of banned churches.

INDIA: 15 (out of 55) are Christian victims of religious persecution.

Christians are regularly detained for their religious beliefs. Indian authorities have arrested Christians under false claims of facilitating forced conversions. With the introduction of discriminatory legislation such as the Citizenship Amendment Act in 2020, journalists and human rights activists have been targeted for their religious freedom advocacy efforts.

IRAN:    39 (out of 351) are Christian victims of religious persecution.

Christians in Iran face government harassment and severe limitations on the practice, teaching, worship, and observance of their faith. Muslims who convert to Christianity are often singled out for persecution, with security forces often raiding Christian house churches and imprisoning Christian converts under false pretenses.

PAKISTAN: 42 (out of 87) are Christian victims of religious persecution.

Pakistan’s blasphemy laws criminalize acts deemed to insult Islam, the Qur’an, or the Prophet Muhammad. These strict laws are often used to settle personal feuds among the Sunni Muslim majority population or target religious minorities, including Ahmadiyya Muslims, Shi’a Muslims, Christians, Hindus, and Atheists. Defendants frequently spend years in pre-trial detention, and courts often give death sentences to those accused of blasphemy.

Pastor Zafar Bhatti, arrested in July 2012, remains imprisoned and sentenced to death on false charges of sending messages insulting the Prophet Mohammad.