Page 8 - Persecution Trends Report 2025

PERSECUTION
TRENDS 2025
being stopped by authority figures and
also when put through the legal system.’
These pressures in Turkey are
likely to remain in the coming year,
while in Iran itself, the focus may
continue to be much more on the
risk of escalating conflict with Israel.
Christians there, often painted by
the authorities as agents of the West,
were at risk of detention and being
held as scapegoats in the event of any
perceived catastrophic action, said our
partners.
EGYPT
Christians in Egypt have faced
numerous waves of persecution over
the years, often supported by political
authorities.
‘In recent times and with the current
Government, we are very thankful that
such support is absent. Nonetheless,
everyday experiences still involve
milder forms of persecution, including
discrimination and tensions between
Christian and Muslim families and
individuals, especially in isolated
villages. Disputes can frequently
escalate into religious confrontations,’
said our partner.
Furthermore, numerous individuals
have been forced to leave their homes
due to persecution and move to
remote areas. Women and girls are
subjected to continuous harassment,
abuse and persecution; some are
drawn into romantic relationships
or offered financial rewards to
embrace Islam.
There is also religious-based
discrimination in appointments to
government jobs but instances of
discrimination and religious conflict
are most common in smaller villages
and rural areas.
Our partner said: ‘Sharia-based
personal status laws comprise a set
of regulations that regulate familial
relationships. These laws address
critical areas such as marriage, divorce,
inheritance and financial support,
Gendarmes seal
shut the doors
of a church in
Algeria
playing an important role in clarifying
the rights and duties of family members.
Christians may experience various
challenges when dealing with these
matters.’
IRAQ
In 2025 Christians in the Middle
East, including Iraq, are likely to face
ongoing pressures, particularly due to
their minority status and the region’s
complex political and social dynamics,
said our partners.
With a total Christian population
of around 250,000, which includes
about 10,000 evangelicals, believers
will continue to experience
societal discrimination, limited job
opportunities and restrictions on
religious gatherings. And as regional
tensions persist and extremist
elements remain active, Christians may
face threats to their personal safety,
targeted violence and vandalism of
churches and other properties.
Additionally, the pressure to convert
or conform to the dominant religious
beliefs may increase, particularly
for evangelical and other minority
Christian groups. This will likely
drive more individuals to seek refuge
outside the region.
In 2025, while killings specifically due
to faith are unlikely, Christians will still
face serious risks. In Iraq, as a Muslim-
majority nation, social pressures and
local hostilities often force Christians,
especially converts, to flee their homes
to seek safety elsewhere.
‘Although arrests or imprisonments may
not be a primary concern, we expect a
continued influx of Christian refugees
and displaced individuals, driven by
8
social rejection and threats.’
In 2024 persecution of Christians in the
region appeared to increase marginally
at most, but the ongoing instability and
social pressures meant that Christians,
particularly converts, continued to face
threats. Many, including those seeking
visas for the West, had been forced
to remain in the region for extended
periods.
ALGERIA
The persecution of Christians in Algeria
is expected to be largely unchanged in
2025, said our partners.
The authorities continue to close
churches and convict Christian leaders
for holding unauthorised worship. In
September and October 2024 three
leaders were summoned to court.
The Government does not want to
formalise the registration of the
Protestant church in Algeria, along with
other Christian organisations, so in
2025 believers are likely to face legal
challenges and harassment from the
security services; disciplinary hearings
and dismissal of Christian workers
in the public sector and in education;
interrogation, harassment and searches
at ports and airports; and bureaucratic
hold-ups at every level.
Our partner expects ‘an increase in
pressure on indigenous Christians. There
is a risk that Christians will leave Algeria
in large numbers or be obliged to move
within the country’.
The political change that has taken place
since December 2019 has driven several
church leaders to flee abroad, but others
have stayed behind to stand in solidarity
with the Christian community in Algeria.