The presentation painted a clear but deeply concerning picture: over 388 million Christians—nearly one in seven worldwide—are affected, marking the highest level of persecution ever recorded. During the reporting period, almost 5,000 Christians were killed and around 250,000 were forced from their homes. The vast majority of killings occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria, where the situation for Christians continues to deteriorate. Forced displacement due to violent persecution is also most prevalent in Nigeria, largely driven by Islamic extremist groups.

In Latin America, including countries such as Nicaragua, Colombia, and Mexico, Christians are increasingly targeted and killed, often for being perceived as dissidents or as a means of exerting control by state or armed groups.

In Syria, the situation for Christians has also worsened, with rising levels of violence and repression. The country rose from 16th to 8th place on the World Watch List. Attacks on churches and killings of Christians have become more frequent, most notably the Damascus church bombing in July 2025. Open Doors notes that the new Syrian regime is “systematically suffocating freedom of worship.”

A Nigerian Christian gave testimony at the event, describing the atrocities faced by Christians in his country. He shared the story of a young girl forced to watch her father being killed by terrorists, as well as accounts of armed groups entering churches during services, abducting worshippers, killing men, holding others for ransom, and forcibly marrying women to their fighters. “Persecution is the daily reality for many of us. Victims live in constant fear. People are dying every day,” he said, asking: “Where is justice? When will all these things end?”

He also spoke about the deep trauma experienced not only by victims themselves, but also by survivors, families, and entire communities. At the same time, he testified to the hope and resilience of Nigerian Christians: “Despite our suffering, we have the ability to forgive. Forgiveness starts the process of healing from trauma. Forgiveness requires a large heart, but we are hopeful, and therefore we can forgive.”

John Ghanim, an ex-Muslim turned Christian from Yemen, shared his testimony and the persecution he and his family have faced. He explained that leaving the Muslim faith in Yemen carries the death penalty. Ghanim came to Europe as a refugee and is now a religious freedom advocate and social media evangelist.

In reaction to the presentation, MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen stressed: “The European Union and its Member States must do everything in their power to combat the persecution of Christians worldwide.”

ECPP strongly condemns the persecution of Christians around the world. Freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) is a fundamental human right that must be guaranteed to every individual, regardless of where they are born or live. As the European Union and its Member States, we must stand with the millions of persecuted Christians worldwide. ECPP calls on the European Commission to appoint a new EU Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief as soon as possible, to strengthen the mandate, and to equip the position with the necessary resources to promote FoRB outside the EU. We further urge the Commission, the EEAS, and other European diplomatic services to address religious illiteracy by establishing adequate training programmes, ensuring that EU diplomats and staff have sufficient knowledge of religious realities in their areas of operation, and to make freedom of religion or belief a clear priority in EU foreign policy.

Read more about the Open Doors International’s World Watch List and the Report.