International Human Rights Association Report on Unprecedented Increase in Christian Persecution Worldwide

The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) warned in its annual report that Christian persecution worldwide has reached an alarming stage.

The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) in its latest annual report has warned of a dramatic increase in persecution and discrimination against Christians in various parts of the world, and announced that governments are fueling the spread of religious discrimination through indifference or even participation.

According to the organization, the state of religious freedom in 2025 has reached a critical level, particularly for Christians in countries such as Nigeria, Pakistan, India, Myanmar, and Egypt. “Thomas Schirrmacher,” chairman of the association, said at a press conference at the headquarters of the Evangelical Alliance Germany, referring to the latest findings: “Christians today face not only physical violence such as murder and abduction, but also systematic discrimination in laws, restrictions on education, employment, and control over religious and personal life.”

This report was prepared based on two comprehensive studies on attacks by Islamist groups in Nigeria and the strict enforcement of blasphemy laws in Pakistan. In these countries, Christians are often victims of kidnapping, forced marriages, and fabricated accusations.

Schirrmacher also reported an increase in pressures on Christian communities in countries under authoritarian rule, and identified single-party regimes and antagonistic political-religious movements as major factors in violating religious freedom.

“Thomas Raschel,” Commissioner of the German Federal Government for Religious Freedom, in response to the report’s findings, emphasized: “Defense of freedom of thought and religion must remain one of the main pillars of human rights policies of democratic states.”

On the other hand, “Johann Matthies,” a political representative from the German Evangelical Alliance party, referring to Russian pressures on independent churches in Ukraine, warned of the expansion of religious repression in occupied areas.

According to supplementary data from international organizations such as Open Doors in 2025, more than 360 million Christians worldwide have faced some form of persecution, threat, or discrimination, a statistic reflecting the worst state of religious freedom in the past decade. According to this report, the freedom of Christian faith is in danger in many parts of the world, and the global community must work together to prevent the institutionalization of religious discrimination.

While statistics show an increase in violence and restrictions against Christians, the silence of many governments and international bodies in the face of this widespread violation of human rights has raised serious concerns. Experts believe that if this trend is not halted, religious freedom will be threatened not only for Christians, but for all religions and minority beliefs.