Open Doors
World Watch List 2024 report
On Wednesday, 17 January, 100 MPs from across the House gathered in parliament for the launch of the 2024 Open Doors World Watch List. The launch was hosted by the Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom MP.
Each year, Open Doors compiles a report which sets out the 50 countries where it is most dangerous to be a Christian, and which describes trends in persecution that a ect Christians and other religious minorities worldwide. This year, Open Doors’ research found that more than 365 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith – that’s around 1 in 7 Christians worldwide.
At the launch of the latest World Watch List, Christians from Iran, India and West Africa shared first-hand accounts of persecution on account of their faith. FCDO Minister, Lord Ahmad, also spoke at the launch, stressing the importance of uniting together to defend and promote freedom of religion or belief.
The title of this year’s report is “The Cost of Collapse and the Cost of Control.” Our research suggests that – under the cover of state fragility and failure – violence against Christians has intensified in many parts of the world, while elsewhere autocratic governments also increase their control.
For example, in her opening speech, Henrietta Blyth, Open Doors UK & Ireland CEO, highlighted the horrific attacks on Christian villages in Plateau State, Nigeria over Christmas, which killed 160 Christians and wounded many more. Violence against Christians in subSaharan Africa was a key focus of this year’s research.
Attendees then heard from Dabrina, a church leader forced to
ee her home in Iran, about how despite numerous protests, things were now worse than ever in the country. They also listened to a recorded message by a Christian from Manipur, India, on the devastation felt by Christians who had been attacked when violence broke out between tribal groups in the region last year. The last speaker, a eld expert from West Africa, challenged those present to risk paying a political price in speaking up for persecuted Christians.
The report was well received. In an interview around the launch, Sir Stephen Timms MP noted that: “in many ways freedom of religion and belief is the key freedom… if people are not free to worship as they believe, then very quickly they lose freedoms in other areas as well.”In a parliamentary debate following the World Watch List Launch, Fiona Bruce MP, Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief, thanked Open Doors for highlighting the persecution of Christians and of those of other faiths and none. We are grateful to all who attended or were represented at the 2024 World Watch List launch.