WASHINGTON — International Christian Concern (ICC) (persecution.org) announces the release of its 2023 Persecutors of the Year Report. The 88-page report names the countries, entities/groups, and individuals that harass, imprison, torture, and assassinate Christians for practicing their faith.
There are an estimated 200 to 300 million persecuted Christians worldwide that ICC fights for using a three-pronged approach of assistance, advocacy, and awareness. “We expose the evils of the persecutors in this report to awaken the West and encourage legislators to take action against those that jail, torture, and assassinate individuals for their religious beliefs. The 2023 Persecutors of the Year Report is a resource designed to support and protect Christians regardless of denomination or sect but it also supports all religious peoples that are denied their God-given right to religious freedom,” says Jeff King, President of ICC.
King cites several flashpoints this year, including Pakistan, “Where a 5,000-strong mob of radical Muslims destroyed two dozen churches and hundreds of homes in the Christian enclave of Jaranwala. And in Nigeria, millions of Christians have suffered attacks from radical Muslims for the last twenty years resulting in a death toll that may be as high as one million and the loss of three and a half million farms.”
“Across the globe, our brothers and sisters can be imprisoned or killed simply for identifying as a follower of Jesus. They are legally prevented from telling others about their faith and anti-conversion and blasphemy laws are used to falsely charge Christians with crimes,” continued King.
In the 2023 Persecutors of the Year Report, ICC has again compiled a comprehensive list of the world’s worst persecutors broken down by individual actors, entities, and countries.
The 2023 report includes the countries of Nigeria, North Korea, India, and many more. It includes groups like, the Allied Democratic Forces, Al-Shabab, Fulani Militants, Sahel Terror Groups, The Taliban, and Tatmadaw (Burmese Army). The individuals cited are Yogi Adityanath, Xi Jinping, and Kim Jong Un just to name a few.
ICC’s team of Washington, DC-based analysts, foreign experts, and staff on the ground in many of the most persecuted countries, spend thousands of hours annually detailing, analyzing, and cataloging persecution reports. Throughout the year, they also develop in-depth reports on countries with the worst religious freedom records.
Released annually, this groundbreaking report is a crucial tool for the media and government officials as they work to support those who are persecuted for their faith.
The report 2023 Persecutors of the Year Report structures the information with easy-to-read graphics that make it easy to understand. Each offender’s section includes an Analysis, listing Forms of Persecution, Timelines, and information assessments including the “State of the church” in each area, “ICC Recommends,” which lists steps that can/should be taken to make a difference; “ICC Advocacy at Work,” showing the advancements made after ICC has advocated for change, and “Glimmer of Hope,” spotlighting the good that is happening even amidst the turmoil and persecution.
“We also want to shed light on how the Lord is working through the lives of the persecuted,” says King. “After 20 years at the helm of International Christian Concern (ICC), I am inspired by the courage of Christians on the geographical fringes of our faith. They boldly witness and stand up to the persecutor. They are the very engine of the worldwide church. Our ‘glimmer of hope’ section highlights their stories, and the growth of the underground church.”
International Christian Concern (ICC)’s expertise in geopolitical matters and their overseas indigenous staff make them the go-to source for intelligence on developing crisis situations around the world.
ICC works with victims, long term when needed, but does not create dependency; and although it has a 5-Star Charity Navigator Rating, its “ministry first” mindset puts ministry before fundraising, serving the Lord and the persecuted first. ICC believes funds follow faithfulness, which is evidenced by its 28 years in ministry with a long history of growth.
ICC assists persecuted Christians from all denominational backgrounds, including Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox believers. “All who call Christ King must band together in these difficult days despite important theological differences,” said King.
ICC prays that the report will help readers and their churches stay informed about their suffering brothers and sisters and that readers in turn use this report and information to support the cause of religious freedom.
Since 1995, ICC has served the global persecuted church through its three-pronged approach of assistance, advocacy, and awareness. ICC exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church in the toughest parts of the world.
Learn more about International Christian Concern at its website, persecution.org, and on its social media pages, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. Visit persecution.org/projects/poy/ to download the 2023 Persecutor of the Year report.
International Christian Concern (ICC) has served the global persecuted church since 1995 through a three-pronged approach of advocacy, assistance, and awareness. ICC exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church in the toughest parts of the world.