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Reports of persecution against Christians in China specifically involve opposition from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and their provincial counterparts. The country's governing officials have mandated that all churches promote the Communist Party's policies. Those refusing to comply inevitably encounter harassment or imprisonment. For more information regarding Christian persecution in China, and/or to review specific reports, see our China country profile.

Five Iranian Christians were recently sentenced to a combined 55 years in prison. All of them have been imprisoned because of their Christian faith. Although the sentences were issued on October 21st, the believers only learned of them within the past two weeks.

Christians in Nicaragua have been subjected to various forms of oppression and violence by the Sandinista government. In the summer of 2024, many religious leaders were arrested or deported, and numerous faith-based organizations were forcibly shut down. (To review previously published reports addressing the challenges believers are facing in this Central American nation, visit this page.)

In late October, Pastor Sylvester was detained by police after Muslim community members claimed that he was unlawfully praying and worshipping. A Christian lawyer was hired to assist with the case, but concerns were raised about the health of the pastor and his family due to a lack of food and other necessities. (A previously published report providing more information on this pastor's case is available here.)

In October, Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities began a coordinated campaign against the Beijing Zion Church and its various campuses, detaining dozens of Christian leaders. (For more details, see our previously published report.)

On November 18th, the Beihai Municipal People's Procuratorate approved the formal arrests of 18 pastors and church staff members, charging them with "illegally using information networks." If convicted, the believers could face up to three years in prison. These formal arrests initiate criminal investigations that will eventually lead to the trial of each apprehended church leader – a process that could take more than a year.

In November 2013, Pastor Zhang Shaojie was arrested on charges of fraud and "disrupting public order." Despite multiple appeals, the church leader was sentenced to 12 years in prison. His family reported that, while imprisoned, Pastor Zhang suffered mental and physical mistreatment – including a time of "concentrated education." With great thankfulness, he completed his sentence this month and has since been freed from prison.

Two Catholic priests who had been convicted and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison were pardoned and freed from a Belarusian labour camp on November 20th. State media claimed that the church leaders, who were granted clemency by President Alexander Lukashenko, had been "convicted of serious crimes against the state, as well as other crimes."

A pastor in Liberia is facing ongoing legal challenges following a dispute with Muslim community members over his ministry activities. According to a local source, the situation began in 2023 when Pastor Sylvester led two individuals to faith in Christ. Following their conversions, he has been accused by opponents of preaching against Islam, praying loudly, and playing musical instruments early in the morning.

In November 2014, Deacon Jang Moon Seok (also known by his Chinese name, Zhang Wen Shi) was kidnapped in China while ministering in the town of Changbai, which is located near the country's border with North Korea. Following his abduction, the church leader was transported to North Korea where he was subsequently sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment.

On February 13th, 2017, Pastor Raymond Koh was abducted from his car by 15 masked men in the Malaysian city of Petaling Jaya. The incident, which was captured on security cameras and took only 40 seconds to unfold, appears to have been executed by professionally trained individuals. From the beginning, there were strong indications of official government involvement in the kidnapping. More than nine years have passed since the abduction with no news of the pastor's whereabouts. (For previously published reports on this situation, including video footage of the kidnapping, see this list.)