SANTA ANA, Calif., Jan. 3, 2011 /
Christian Newswire/ -- On Wednesday, Jan. 5, Open Doors will release its annual 2011 World Watch List of 50 countries that are the worst persecutors of Christians around the globe.
For the past eight years, North Korea has topped the list. Last year Iran was No. 2 followed by Saudi Arabia No. 3. Several countries might climb up on the list, including Pakistan (No. 14 in 2010) and Iraq (No. 17 last year), due to increased persecution over the past 12 months.
Major attacks on Christians occurred during the Christmas and New Year's holidays. In Egypt (No. 20 last year) at least 21 Christians were killed in a bomb blast on New Year's Day outside Saints Church in Alexandria. There were also killings of Christians in Iraq and Nigeria (No. 27 in 2010).
The World Watch List ranks countries according to the intensity of persecution Christians face for actively pursuing their faith. It is compiled from Open Doors' indigenous contacts, field workers and persecuted believers based on answers to questions covering various aspects of religious freedom.
The list helps Christians in the West to advocate and pray for persecuted believers worldwide.
To arrange an interview with Open Doors USA President/CEO Dr. Carl Moeller or other Open Doors USA officials regarding the World Watch List, please contact Open Doors USA Media Relations Director Jerry Dykstra at 616-915-4117 or email
JerryD@odusa.org. Moeller and other Open Doors personnel will be available for pre-arranged interviews starting Jan. 5. Photos and video are available.
Nearly 70 percent of the world's 6.8 billion people live in countries with little or no freedom of religion. Open Doors is an organization that for over five decades has covertly come along side Christians in 60 of these restrictive, dangerous countries, campaigning for the freedom to believe from the gulags in North Korea to the halls of Congress. Open Doors' outreach to more than 100 million persecuted believers includes delivery of Bibles and other materials, training of ingenious leaders in the Word, Christian community development, prayer and advocacy. To partner with Open Doors USA, call toll free at 888-5-BIBLE-5 (888-524-2535) or go to www.OpenDoorsUSA.org.
