Afghanistan: Non-Muslims are denied freedom of assembly, and open profession among refugees has often led to deaths. Islamic radicals rule the country.
Azerbaijan: Although Azerbaijan officially guarantees religious freedom for all, the nationalists are becoming more Islamic and anti-Christian.
Bangladesh: One of the poorest nations on earth, Bangladesh suffers from overpopulation, flooding, and cyclones. Believers are often denied access to public water wells by Muslim extremists.
Bhutan: Buddhism is the state religion. All public worship, evangelism, and proselytism is illegal.
Brunei: Constitutional guarantees for religion are eroding; no evangelism is allowed among Muslims. Only Islam is taught in the schools. The government routinely bans religious teaching materials and Bibles.
China: With its high population, China experiences more persecution than any other country. Even so, an estimated 3,000 Chinese come to Christ each day! China’s new “Strike Hard” policy has brought increased pressure against Christians; Bibles are regularly confiscated and believers jailed or beaten.
Comoro Islands: All open witness is forbidden in this Islamic state. Less than 1% of the population knows Christ, and any meeting openly are persecuted.
Cuba: Although some material help and Bibles are being carried in by Christians from the West, this last bastion of Communism in the Western Hemisphere is hard on believers. Some are imprisoned; most are suffering privation; all are restricted in their witness.
Iran: Shi’a Islam is the state religion. The press is censored. Ministry among Muslims is prohibited, and spies are infiltrated into Christian groups.
Laos: Evangelism is strictly prohibited, and it is illegal to bring in foreign literature. Christian leaders are jailed for their faith.
Libya: No form of witness is allowed from Christians, who compose less than 3% of the population.
Maldives: All citizens are required to be Muslims. No Christian places of worship are allowed, and open witness can result in severe punishment.
Mauritania: Only Sunni Muslims can be citizens. The only Christian church service allowed is restricted to foreign Christians. The constitutional guarantees of religious freedom do not extend to Christians.
Oman: Only foreigners are allowed to legally practice Christianity. There is only one indigenous group known to exist, with about 20 believers.
Pakistan: The government is attempting to “Islamize” all public life in this country. There is a blasphemy law here that calls for life imprisonment for any who insult the prophet Mohammed.
Qatar: Qatari Christians have suffered much for their faith. Witness to Muslims is forbidden and only foreign Christians are allowed to meet.
Saudi Arabia: When Islam gained control in the land of Mecca 1,300 years ago, all Christians were expelled. Things are not much brighter today. Even expatriate Christians are not allowed to meet. Anyone evangelizing faces jail time, expulsion, or even execution.
Sudan: The Christians here are facing unparalleled persecution: entire villages are slaughtered; children are sold into slavery; hundreds of Christians a day are perishing at the hands of Muslim extremists.
Space does not allow us to tell of Algeria, Cyprus, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Indonesia, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Tibet, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Viet Nam, Uzbekistan, or the believers who raise their families in animistic societies. Oh, God! Keep us from our whining complaints. Help us to appreciate that we can live “quiet and peaceable” lives in these lands (1 Tim. 2:2). Help us to pray more earnestly for our “brethren in bonds.” Show us how to buy up the opportunities we have on every hand!