January 2026—A new report from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) warns of a historic surge in global Christian persecution, with Nigeria remaining the deadliest country for believers.
The report shows that over 80% of all religion-based killings worldwide in 2024 occurred in Nigeria. Data from watchdog groups indicates more than 7,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria in 2025 alone—an average of over 30 deaths per day—due to extremist violence, kidnappings, and targeted attacks on villages and churches.
Pakistan also continues to see worsening religious freedom conditions. Religious minorities—including Christians, Hindus, Shi’a Muslims, and Ahmadiyya Muslims—face mob violence, misuse of blasphemy laws, and harsh court sentences. Forced conversions and marriages of Christian and Hindu women and girls have risen sharply, with authorities and courts often failing to protect victims.
LEAD Ministries praised USCIRF for highlighting forced conversions, noting that Christian and Hindu women are the primary targets. Sardar Mushtaq Gill, founder of LEAD Ministries, stressed that Christians in Pakistan are peaceful and do not preach against other religions. In contrast, extremist groups routinely spread fabricated stories designed to offend, provoke violence, and justify attacks against Christians.
Gill also urged USCIRF to report on forced and bonded labor, a form of modern slavery disproportionately affecting Christians in Punjab province. Many families are trapped in exploitative work at brick kilns and farms, often pressured to convert to Islam for debt relief or protection. These coerced converts, commonly called “Musali,” illustrate systemic religious coercion rather than voluntary choice.
LEAD Ministries further called on international institutions to recognize Christians as the world’s most persecuted religious group—a point reportedly acknowledged by the U.S. President. Advocates say such acknowledgment is critical to mobilizing diplomatic pressure, shaping foreign policy, and ensuring meaningful international protection for vulnerable communities—particularly Christians—including through U.S. refugee admissions programs.
USCIRF officials emphasized that the report aims to guide U.S. foreign policy and encourage governments worldwide to uphold religious freedom. They warned that ignoring these crises risks further destabilization, mass displacement, and long-term humanitarian consequences.
LEAD Ministries is an advocacy organization dedicated to documenting Christian persecution, supporting efforts to protect the Christian faith, and promoting church planting initiatives. The organization calls on international churches and believers to raise their voices in defense of the Christian faith and to stand with LEAD Ministries in supporting persecuted believers worldwide.
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