Afghanistan has replaced North Korea as the number one country in the world where Christians face the worst persecution, according to Open Doors’ 2022 World Watch List. The news that North Korea is no longer in the top spot after holding that position for two decades is a key takeaway from the annual report.
“The 2022 World Watch List reveals the most seismic changes in the history of our research,” said Open Doors USA President and CEO David Curry in a press conference Wednesday. “For the first time ever, Afghanistan is the most dangerous place on the planet to be a Christian.”
Open Doors is an organization that supports persecuted Christians throughout the world. The group releases its World Watch List at the beginning of year, ranking the top 50 countries where Christians face the most oppression for their faith. North Korea has held the number one spot on the list for the past 20 years.