Jerry Dykstra, Open Doors USA
For the third straight year, the isolated
communist nation of North Korea remains atop
the annual Open Doors International "World
Watch List" of countries where Christians are
persecuted.
"Christianity is observed as one of the greatest
threats to the regime's power," the 2005 World
Watch List report states. Exact figures are
difficult to obtain, but it is believed that tens of
thousands of Christians are currently suffering in
North Korean prison camps, and at least 20
Christians were shot or beaten to death in 2004
while in detention.
"North Korea is the most repressive nation in the
world, .it certainly deserves its shameful ranking
on the World Watch List," says Open Doors USA
President Dr. Carl Moeller. "It breaks my heart to
hear some of the atrocities against our brothers
and sisters there. The government will arrest not
only a suspected dissident but also three
generations of his family to root out the 'bad'
influence. North Korea is suspected to detain
more political and religious prisoners than any
other country in the world.
"Yet we hear reports of how the church in North
Korea continues to grow. Let's continue to lift up
the needs of our fellow believers in North Korea
and in all the countries on the World Watch
List."
The annual list ranks countries according to the
intensity of persecution Christians face for
actively pursuing their faith. Five of the top 10
are Islamic-dominated countries, four have
communist regimes in power, and one country,
Bhutan, is dominated by Buddhism.
Saudi Arabia again held the second spot on the
list, followed by Vietnam, Laos, and Iran. Other
countries listed on the WWL's top 10, from No. 6
to 10, include: Maldives, Somalia, Bhutan, China
and Afghanistan. Newcomers to the top 10 are
Somalia and Afghanistan. Dropping out of the top
10 are Turkmenistan (No. 12) and Myanmar (No.
17). Somalia moved up four places to seventh in
the rankings primarily because "Christian
converts from Islam are paying a high price for
their new faith, especially in rural parts of this
most lawless country in the world."
The desert kingdom of Saudi Arabia requires all
its citizens to be Muslims. For a Saudi to convert
to another religion, the consequences can be
severe. The legal system is based on Islamic law
(sharia) where apostasy - conversion to another
religion - is punishable by death. Even foreign
Christian guest workers have been imprisoned
and deported for quietly practicing their faith,
despite government assurances that foreigners
can worship privately. In 2004, Indian citizen
Brian O'Connor was sentenced to 10 months
imprisonment and 300 lashes. He was released
and deported after seven months in prison.
New to third place is Vietnam, rising one
position. One of the few communist nations in
the world, Vietnam considers Christians to be a
hidden enemy. Authorities fear that Evangelical
Christianity, suspected to be connected to the
United States, is being used in a peaceful
revolution against the communist system.
Although the constitution provides for religious
freedom, the government considerably restricts
unrecognized religious activities. A new law on
religion was introduced during the past year and
bans any religious activity deemed to threaten
national security, public order or national unity.
The new ordinance is used to prohibit
unregistered church services in private houses.
The situation deteriorated for Christians in the
East African country of No. 16 Eritrea, where
more than 400 evangelical Christians are
currently in prison for their faith and subjected
to harsh conditions, including being locked in
metal shipping containers in severe heat.
And while Christians in Iraq - ranked 21st - enjoy
more liberty than under the regime of Saddam
Hussein, they are experiencing increased
pressure from fundamentalist Islamic groups.
"Written threats, kidnappings, bombings and
murder by Muslim extremists continued to drive
tens of thousands of the minority Christian
population out of the country," the World Watch
List report observes.
On the positive side, Christians in Sudan, ranked
No. 19, are hopeful that a new peace accord will
lead to greater access to goods and services
previously denied. Under the latest accord, the
mainly Christian and animist south will remain
autonomous for six years. It's estimated more
than two million people have died in Sudan
during 21 years of civil war.
No. 11-25 on the World Watch List are: Yemen,
Turkmenistan, Pakistan, Comoros, Uzbekistan,
Eritrea, Myanmar (Burma), Egypt, Sudan, Libya,
Iraq, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Brunei and Nigeria
(north).
Rounding out the list are Nos. 26-50 : Cuba,
Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Sri Lanka,
Djibouti, Mexico (Chiapas), Tunisia, Qatar, India,
Nepal, Colombia (conflict areas), Indonesia,
Algeria, Turkey, Mauritania, Kuwait, Belarus,
United Arab Emirates, Oman, Syria, Bangladesh,
Jordan, Kenya (northeast), Ethiopia and Bahrain.
The World Watch List is based on evaluation and
testimonies obtained by Open Doors' indigenous
contacts, field workers and from members of the
Persecuted Church.
An estimated 200 million Christians worldwide
suffer interrogation, arrest and even death for
their faith in Christ, with another 200 to 400
million facing discrimination and alienation.
Open Doors, celebrating 50 years of service to the
Persecuted Church in 2005, serves and
strengthens the Persecuted Church in the world's
most difficult areas through Bible and Christian
literature distribution, leadership training and
assistance, Christian community development
and prayer and presence ministry.

Men and brethren there is somuch work to be done.
For us presently living in less hostile environments our liberty and freedom is a seed for those who have delibrately by choice or inevitably by the design of certain circustance found themselves in hostile environments as we bend our knees and raise our voices in suplication and intercession for them strengthen them in prayer that the light of the gospel in these will not be put out.
Romans 1:8
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

2Thessalonians 3:1-
Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord
will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with
you; 2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil
men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He
will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.