45 “China," USCIRF 2026 Annual Report , p. 23 https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/ default/files/2026-03/USCIRF_2026_AR_3326_NEW.pdf [accessed 03/30/26] . 46 Niwa Limbu, “China outlaws online preaching and prayer in sweeping religion crackdown," Catholic Herald , September 18, 2025 https:// thecatholicherald.com/article/china-outlaws-online-preaching-and- prayer-in-sweeping-religion-crackdown [accessed 02/03/26] . 47 Rafael Llanes, “Chinese Bishop Is Arrested for Celebrating Mass, Marking the Beginning of the Jubilee Year, Without the Permission of the Communist Government," Zenit , March 19, 2025 https://zenit. org/2025/03/19/chinese-bishop-is-arrested-for-celebrating-mass- marking-the-beginning-of-the-jubilee-year-without-the-permission-of- the-communist-government/ [accessed 02/04/26] . 48 Qian Lang, “Police in China’s Anhui detain 2 Christians for ‘cult’ activities," Radio Free Asia , 19/03/2025 https://www.rfa.org/english/ china/2025/03/19/china-anhui-church-raid-cult/ [accessed 02/03/26] . 49 “Leaders and Members of Linfen Churches receive Prison Sentences," CSW , July 1, 2025. 50 “China arrests underground church founder, pastors," Radio Free Asia , October 13, 2025 https://www.rfa.org/english/china/2025/10/13/jin- mingri-zion-church/ [accessed 02/03/26] . 51 “Influential China church reports arrests as crackdown on Christians intensifies," BBC News (Online) , January 8, 2026 https://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/articles/ckgl8jgdxypo [accessed 02/04/26] . 52 Edward Ross, “China arrests six Christians on charge of ‘organizing minors’," Christian Daily , May 21, 2026 https://www.christiandaily.com/ news/china-arrests-six-christians-on-charge-of-organizing-minors [accessed 26/05/2026] . 53 “The Criminal saga of Disappeared girls continues unabated," Coptic Solidarity , March 11 https://www.copticsolidarity.org/2025/03/11/the- criminal-saga-of-disappeared-coptic-girls-continues-unabated/ [accessed 02/11/26] . 54 Georgette Sharkawy, “Egypt’s Christian Girls: Between Disappearance and Exploitation," Zawia3 , December 11, 2024 https://zawia3.com/en/ christian-women-2/ [accessed 02/11/26] . 55 USCIRF 2026 Annual Report , p. 60 https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/ files/2026-03/USCIRF_2026_AR_3326_NEW.pdf [accessed 03/30/26] . 56 “Government approves Legalization of 191 Churches — Amid ongoing questions over Religious Equality," Coptic Solidarity , April 18, 2026 https:// www.copticsolidarity.org/2026/04/18/government-approves-legalization- of-191-churches-amid-ongoing-questions-over-religious-equality/ [accessed 20/04/2026] . 57 Zahraa Abu Al-Enein, “ ﻧم ﯾﮫ اﯾﻠوج ﻓطﺎع ؟زﯾول .. ﻓرﻋت ﯩﻺ ةﺻﻖ اھﺋﺎﻓﺗﺧﺎ ," Almashad , November 2, 2024 https://almashhad.com/article/459217420284850- entertainment/843140664517274- ﻧم - ﯾﮫ - اﯾﻠوج - ﻓطﺎع - زﯾول - ﻓرﻋت - ﯩﻺ - ةﺻﻖ - اھﺋﺎﻓﺗﺧﺎ / [accessed 02/11/26] . 58 “The Criminal saga of Disappeared girls continues unabated," Coptic Solidarity , March 11 https://www.copticsolidarity.org/2025/03/11/the- criminal-saga-of-disappeared-coptic-girls-continues-unabated/ [accessed 02/11/26] . 59 “Christian Convert Charged with Terrorism in Egypt," International Christian Concern , July 30, 2025 https://persecution.org/2025/07/30/ christian-convert-charged-with-terrorism-in-egypt/ [accessed 02/11/26] . 60 In English the village’s name is variously spelled: Nazlet Gelf, Nazlet Jalf or Nazlat Jalf. “Sectarian Violence breaks out in Upper Egypt following rumors of Interreligious Relationship," CSW , October 24, 2025; “Authorities impose Fine and Exile on Christian Family following outbreak of Sectarian Violence," CSW , October 29, 2025; Raymond Ibrahim, “From Rumor to Rampage: The Collective Punishment of Egypt’s Coptic Christians," Coptic Solidarity , October 26, 2025 https://www.copticsolidarity.org/2025/10/26/from- rumor-to-rampage-the-collective-punishment-of-egypts-coptic-christians ; Raymond Ibrahim, “Egypt’s ‘Reconciliation Sessions’: The Terrorized Submit to the Terrorist," Middle East Forum , November 2, 2025 https://www. meforum.org/mef-online/egypts-reconciliation-sessions-the-terrorized- submit-to-the-terrorist [accessed 02/11/26] . 61 “Clashes between security forces and Copts in May 15, several protesters arrested," Coptic Solidarity , February 3, 2026 https://www.copticsolidarity. org/2026/02/03/clashes-between-security-forces-and-copts-in-15-may- several-protesters-arrested/ ; Mariam Farouq and Nader Shukry “Church statement on clashes between police and 15 th of May City Copts," Watani , February 4, 2026 https://en.wataninet.com/coptic-affairs-coptic-affairs/ coptic-affairs/church-statement-on-clashes-between-police-and-15th-of- may-city-copts/48116/#gsc.tab=0 [accessed 02/11/26] . 62 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Eritrea, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker , p. 11 https://reliefweb.int/report/eritrea/ report-special-rapporteur-situation-human-rights-eritrea-mohamed- abdelsalam-babiker-ahrc5924-enarruzh Cf. USCIRF 2026 Annual Report , p. 26 https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2026-03/USCIRF_2026_ AR_3326_NEW.pdf [Both sites accessed 04/13/26] . 63 “Eritrea, Proclamation No. 73/1995," Refworld https://www.refworld.org/ legal/legislation/natlegbod/1995/en/61889 [accessed 18/06/25] . 64 Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Eritrea, Mohamed Abdelsalam Babiker , op. cit., p. 12.
65 Ibid., p. 10. 66 Ibid., p. 11. 67 “Eritrea," USCIRF 2023 Annual Report https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/ files/2023-05/Eritrea.pdf [accessed 04/14/26] . 68 “Eritrea: Priest imprisoned for more than two decades without charge," International Society for Human Rights , March 1, 2026 “Eritrea: Priest imprisoned for more than two decades without charge," International Society for Human Rights , March 1, 2026 https://ishr.org/eritrea-priest- imprisoned-for-more-than-two-decades-without-charge/ [accessed 04/13/26] . 69 “200+ arrested, including children," Release International , July 3, 2024 https://releaseinternational.org/eritrea-200-arrested-including-children/ [accessed 04/13/26 ]. 70 “Eritrea," USCIRF 2026 Annual Report , op. cit . 71 Lauren Canterberry, “Eritrean officials refuse letter calling for release of imprisoned Christian leaders," World , August 22, 2025 https://wng. org/sift/eritrean-officials-refuse-letter-calling-for-imprisoned-christian- leaders-release-1755885902 [accessed 04/14/26] . 72 “Eritrea: 177 Detained Christians Mainly Released Conditionally in Late 2025," CSW , January 30, 2026. 73 Figures from United Christian Forum (UCF). 74 Kangkan Kalita and Rashmi Drolia, “Vandals target Christian decorations at Assam school, mob attacks mall in Raipur," Times of India , December 26, 2025 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/vandals- target-christmas-decorations-at-assam-school-mob-attacks-mall-in- raipur/articleshow/126180738.cms [accessed 05/29/26] . 75 “Protests erupt after RSS-BJP man’s alleged attack on children’s Christmas carol group in Kerala’s Palakkad," The Hindu , December 24, 2025 https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/protests-erupt- after-rss-bjp-mans-alleged-attack-on-childrens-christmas-carol-group-in- keralas-palakkad/article70432557.ece [accessed 02/06/26] ; UCF sources. 76 The Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill replaced a 1968 law passed by Madhya Pradesh State, which the separate state of Chhattisgarh was carved out from in 2000. The new law introduces stricter rules and harsher penalties for “fraudulent” religious conversions. 77 People’s Union for Civil Liberties, Criminalising the Practice of Faith https:// pucl.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Final-Criminalising-the-Practice- of-Faith.pdf [accessed 02/06/26] . 78 Calculated using UCF data. 79 Syed Affan, “Refused Burials, Corpses ‘Converted’ To Hinduism: Odisha’s Christians Face a Surge of Violence Under a BJP Govt," Article 14 , November 17, 2025 https://article-14.com/post/refused-burials-corpses- converted-to-hinduism-odisha-s-christians-face-a-surge-of-violence- under-a-bjp-govt-691a9225ec46f [accessed 02/06/26] ; UCF. 80 Obianuju Mbah, “Christian pastor beaten after communion service disrupted by extremists," Christian Today , August 19, 2025 https://www. christiantoday.com/news/christian-pastor-beaten-after-communion- service-disrupted-by-extremists [accessed 02/05/26] . 81 “Accused of religious conversions: Priests, nuns, and a catechist attacked at the Gangadhar mission station," Fides , August 8, 2025 https:// www.fides.org/en/news/76698-ASIA_INDIA_Accused_of_religious_ conversions_Priests_nuns_and_a_catechist_attacked_at_the_ Gangadhar_mission_station [accessed 02/05/26] . 82 Rita Joseph, “Humiliation of pastor by Hindu attackers ‘a disgrace for India’," The Tablet , January 27, 2026 https://www.thetablet.co.uk/ news/humiliation-of-pastor-by-hindu-attackers-a-disgrace-for-india/ ; Satyasundar Barik, “Odisha police detain nine over attack on pastor in Dhenkanal," The Hindu , January 22, 2026 https://www.thehindu.com/ news/national/odisha/odisha-police-detain-nine-over-attack-on-pastor- in-dhenkanal/article70538334.ece [accessed 02/05/26] . 83 “Twenty-six Christian families expelled from home village in Chhattisgarh, India," Barnabas Aid , June 29, 2026 https://www.barnabasaid.org/gb/ news/twenty-six-christian-families-expelled-from-home-village-in- chhattisgarh/ [accessed 07/02/26] . 84 Tim Ross, “Inside an exiled prince’s plan for regime change in Iran," Politico , January 13, 2026 https://www.politico.eu/article/reza-pahlavi- iran-revolution-exiled-prince-plan-regime-change/ [accessed 06/01/26] . 85 Kay Armin Serjoie, Roxana Saberi, Fatemeh Jamalpour, “Iran Protest Death Toll Could Top 30,000, According to Local Health Officials," Time , January 25, 2026 https://time.com/7357635/more-than-30000-killed-in- iran-say-senior-officials/ [accessed 06/01/26]. 86 “Iran," Article18 Alliance https://articleeighteen.com/country-profile/ [accessed 06/01/26] . 87 Ibid. 88 “Iran," Religious Freedom in the World Report (ACN, 2025) https:// acninternational.org/religiousfreedomreport/reports/country/2025/iran [accessed 06/01/26] . 89 “Iran," World Watchlist 2026 https://www.opendoorsuk.org/persecution/ world-watch-list/iran/ [accessed 06/01/26] . 90 “Scapegoat — Rights violations against Christians in Iran 2026” Article18
40 | Persecuted and Forgotten?
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