United States — Amnesty International, a human rights watchdog group, last month released its annual report on global executions. The report documented 1,518 executions in 2024 — a 32% increase compared to 2023 and the highest global numbers in a decade.

These numbers do not include an estimated thousands of executions conducted by China, a leading persecutor of religion, or those executed in North Korea and Vietnam. China has long persecuted independent religion within its borders, subjecting millions of Uyghur Muslims to concentration camps and murdering religious minorities, especially Falun Gong practitioners, to sell their organs on the black market.

The North Korean government is consistently ranked as one of the most repressive of religious freedom and has been designated by the U.S. as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) every year since 2001. There, owning a Bible or praying can lead to life in prison or even death.

Vietnam is designated as a Special Watchlist (SWL) country by the U.S. Department of State, indicating credible evidence that it has engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom.

Leading the list of documented executions were Iran and Saudi Arabia, both of which have been designated as CPCs for decades, given their consistent track records of particularly severe violations of religious freedom. Iran executed at least 972 people in 2024, while Saudi Arabia doubled its rate from 2023, with 345 executions in 2024.

While the Iranian government allows some degree of freedom for historically non-Muslim communities, converts from Islam to Christianity are viciously persecuted and are treated as a national security threat.

One of the world’s few theocracies, the Iranian system is built on extreme devotion to a fundamentalist interpretation of Islam. After the overthrow of the secular but authoritarian monarchy in 1979, Iran swung hard toward Islamist extremism and has continued on that path ever since, with a growing security apparatus designed to suppress religious and political dissent in every corner of society.

Iran’s constitution, finalized soon after the 1979 revolution, is a religious manifesto that quotes the Quran extensively and mandates the military to fulfill “the ideological mission of jihad in Allah’s way; that is, extending the sovereignty of Allah’s law throughout the world.”

For religious minorities in Iran, there is no escape from the extremist policies of a government fueled by an extremist interpretation of Shia Islam that leaves no room even for Sunni Islam, much less religious minorities like Christianity.
The United States has designated Saudi Arabia as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) 13 times since first issuing the designation in 1999, including every year since 2016. The CPC designation is designed to pressure countries that engage in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

Blasphemy and apostasy are both crimes under Saudi law, with punishment for these violations of Islamic morality including large fines, long terms in prison, floggings, and even death. According to the activist group Reprieve, Saudi Arabia has executed at least 212 people this year, surpassing the kingdom’s previous annual record of 196 people executed in 2022 and the 172 people executed in 2023.

The country’s blasphemy law, in essence, outlaws the expression of minority religious beliefs, while the ban on apostasy prevents Muslims from leaving Islam for another faith. Combined with the idea, taught in schools, that all infants are born Muslim, this leaves little room to identify with any faith other than Islam.

Public worship of any faith other than Islam is prohibited in Saudi Arabia, with the government enforcing this restriction carefully and only allowing private gatherings under the strictest of conditions.

As do many authoritarian regimes around the world, the Saudi government considers religious freedom to be a threat to its absolute grip on power. While it has managed to twist and manipulate Islam into a tool for the state, it does not allow even Muslims to practice their faith in freedom. It even maintains an enforcement agency to ensure that Muslims practice their faith in a way that does not interfere with the interests of the state.
Sources:persecution

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ദുബായ് : ദുബായ് ആരോഗ്യവിഭാഗത്തിന് കീഴിൽ 15 വർഷം സേവനം പൂർത്തിയാക്കിയ എല്ലാ നഴ്‌സുമാർക്കും ഗോൾഡൻ വീസ നൽകുമെന്ന് യുഎഇ ഉപപ്രധാനമന്ത്രിയും പ്രതിരോധമന്ത്രിയും ദുബായ് കിരീടാവകാശിയുമായ ഷെയ്ഖ് ഹംദാൻ ബിൻ മുഹമ്മദ് ബിൻ റാഷിദ് അൽ മക്തൂം പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു.

ദുബായിൽ ആരോഗ്യരംഗത്ത് ദീർഘകാലം പ്രവർത്തിച്ച നഴ്‌സുമാരുടെ അതുല്യ സംഭാവനകൾക്ക് ഇതോടെ അംഗീകാരമാകുന്നു. ആരോഗ്യ പരിപാലനത്തിനും സമൂഹത്തിന്റെ ഭദ്രതയ്ക്കും സമർപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുന്ന ആരോഗ്യപ്രവർത്തകരുടെ സേവനമാണ് ഈ തീരുമാനത്തിന് പിന്നിലെ പ്രേരണ. രാജ്യാന്തര നഴ്‌സസ് ദിനമായ ഇന്ന്(മേയ് 12) പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ച ഈ തീരുമാനം നഴ്‌സുമാർക്കും മറ്റ് ആരോഗ്യ പ്രവർത്തകർക്കുമായി ദുബായും യുഎഇയും നൽകിവരുന്ന പിന്തുണയുടെ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ തെളിവാണ്.
Sources:globalindiannews

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Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence of the UAE, on Monday, May 12, issued directives to grant golden visas to nursing staff employed with Dubai Health, who have served for more than 15 years.

The decision comes in recognition of their invaluable contributions to the community and their crucial role in advancing the quality of healthcare services, the Dubai Media Office (DMO) reported.

Sheikh Hamdan emphasised that nursing staff are at the forefront of the healthcare system and serve as essential partners in realising the vision of a healthier society and improved quality of life.

He commended their daily dedication to patient care and commitment to the well-being of others, affirming that Dubai values excellence and honours those who serve with dedication.

This directive coincides with International Nurses Day, observed annually on May 12, underscoring the leadership’s ongoing commitment to supporting healthcare professionals and fostering an environment that empowers them to continue serving the community.
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നൈജീരിയയിലെ പ്ലാറ്റോ സംസ്ഥാനത്തെ രണ്ട് ക്രിസ്ത്യൻ ഗ്രാമങ്ങളിൽ മെയ് 3, 4 തീയതികളിലുണ്ടായ ആക്രമണത്തിൽ ആറു ക്രൈസ്തവരെ കൊലപ്പെടുത്തുകയും നിരവധി പേരെ പരിക്കേൽപിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. സംസ്ഥാനത്തെ ബാർക്കിൻ ലാഡി കൗണ്ടിയിൽ ഫുലാനി തീവ്രവാദികളാണ് എൻ‌ ടി‌ വി, കക്കുരുക് ഗ്രാമങ്ങൾ ആക്രമിച്ചത്.

“മെയ് നാലിന് രാത്രി 8:11 ഓടെ ബാർക്കിൻ ലാഡി എൽ‌ ജി‌ എ യിലെ ഗാഷിഷ് ജില്ലയിലെ കക്കുരുക് ഗ്രാമത്തിലേക്ക് അക്രമികൾ നുഴഞ്ഞുകയറി വെടിയുതിർക്കുകയും മൂന്ന് ക്രൈസ്തവരെയും മറ്റു നാലുപേരെയും വെട്ടിക്കൊല്ലുകയുമായിരുന്നു. ഫുലാനി തീവ്രവാദികൾ നടത്തിയ ദാരുണമായ ഈ സായുധ ആക്രമണത്തിൽ ഞങ്ങൾ ദുഃഖിതരാണ്. കൂടാതെ, മെയ് മൂന്നിന് ബാർക്കിൻ ലാഡി ലോക്കൽ ഗവൺമെന്റ് ഏരിയയിലെ എൻ‌ ടി‌ വി ഗ്രാമത്തിൽ പതിയിരുന്ന് അക്രമികൾ മറ്റു മൂന്നുപേരെ കൂടി കൊലപ്പെടുത്തി” – പ്രദേശത്തെ യുവനേതാവായ ബതുരെ ഇലിയ അഡസാരം പറഞ്ഞു.

പരിക്കേറ്റവർ ബാർക്കിൻ ലാഡി പട്ടണത്തിലെ ജനറൽ ആശുപത്രിയിൽ ചികിത്സയിലാണ്. ഇസ്ലാമിക തീവ്രവാദികൾ നൈജീരിയയിൽ ആക്രമണം വ്യാപിപ്പിക്കുന്നതായും അദ്ദേഹം വെളിപ്പെടുത്തി.
Sources:azchavattomonline.com

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At least six people were brutally killed and several others injured in a recent attack on the predominantly Christian communities of Marit and Gashish in Barkin Ladi county of Plateau state, Nigeria.

The attackers, believed to be part of a suspected Fulani militant network, descended on the villages under the cover of darkness, catching residents off guard and leaving devastation in their wake.

Local authorities confirmed the attack, with Stephen Pwajok Gyang, chair of Barkin Ladi County, describing the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy. Gyang condemned the killings and revealed that the victims were laid to rest in a mass burial on Monday. He praised the courage of local vigilantes and security personnel while calling for stronger, proactive measures to prevent further violence.

“The recent resurgence of violence in our communities is a painful setback,” Gyang said during his visit to victims receiving treatment at Barkin Ladi General Hospital. “This is a time we are working hard to stabilize and rebuild. We must not allow these attacks to destroy our unity.”

This tragic incident comes amid a troubling trend. In March and April of 2025, coordinated attacks across Plateau’s Bokkos and Bassa Local Government Areas claimed the lives of more than 150 Christians, including women and children. Human rights groups and international observers have long warned of a slow-burning genocide against Nigeria’s Christian farming communities, especially in the Middle Belt.

According to recent intelligence obtained by TruthNigeria, an independent investigative media outlet, suspected Fulani Ethnic Militia (FEM) fighters are regrouping and possibly planning coordinated offensives across the state. The latest killing of three Berom Christians, including a baby, in Gashish is seen as a chilling indicator of what may lie ahead.

Local advocacy groups such as the Berom Youth Moulder-Association (BYM) warn that these attacks are not isolated but are part of a broader effort to displace indigenous Christian populations from their ancestral lands. “What is happening is not just banditry or random violence,” a BYM spokesperson said. “This is an intentional campaign of ethnic and religious cleansing.”

Security analysts echo these concerns. Garus Abednago, a Plateau-based conflict researcher, believes the pattern of smaller attacks is meant to test local defenses and instill fear among villagers. “These attacks are strategic, designed to intimidate and prepare the ground for broader territorial control,” he said.

Dr. Walid Abdullahi, an expert in African security studies, added, “Plateau State holds strategic importance in Nigeria’s Middle Belt. Whoever controls Plateau can influence surrounding states. That’s why militant groups view this region as critical to their expansionist agenda.”

Nigeria ranks among the world’s most dangerous countries for Christians, according to watchdog organizations like International Christian Concern (ICC). For years, Christians have faced escalating attacks, including mass killings, abductions, and the destruction of churches and farmlands. The Nigerian government has often failed to hold perpetrators accountable, further fueling impunity.

Human rights advocates are urging the international community, especially the United States, to take decisive action. This includes pressuring the Nigerian government to prioritize the protection of Christian communities, increasing humanitarian support for displaced families, and recognizing the crisis as a religious persecution emergency.

In the face of ongoing tragedy, community leaders, like Gyang, continue to call for unity, resilience, and collaboration.

“We cannot surrender to fear,” he said. “Together, with our security forces, faith leaders, and global partners, we can resist this darkness and build a peaceful future for our children.”
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