December 21, 2020

Dear John,

As part of Family Research Council's growing engagement on international religious freedom, each month we are taking a focused look at hotspots of persecution around the world. While we pray for our own country, we also pray for countries where religious freedom does not exist and persecution against believers continues unabated.

In December, we turn our attention to Christians seeking to celebrate Christmas in countries where it is dangerous to do so.

As believers around the world prepare to celebrate Christmas, many are forced to do so in secret. Many governments hostile to Christianity intimidate and punish Christians seeking to celebrate their Savior's birth.

In Iran, the month of December is often greeted with a wave of government crackdowns on Christians, likely meant to prevent Christians from spreading their faith during the Advent season. Last year, more than 100 Christians were arrested in December.

Iranian Christian Dabrina Tamraz, herself a victim of religious persecution, says, "Christmas celebrations make it easier for Iranian authorities to arrest a group of Christians at one time."

In India, Christians' concerns about social hostility and violence sometimes affect their holiday celebrations. Fear of being attacked by Hindu radicals has sometimes caused Indian church congregations to cancel their official Christmas celebrations. Others have spent their Christmas in neighboring villages to avoided raising the ire of the Hindu nationalist mob -- and for good reason. Just days ago, 100 Christians from a tribal community in India were attacked as they prepared to celebrate Advent.

In Nigeria, Christians have suffered relentless persecution for decades, and especially in 2020. Thankfully, after years of warning the country's corrupt authorities -- including President Muhammadu Buhari -- on December 7, 2020, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo officially declared Nigeria a "Country of Particular Concern (CPC)"

From our perspective, that declaration may not seem like much of a Christmas present. But to the besieged Nigerian Christians, it is an answer to many prayers. The designation may well lead to severe financial consequences for Nigeria's government, which has failed to protect its vulnerable communities. It also provides a burst of hope in the hearts of thousands of endangered believers, who finally see that America is aware of their struggle.

As we prepare for our own Christmas festivities, let us remember the persecuted Christians in Iran, India, Nigeria, and all around the world in our prayers. Let us pray for their protection and encouragement during this season, and that their every need would be provided. For the persecuted church, December is both a time of great danger and a celebration of the greatest gift of all -- Jesus, the Son of God, born in Bethlehem.

In His Name,

Lela Gilbert
Senior Fellow for International Religious Freedom

Arielle Del Turco
Assistant Director of the Center for Religious Liberty

"Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them..."
Hebrews 13:3

P.S. To learn more about the rising religious freedom challenges in China, check out FRC's newly updated report, Religious Freedom in China: The History, Current Challenges, and the Proper Response to a Human Rights Crisis.