14. Myanmar

Violence

97.8%

Christians in Myanmar continue to experience untold suffering because of persecution and conflict. Last year’s devastating earthquakes added to the vulnerability of many believers.

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It’s now five years since the military coup that deepened Myanmar’s long-running civil war and had a catastrophic impact on the whole country. Many Christians have been caught in the crossfire, particularly in ethnic minority areas, with believers killed, churches bombed, and villages destroyed. Thousands have been displaced, and an earthquake in March killed more than 3,600 people and forced even more from their homes.

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The vulnerability of Christians in Myanmar goes back years, rooted in the belief that to be Burmese is to be Buddhist – and that means other faiths are often seen as foreign and a threat to national unity. It leads to everyday discrimination, such as difficulties getting Christianity recognised on ID cards, denial of access to basic services such as water, and forced participation in Buddhist rituals. There is even a state-supported plan to convert Christians and other religious minorities to Buddhism, particularly in remote areas. Churches, meanwhile, have difficulty registering with the authorities and evangelistic activities are strongly opposed.

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Converts can face additional hostility from their families and communities, who may view their faith as a betrayal of their heritage.