Christians risk threats, exploitation, violence, and losing their homes.
bottom“I woke up and found another threatening letter outside: ‘Stop what you’re doing, or we will kill you.’”
– Yasin*, a believer from a Muslim background, is passionate about sharing his faith.
*Name changed for security puroses
Christians in Iraq struggle to follow Jesus openly and freely. The main pressure comes from Iranian-backed Shia militias. Turkish and Iranian military operations have severely damaged Christian villages, driving many believers from their homes. Christian civilians repeatedly report seizures of their property by influential political and social groups. The Christian community faces ongoing difficulties as they continue to come to terms with the drastic reduction in the number of believers since the Islamic State (IS) occupied parts of the country.
In a culture that prizes honour, converts from Islam to Christianity risk threats, house arrest, beatings, being rejected by their families, and even death. Men who convert frequently encounter job discrimination, particularly in the public sector. They can face pressure to leave their positions, struggle to secure employment, or face exploitation in the workplace. Because men are often the primary family providers, job losses impact the wider household, putting Christian families under increased pressure.
Historical and Evangelical churches alike face threats of violence, intolerance, and discrimination, especially from Islamic extremists and non-Christian leaders. They also experience discrimination from government agencies.
Converts from Islam face strong pressure from family and often hide their faith to head off threats. Even those who change churches, such as from Orthodox to Evangelical, can face discrimination and unemployment. In central and southern Iraq, Christians often hide symbols such as the cross to avoid harassment at checkpoints, universities, workplaces, or government buildings. Outspoken Christians risk being targeted with blasphemy laws used against those suspected of outreach.
– Converting to Christianity from Islam is dangerous. Ask God to protect converts from harm and to help them know they are not alone.
– Pray that God will bless those called to stay and re-establish the Church after Islamic State (IS) violence.
– A man tied to IS attacked Christians in April 2025. Pray this hatred will be changed by Jesus’ overwhelming love.
In cooperation with local partners and churches, Open Doors supports the Church in Iraq through presence ministry, training, Bible and Christian literature distribution, prayer support, crisis aid, and socio-economic development.
