WORLD WATCH LIST

Myanmar

#14

The Christian minority bears the brunt of ongoing conflict and attacks.

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“If they hate someone, they are not afraid to kill them, no remorse nor guilt. That’s the way it is here”

– Naomi, a pastor’s wife

Country
Profile

Region: Asia
Sources of persecution: Religious Nationalism
Population: 55,227,000
Christian population: 4,421,000
Religions: Buddhism
Leader: General Min Aung Hlaing
Score: 80

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What’s Life Like For Christians?

The situation in Christian areas has taken a turn for the worse since the military took control in February 2021. Fighting has increased across the country and the Christian minority is bearing the brunt of these attacks. More Christians than ever have become internally displaced people or refugees, and are living in camps or churches without adequate food and healthcare.

Christians do not enjoy the same rights and legal protection as the Buddhist majority. Christians are often victims of violent attacks. Even in predominantly Christian states, long-established churches have suffered attacks and Christian aid workers and pastors have been killed.

Converts to Christianity also face persecution from their Buddhist, Muslim, or tribal families and are shunned from community life. Communities that aim to stay ‘Buddhist only’ make life for Christian families impossible by barring their access to community water resources.

Who Is Most Vulnerable To Persecution?

The ongoing civil war between Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups and the military is disproportionately affecting Christian communities in majority Christian states. In Kachin State and Northern Shan State, where fighting is escalating, Christians are being killed, detained, and forced to flee.

Converts from a Buddhist, Muslim or tribal background face the strongest pressure to renounce their faith, especially from their family and community. The small number of Christian converts from a Muslim background who live among the Rohingya Muslim community are especially vulnerable, and face persecution both because of their ethnic affiliation, and because their Muslim families and communities put them under enormous pressure to return to Islam.