Changes

In 2015 and 2016, the Center for Studies on New Religions was reported that Christians were the most persecuted of any type of group in the world, with almost 600 million Christians being affected by persecution and 90,000 killed in 2016 alone.<ref>Chiaramonte, Perry (January 6, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/01/06/christians-most-persecuted-group-in-world-for-second-year-study.html Christians the most persecuted group in world for second year: Study]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref><ref>Williams, Thomas D. (April 16, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/04/16/easter-2017-christians-most-persecuted-group-in-the-world/ Easter 2017, Christians ‘Most Persecuted Group in the World’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 17, 2017.</ref> Between 2005 and 2015, over 900,000 Christians were martyred for their faith.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/01/17/nearly-1-million-christians-reportedly-martyred-for-their-faith-in-last-decade.html Nearly 1 million Christians reportedly martyred for their faith in last decade]. ''Fox News'' (from ''The Christian Post''). January 17, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.</ref> According to [[Open Doors]] USA in January 2018, at least 215 million Christians globally face severe persecution,<ref>Mora, Edwin (January 11, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/01/11/study-200-million-christians-worldwide-facing-severe-persecution/ Study: Over 200 Million Christians Worldwide Facing Severe Persecution]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 11, 2018.</ref><ref>Chiaramonte, Perry (January 11, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/01/11/christian-persecution-continues-to-rise-more-incidents-against-women-in-2017-new-report-says.html Christian persecution continues to rise, more incidents against women in 2017, new report says]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 11, 2018.</ref> and according to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), over 500 million Christians face persecution.<ref>Mora, Edwin (November 24, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/11/24/report-half-billion-christians-facing-global-persecution/ Report: Half a Billion Christians Facing Global Persecution]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 25, 2018.</ref> According to Pew Research Center, restrictions on [[religious liberty]] increased in 2016 for the second year in a row, with Christianity being the most affected.<ref>Multiple references:

In 2015 and 2016, the Center for Studies on New Religions was reported that Christians were the most persecuted of any type of group in the world, with almost 600 million Christians being affected by persecution and 90,000 killed in 2016 alone.<ref>Chiaramonte, Perry (January 6, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/01/06/christians-most-persecuted-group-in-world-for-second-year-study.html Christians the most persecuted group in world for second year: Study]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 7, 2017.</ref><ref>Williams, Thomas D. (April 16, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/04/16/easter-2017-christians-most-persecuted-group-in-the-world/ Easter 2017, Christians ‘Most Persecuted Group in the World’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 17, 2017.</ref> Between 2005 and 2015, over 900,000 Christians were martyred for their faith.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/01/17/nearly-1-million-christians-reportedly-martyred-for-their-faith-in-last-decade.html Nearly 1 million Christians reportedly martyred for their faith in last decade]. ''Fox News'' (from ''The Christian Post''). January 17, 2017. Retrieved January 18, 2017.</ref> According to [[Open Doors]] USA in January 2018, at least 215 million Christians globally face severe persecution,<ref>Mora, Edwin (January 11, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/01/11/study-200-million-christians-worldwide-facing-severe-persecution/ Study: Over 200 Million Christians Worldwide Facing Severe Persecution]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved January 11, 2018.</ref><ref>Chiaramonte, Perry (January 11, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/01/11/christian-persecution-continues-to-rise-more-incidents-against-women-in-2017-new-report-says.html Christian persecution continues to rise, more incidents against women in 2017, new report says]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved January 11, 2018.</ref> and according to Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), over 500 million Christians face persecution.<ref>Mora, Edwin (November 24, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/11/24/report-half-billion-christians-facing-global-persecution/ Report: Half a Billion Christians Facing Global Persecution]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 25, 2018.</ref> According to Pew Research Center, restrictions on [[religious liberty]] increased in 2016 for the second year in a row, with Christianity being the most affected.<ref>Multiple references:

*Kishi, Katayoun (June 21, 2018). [http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/06/21/key-findings-on-the-global-rise-in-religious-restrictions/ Key findings on the global rise in religious restrictions]. ''Pew Research Center''. Retrieved June 23, 2018.

*Kishi, Katayoun (June 21, 2018). [http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/06/21/key-findings-on-the-global-rise-in-religious-restrictions/ Key findings on the global rise in religious restrictions]. ''Pew Research Center''. Retrieved June 23, 2018.

*Williams, Thomas D. (June 23, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/06/23/pew-religious-practice-faces-increasing-legal-restrictions-worldwide-christians-hardest-hit/ Pew: Religious Practice Faces Increasing Legal Restrictions Worldwide, Christians Hardest Hit]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 23, 2018.</ref> According to a 2017 report by Open Doors USA, the persecution of Christians is growing and is being seen in an increasing number of countries,<ref>Chiaramonte, Perry (February 2, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/02/02/christian-persecution-seen-in-more-locations-across-globe-new-report-shows.html Christian persecution seen in more locations across the globe, new report shows]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 2, 2017.</ref> and it reported that the number of Christians facing persecution rose 14% between 2015 and 2018.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/christian-persecution-continues-to-rise-women-most-exploited-group-says Christian persecution continues to rise; women most exploited, group says]. ''Fox News''. January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.</ref> A 2017 report by Pew Research, concerning 2014 and 2015, yielded similar findings.<ref>Hadro, Matt (April 17, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/17/study-finds-religious-persecution-spread-to-more-c/ Pew study: Religious persecution spread to more countries in 2015]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 18, 2017.</ref>

*Williams, Thomas D. (June 23, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/06/23/pew-religious-practice-faces-increasing-legal-restrictions-worldwide-christians-hardest-hit/ Pew: Religious Practice Faces Increasing Legal Restrictions Worldwide, Christians Hardest Hit]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved June 23, 2018.</ref> According to a 2017 report by Open Doors USA, the persecution of Christians is growing and is being seen in an increasing number of countries,<ref>Chiaramonte, Perry (February 2, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/02/02/christian-persecution-seen-in-more-locations-across-globe-new-report-shows.html Christian persecution seen in more locations across the globe, new report shows]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 2, 2017.</ref> and it reported that the number of Christians facing persecution rose 14% between 2015 and 2018.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/faith-values/christian-persecution-continues-to-rise-women-most-exploited-group-says Christian persecution continues to rise; women most exploited, group says]. ''Fox News''. January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.</ref><ref>Murphy, James (January 17, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/faith-and-morals/item/31215-persecution-of-christians-is-on-the-rise-worldwide-according-to-new-report Persecution of Christians Is On The Rise Worldwide, According to New Report]. ''The New American''. Retrieved January 17, 2019.</ref> A 2017 report by Pew Research, concerning 2014 and 2015, yielded similar findings.<ref>Hadro, Matt (April 17, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/17/study-finds-religious-persecution-spread-to-more-c/ Pew study: Religious persecution spread to more countries in 2015]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved April 18, 2017.</ref>

The countries with the most extreme persecution of Christians, as of 2017, tend to be Muslim nations, even though the most anti-Christian nation is [[North Korea]].<ref name="TannerApril2017">Tanner, Georeen (April 14, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/14/christian-persecution-how-many-are-being-killed-where-are-being-killed.html Christian persecution: How many are being killed, where they are being killed]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 14, 2017.</ref> As recorded between November 1, 2015, to October 31, 2016, [[Pakistan]] had the largest number of Christians killed and churches attacked.<ref name="TannerApril2017"/> The U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom reported in May 2017 that religious freedom around the world was "worsening in both the depth and breadth of violations."<ref>Williams, Thomas D., PhD (May 16, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/16/report-international-religious-freedom-worsening-in-both-depth-and-breadth/ Report: International Religious Freedom Worsening in both ‘Depth and Breadth’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 16, 2017.</ref>

The countries with the most extreme persecution of Christians, as of 2017, tend to be Muslim nations, even though the most anti-Christian nation is [[North Korea]].<ref name="TannerApril2017">Tanner, Georeen (April 14, 2017). [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/04/14/christian-persecution-how-many-are-being-killed-where-are-being-killed.html Christian persecution: How many are being killed, where they are being killed]. ''Fox News''. Retrieved April 14, 2017.</ref> As recorded between November 1, 2015, to October 31, 2016, [[Pakistan]] had the largest number of Christians killed and churches attacked.<ref name="TannerApril2017"/> The U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom reported in May 2017 that religious freedom around the world was "worsening in both the depth and breadth of violations."<ref>Williams, Thomas D., PhD (May 16, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/05/16/report-international-religious-freedom-worsening-in-both-depth-and-breadth/ Report: International Religious Freedom Worsening in both ‘Depth and Breadth’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved May 16, 2017.</ref>