Christian Persecution Under Islam: Facts You Need to Know

Every year, on June 29th, we remember and honor the heroes who died because they follow Jesus – It is Christian Martyr’s Day. According to church tradition, this is the day when the Apostle Paul died as a martyr, so we now can use this day to honor every believer who has died as a martyr.

The Body of Christ has experienced persecution from the first century and right after Christ’s resurrection and ascension. The book of Acts tells us how the early church was forced to scatter out of Jerusalem and the land of Israel because of Saul’s persecution and many others, therefore allowing the Good News of Jesus to spread in surrounding countries even faster.

Today, persecution continues to take place daily, forcing Christians to move out of their homes, away from their families, and sometimes leading to their death.

According to Open Doors in 2025: "The Church is driven out or driven underground in several countries.​ In the Middle East especially, several Christian communities are dwindling and, in some cases, on the verge of extinction."

Out of the 50 worst countries for Christian persecution, 37 are listed with Islamic oppression or Islamic governments (World Watch List).

Many Christians assume that because Islamic countries are so violent towards Christians, there is not a body of believers there. This is not the case at all! In fact, the persecuted church in Islamic countries is persistent, but the believers there serve Christ underground to continue to live and be witnesses among their people. 

What is life like for the persecuted church in Islamic countries?

Believers in Islamic countries have to make careful decisions every day to protect themselves and their fellow brothers and sisters in Christ they connect with. Converts from Islam in particular, if discovered, lose their jobs, their homes, or are even disowned or killed by their family.

Some Islamic countries, like Egypt, allow original Christians to live there legally, but they are not allowed to share the gospel outside the walls of the church, or practice their faith in public places. They also have limited freedoms of expression. Muslims are not allowed to convert to Christianity. An individual’s faith is displayed on their government ID, so Christians are easily identifiable and they are encouraged to become Muslims. But it is impossible for a Muslim to switch their identification which is controlled by government officials.

What is persecution? Is Christian persecution rare or common?

Persecution is being hated and rejected because we talk about Jesus and witness with our mouth and in our lives. Persecution also includes people wanting to hurt us because of our faith. To be clear, persecution is not suffering because of our sin and choices, but at the hands of others who hate our witness for Jesus.

The decision to surrender one’s life to Jesus and claim Him as Lord and Savior is the best decision to be made – we are made right with God and we know that we will be with Him when we die. However, this new life we have in Christ is never easy, in fact Jesus Himself promised that we would be hated for following Him:“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” John 15:20

If Jesus was persecuted, which He surely was, then following Him means we should expect persecution. The first believers were persecuted, and this has never stopped through the centuries.

When did Islam begin to persecute Christians?

Since the 7th century, the religion of Islam has actively persecuted Christians. At first, Muhammad attempted to gain the favor of the Christians (and the Jews) and wanted to be accepted by them as a prophet. However, when the Christians and Jews rejected Muhammad, Allah’s instructions to his prophet changed and told him instead to make them submit to Islam through any means necessary (Surah 9:29).

Christians had three options given to them under Islamic rule, which conquered much of the Middle East from the 7th century through the 20th century:

• To convert to Islam and become respected citizens 

• To pay a high penalty tax (Jizyah) which took most of the family's income, and stay Christian, but submissive lower class citizen with minimal rights 

• Be killed

During the Islamic Empire’s rule, many Christians were killed, but some survived by paying the jizyah and still have living descendants today.

Persecution of Christians from Islam has never stopped; it is a very real and dangerous threat to any Christ follower in Islamic countries.

What is modern-day Christian persecution like in Islamic countries?

Christians in Islamic countries experience different kinds of persecution depending on whether they come from a Christian family or are converts from Islam.

Some Christians in Islamic countries can trace their Christian lineage back through centuries of Christ-followers. These families are considered lower-class and are refused positions in the government. It is harder for Christian students to graduate or earn good jobs once they are out of school. Christians are not allowed to share their faith at all, or else they will be killed or put in prison. Of course, they are welcome to convert to Islam at any time.

For believers who convert from Islam, they live under more risk of active persecution from their Muslim family and government. They must practice their faith in secret, because if their family or community discovers their belief in Christ, any number of these actions will follow:

• They will lose all inheritance

• Their spouse, wife or husband, has the right to divorce them and take full custody of their children

• They will be expelled completely from their community, losing their home, job, and belongings

• They may never see their parents or children again

• If they are reported to the government, they are hunted down to be put in prison, where they are tortured or even killed

• Their family may pursue them to wipe out the shame their conversion has brought on the family; they believe a violent death cleanses this shame 

• Some Muslim-background believers are fortunate enough to find refuge in a western country after many years of applying for asylum and visas. However the majority of Muslim converts live secretly as believers, with no access to other believers or biblical teaching.

Thankfully, through technology, persecuted believers don’t have to stay isolated. Through the secure online platform for Redeemed Church, persecuted believers can join live church services made for them. Muslim converts can grow under sound biblical teaching and have fellowship with other believers secretly and safely.

Muslim converts in Islamic countries and communities are always at risk of being discovered by their families or governments. They are often rejected from the underground church until they can prove they won’t bring danger with them. These redeemed believers are isolated and alone.​​

It is important for Christ-followers to remember their persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ and include them in your prayers. You can find a whole list of Bible verses that will remind you to pray for the persecuted believers here.

Prayer for persecuted Christians

Dear Lord, please keep Your loving hand of protection over Your children who are in Islamic countries right now. Please comfort them and strengthen them if they are facing persecution. Amen.