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Christian persecution around the world is highlighted in new report: 'People are being seriously hurt'
A forthcoming report from the International Christian Concern (ICC), a nonprofit, highlights the 10 worst countries for Christian persecution, as well as specific entities and individuals that are driving this persecution.
The report, titled “Persecutors of the Year,” will be released on November 1. Fox News Digital received an advance copy of the report.
The countries that are identified as the worst for Christian persecution are Nigeria, North Korea, India, Iran, China, Pakistan, Eritrea, Algeria, Indonesia and Azerbaijan, said ICC.
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New to the list this year are Eritrea — a northeast African country — and Azerbaijan.
Christian persecution is “a hidden, mostly hidden subject,” Jeff King, ICC’s president, told Fox News Digital in a phone interview.
The ICC is based in Washington, D.C.
Christians demanded justice during a protest in Islamabad condemning attacks on churches in Pakistan on August 20, 2023. Pakistan is one of the top 10 worst countries for Christian persecution, according to a new report. (AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)
“People know it exists, but it’s so complicated,” he said.
The report is the culmination of a “massive effort” each year to fully research the size and scope of persecution in each country, according to the organization.
Countries in which persecution is led or promoted by state actors, rather than cultural biases, as well as countries with incidents of violence toward Christians, are given more attention.
“We look at the intensity, the scale of the attacks,” said King. “How many and are there state actors involved?”
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One of the main goals of the report each year is to spread awareness that Christian persecution is actually happening — and that being a Christian is extremely dangerous in some countries.
The issue is underreported in the news media, King believes — which he said leads to a lack of awareness by faith leaders of what is happening as well.
“The average Christian tends to not know that much about [persecution], unless they’re motivated, unless they want to go out and find it,” said King.
Activists and members representing the Christian community chant prayers during a peaceful protest rally in New Delhi, India. Christians in India are subject to persecution, said the latest report from the D.C.-based International Christian Concern. (Arun Sankar/AFP via Getty Images)
“We want to produce a resource for the press and for Capitol Hill [so] they can get on top of this subject at a certain level very quickly, and then can dig from there,” King said.
“So that’s really our motivation.”
During the four-month period between March 4 and July 6, more than 500 Christians were murdered in 55 separate attacks in Nigeria, said the ICC.
One country in particular that King hopes receives more attention and international scrutiny when it comes to Christian persecution is Nigeria.
Although Nigeria’s population is nearly evenly split between Christians and Muslims — with the latter having a slight majority — Christian persecution is on the rise and often results in death.
During the four-month period between March 4 and July 6, more than 500 Christians were murdered in 55 separate attacks in Nigeria, said the ICC.
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Thousands of others had their property destroyed. In addition, kidnapping and torture by radical Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and Fulani extremists are “weekly” occurrences in the country, the ICC said.
“This is crazy,” said King. “You think about what is going on there — this has gone on for 20 years.”
State officials walk past injured victims on hospital beds being treated for wounds following an attack by gunmen at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo town, southwest Nigeria on June 5, 2022. Nigerian Christians are under increased risk of persecution. (AFP via Getty Images)
The situation in Nigeria, King said, is not a war but rather a series of “one-sided guerrilla attacks” that result in the deaths of Christians.
The Nigerian government, he claimed, is not doing enough to protect Christian citizens — and he hopes that this report will serve to better inform members of Congress about what is actually happening overseas.
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A recent example of the indifference of the Nigerian government toward the Christian community happened in early September.
On the evening of Sept. 7, a Catholic seminarian was burned alive during a kidnapping attempt, ICC told Fox News Digital. The attack, which happened in Kaduna State, located in northwest Nigeria, involved Islamic extremists setting the buildings of a Catholic parish on fire.
A seminarian at the parish perished in the blaze, said ICC.
Catholics in Lagos, Nigeria, are seen praying. Nigeria is among the worst countries for Christian persecution as the government is largely indifferent to pleas for safety, said ICC President Jeff King. (John Wessels/AFP via Getty Images)
“While the authorities were alerted [to] the attack in advance, they did not arrive until after the damage was already done,” said ICC.
The Persecutors of the Year report is one of many things from ICC as an organization.
ICC, said King, is driven by a “three-legged stool” when it comes to dealing with the issue of Christian persecution.
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These “legs” are assistance, advocacy and awareness.
“We are assisting victims and we sit at the front lines where people are being seriously, seriously hurt — and we restore their lives to the best of our ability,” he said.
Said Jeff King of International Christian Concern about what is happening to Christians because of their faith, “We want to stand up as a witness to the world to say, ‘This is happening, please don’t forget.’” (Jeff King/ICC)
ICC’s advocacy work consists of outreach to Capitol Hill and the State Department as it tries to bring the issue of Christian persecution to the attention of legislators.
King and his group want people to know what is happening to others around the world.
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“We want to make the world aware,” said King.
“We want to stand up as a witness to the world to say, ‘This is happening, please don’t forget.’”
For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
The Georgia Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.
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Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 23 drawing
48-51-60-63-66, Mega Ball: 20
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Midday: 3-5-4
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Midday: 4-6-6-1
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Early Bird: 07
Matinee: 13
Drive Time: 08
Primetime: 15
Night Owl: 10
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Midday: 6-9-7-7-0
Evening: 2-9-6-0-6
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Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from June 23 drawing
07-12-13-33-39
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Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 23 drawing
06-17-34-39-57, Bonus: 05
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Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes under $601: Can be claimed at any Georgia Lottery retail location. ALL PRIZES can be claimed by mail to: Georgia Lottery Corporation, P.O. Box 56966, Atlanta, GA 30343.
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When are the Georgia Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash 3 (Midday): 12:29 p.m. ET daily.
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Kentucky
Top knee doctor confident Jayden Quaintance’s injury not a long-term concern, but clean-up procedure possible
One of the nation’s top knee doctors shared a positive diagnosis with former Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance going into the 2026 NBA Draft, revealing that his knee is not expected to be a long-term concern, KSR has learned.
That may include a second procedure to officially put the injury suffered in February 2025 behind him, however.
Dr. Riley Williams III — head team physician and orthopedic surgeon for the Brooklyn Nets and famous for performing surgery on Paul George’s gruesome open tibia-fibula fracture with USA Basketball in 2014 — gave a second opinion on Quaintance’s injured right knee that limited him to four games in Lexington and recommended a follow-up procedure that could keep him off the floor for six months. The 6-foot-11 prospect’s ACL remains fully intact and his knee can be maintained at its current state, but a clean-up is preferred for a permanent resolution.
Medical concerns led to his slide in final mock drafts — he was projected to go No. 27 overall to the Boston Celtics, according to ESPN — before ultimately landing with the San Antonio Spurs at No. 20. This procedure could lead to a delayed start to his rookie season, but the long-term reward of a healthy 15-year career in the NBA is the prize on the table. It kept teams in the lottery and late teens intrigued, despite rumors of a potential fall to the second round. Sources close to Quaintance felt San Antonio at No. 20 was a backstop for the talented forward going into draft night, an educated hunch that proved to be accurate.
Quaintance worked out for the Dallas Mavericks (No. 9, No. 30), Milwaukee Bucks (No. 10), Oklahoma City Thunder (No. 12, No. 17), Chicago Bulls (No. 15), Toronto Raptors (No. 19), San Antonio Spurs (No. 20) and Boston Celtics (No. 27) ahead of the draft, but the Thunder and Spurs were the most aggressive throughout the predraft process, sources tell KSR. Once OKC snagged Michigan’s Aday Mara at No. 12 overall, it opened the door for a move to San Antonio for the former Wildcat.
There was disappointment in Quaintance’s absence on draft night after failing to receive a green room invite, but receiving confirmation of no long-term knee concern was the biggest priority — and that came after meeting with arguably the nation’s top knee doctor before the 2026 NBA Draft began in Brooklyn on Tuesday.
Quaintance was not the top-five pick he was expected to be going into his lone season at Kentucky, but he found himself in a perfect winning situation in San Antonio next to the future face of the NBA in Victor Wembanyama, even if that includes a short-term setback.
MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that federal funding for hazard mitigation projects is available to address flood, earthquake and wildfire threats. This funding will allow states to take proactive steps to protecting their communities from future disasters.
The funding for these projects has been made available through FEMA’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant program, with 40 states and one Tribal Nation expected to receive more than $189 million in federal funding for 125 projects.
Identified projects in FEMA Region 6 include:
- $6 million for I-20 South Frontage Road drainage improvements for the Ouachita Parish Police Jury
- $900,000 for the pump station for the town of Lake Arthur
- $1.5 million to the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management for portable backup generators and water support
- $750,000 for the Boyd Lining Project in the city of Bloomfield
- $262,000 for emergency siren warning system upgrades for Roosevelt County, Texas
- $1.5 million for a high hazard dam project in the city of Gladewater
- $1.1 million for emergency disaster energy hubs for the city of Austin
- $1.1 million for the Cypress Ditch Improvement Project in the city of Bellaire
- $1.1 million for the Alberta Avenue storm and domestic water improvements project for the El Paso County Hospital District
- $1.1 million for Tributary C116-00-00 conveyance and drainage improvements for the Harris County Flood Control District
- $827,000 for the underpass flooding early warning system improvements in the city of Beaumont
Before funds are awarded, these communities must submit an application by July 22, 2026, by 5 p.m. Eastern time.
Nationwide, FEMA expects to distribute $189M for 125 projects
Applications must be submitted through FEMA Grants Outcomes (FEMA GO), the agency’s grants management system. For more information, review the Notice of Funding Opportunity on Grants.gov.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
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