According to a recent report from the group Open Doors, at least 2,123 believers died for their faith in 2013. That’s nearly twice the amount reported in 2012.
In fact, more Christians were killed in Syria alone than the total killed last year. More than 1,200 Syrian Christians lost their lives in the ongoing conflicts in their country in 2013.
Christians around the world face persecution in other forms. While there were no numbers for deaths in North Korea, it topped the list of countries where persecution is the worst, with 50,000-70,000 Christians in labor camps for crimes as simple as sharing their faith or even owning a Bible.
In her article for The Daily Beast on the subject, Kirsten Po wers quoted reporter John L. Allen Jr.’s comment during a speech: “I always ask Christians in countries [where persecution occurs], ‘What can we do for you?’ The number one thing they say is, ‘Don ’t forget about us.’”
