No recognition of the church—no freedom for Christians
The absence of a single central government to uphold law and order contributes to the extreme levels of pressure in national and church life. Libyan Christians with a Muslim background face violent and intense pressure to renounce their faith from their family and the wider community. There is no freedom of speech, no equal treatment of Christians, no recognition of the church and no churches being built.
Christian migrant workers are allowed to meet together to worship in Libya, but they are always at risk of attack by Islamic militants, and face discrimination from Libyan society. Churches for Libyans are forbidden, and Libyan Christians must keep their faith completely secret. Christians who publicly express their faith and try to share the Christian faith with others face the risk of arrest and violence at the hands of their families, communities or violent Islamic militants.
Christians are at risk all over the country, but are especially vulnerable in areas where radical Islamic groups are present. ISIS still maintains a presence in the wider region around Sirte. Other groups, like those connected to the Islamic Dawn coalition, are in control of areas around Tripoli and some parts of Tripoli itself. In the east, radical groups are at least present in Benghazi.
Migrant Christians who have been arrested and detained while trying to reach Europe often end up in one of the overcrowded detention centers around Tripoli. Others do not even make it that far, but are directly delivered into the hands of criminal groups or human traffickers. Subsequently, they are forced into heavy labor in the agricultural sector or pushed into prostitution.
Examples of persecution
Given the security issues surrounding a Muslim’s conversion to the Christian faith, most reports about converts in Libya cannot be published.
Christian migrants held in detention centers in Libya—mostly from sub-Saharan African countries—have reportedly been raped and beaten. Although the ill-treatment and violence are not limited to Christian refugees, Christians are singled out for much worse discriminatory and violent treatment.
Slavery and human trafficking still take place despite an earlier international outcry that took place when CNN showed video evidence of a slave auction of sub-Saharan Africans in November 2017.
Population and number of Christian statistics: Johnson T M and Zurlo G A, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed April 2019).
Pray for Libya
Libya Photo Gallery
Stories from Libya
May 12, 2020
How Muslims are finding Jesus without Christians in North Africa
The story of how a Muslim girl found Jesus—and a community of Christians—in North Africa. Read More
+ READ MORE
April 22, 2020
Persecuted … but not abandoned
How Christians in North Africa are finding Jesus—and growing in their knowledge of Him—even though they are isolated in their faith. Read More
+ READ MORE
March 6, 2020
A ‘living death’: How Christian women experience persecution
A new 2020 Open Doors in-depth report focusing on gendered persecution surfaces some disturbing realities for Christian women and girls in the top 50 countries where women are highly persecuted for their decision to follow Jesus. Read More
+ READ MORE
The absence of a single central government to uphold law and order contributes to the extreme levels of pressure in national and church life. Libyan Christians with a Muslim background face violent and intense pressure to renounce their faith from their family and the wider community. There is no freedom of speech, no equal treatment of Christians, no recognition of the church and no churches being built.
Christian migrant workers are allowed to meet together to worship in Libya, but they are always at risk of attack by Islamic militants, and face discrimination from Libyan society. Churches for Libyans are forbidden, and Libyan Christians must keep their faith completely secret. Christians who publicly express their faith and try to share the Christian faith with others face the risk of arrest and violence at the hands of their families, communities or violent Islamic militants.
Christians are at risk all over the country, but are especially vulnerable in areas where radical Islamic groups are present. ISIS still maintains a presence in the wider region around Sirte. Other groups, like those connected to the Islamic Dawn coalition, are in control of areas around Tripoli and some parts of Tripoli itself. In the east, radical groups are at least present in Benghazi.
Migrant Christians who have been arrested and detained while trying to reach Europe often end up in one of the overcrowded detention centers around Tripoli. Others do not even make it that far, but are directly delivered into the hands of criminal groups or human traffickers. Subsequently, they are forced into heavy labor in the agricultural sector or pushed into prostitution.
Examples of persecution
Given the security issues surrounding a Muslim’s conversion to the Christian faith, most reports about converts in Libya cannot be published.
Christian migrants held in detention centers in Libya—mostly from sub-Saharan African countries—have reportedly been raped and beaten. Although the ill-treatment and violence are not limited to Christian refugees, Christians are singled out for much worse discriminatory and violent treatment.
Slavery and human trafficking still take place despite an earlier international outcry that took place when CNN showed video evidence of a slave auction of sub-Saharan Africans in November 2017.
Population and number of Christian statistics: Johnson T M and Zurlo G A, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed April 2019).
Pray for Libya
- Pray for Christian migrants—mostly from sub-Saharan African countries—who are singled out for discriminatory and violent treatment in detention centers.
- Political and security conditions need to be improved within the country for Christians’ situation to progress. Pray for stability and protection of the rights of religious minorities.
- Libyan Christians with a Muslim background face violent and intense pressure from their family and the wider community to renounce their faith. Pray they stand strong in their faith.
- Pray Christians living in Tripoli would be beacons of Christ’s peace in the midst of turmoil and violence. Pray that people around them would be drawn to Christ through them.
Libya Photo Gallery
Stories from Libya
May 12, 2020
How Muslims are finding Jesus without Christians in North Africa
The story of how a Muslim girl found Jesus—and a community of Christians—in North Africa. Read More
+ READ MORE
April 22, 2020
Persecuted … but not abandoned
How Christians in North Africa are finding Jesus—and growing in their knowledge of Him—even though they are isolated in their faith. Read More
+ READ MORE
March 6, 2020
A ‘living death’: How Christian women experience persecution
A new 2020 Open Doors in-depth report focusing on gendered persecution surfaces some disturbing realities for Christian women and girls in the top 50 countries where women are highly persecuted for their decision to follow Jesus. Read More
+ READ MORE
