What does persecution look like in Mozambique?

For Christians in Mozambique, Islamic oppression is the most common form of persecution. One Open Doors country expert shared that, “radical Islamic attacks have claimed the lives of many Christians.” The brutality of these groups has only increased, including a prominent extremist group who has links to the Islamic State group. The presence of drug cartels in some areas is making the lives of Christians—especially church youth workers—difficult.

Meet “Furaia,” a Christian in Mozambique who saw her husband murdered during an Islamic extremist attack

“Things are hard. I was used to having my husband to share life and hardships with. I had a family and relatives. Now I am alone with the children, wondering what to tell them, how to bring them up, and how to give them adequate protection. I can only pray for peace and that we will not be abandoned.”

What has changed this year?

Mozambique joined the Top 50 in 2021 after extremist Islamic attacks claimed the lives of many Christians there, and it’s risen several spots in 2022. An Islamic State-affiliated group is seeking to establish an Islamic Caliphate in Mozambique. Their efforts have included numerous atrocities, burned churches and religious schools, and displacement of tens of thousands of people from the northern part of the country. These attacks have allowed religious persecution, which used to be limited almost entirely in the north, to spread. And drug cartels in some areas make the lives of Christians, especially church youth workers, more difficult. In addition to the violence, pressure has increased on believers in Mozambique.

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?

The persecution of Christians is most severe in the northern areas due to Islamic State-affiliated extremists carrying out violent attacks as they seek to spread their influence and control.

What does Open Doors do to help?

Through training and economic empowerment, Open Doors focuses on emergency support to Christians affected by increasing extremist violence in the north.

Population statistic: Johnson T M and Zurlo G A, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed April 2021).