The Corruption-Persecution Link: How Government Corruption Fuels Christian Oppression Worldwide

A recent study has revealed a connection between high levels of government corruption and increased persecution of Christian communities in several nations. The Christian Post reports that a study by the US-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern (ICC), titled Corruption and Christian Persecution, authored by ICC Fellow Lisa Navarrette, highlights that corrupt governments frequently fail to protect minority rights, fostering environments where Christian persecution is either ignored or tacitly endorsed.

The report analyzes countries identified by the ICC as the worst offenders of Christian persecution since 2021, comparing their rankings with the Corruption Perceptions Index from Transparency International. This index measures public sector corruption on a scale of 0 to 100, with 0 being highly corrupt and 100 being very clean.

Somalia ranks as the most corrupt country, with a score of just 11, slightly ahead of Venezuela, Syria, South Sudan, Yemen, and Nicaragua.

North Korea (with an index score of 17) stands out as the worst offender in terms of Christian persecution. Regularly topping the persecution lists of watchdog groups like Open Doors, the ICC states, “Corruption in North Korea manifests through bribery, embezzlement, nepotism, and cronyism, with the ruling elite disproportionately benefitting from state resources.” Christianity, viewed as a threat to the regime, leads to severe and systematic persecution. Christians in North Korea face arrest, torture, imprisonment, and even execution for practicing their faith or possessing religious materials.

In Myanmar (index score of 20), the report outlines how corruption and religious persecution are intertwined through systemic discrimination by both government and military forces. Historical and ongoing corruption has enabled exploitation and targeted attacks on Christian communities, especially in conflict-ridden ethnic regions.

Similarly, in Eritrea (22), corruption among government officials has exacerbated religious repression. The US Department of State’s 2020 report highlights that the regime’s lack of transparency has allowed severe human rights abuses against Christians, who are often detained without trial in dire conditions.

Azerbaijan (23) also displays a high tolerance for corruption, which permeates all layers of society, including its treatment of religious minorities. The oil-rich country has seen widespread cronyism, and Christian Armenians in the Nagorno-Karabakh region fled en masse last year following military occupation.

In Iran (24), Navarrette writes that corruption, fueled by weak governance and political patronage, allows for the persecution of Christians. Strict enforcement of Islamic law leads to widespread discrimination and persecution, including arrests and executions on charges such as apostasy or evangelism.

Afghanistan (24) suffers from pervasive corruption across its government and law enforcement, leaving minorities like Christians vulnerable to extreme interpretations of Islamic law. The report notes that Christian converts face death threats, exclusion, and violence, often with the tacit approval of corrupt officials.

In Nigeria (24), corruption has compounded the challenges faced by Christians, who suffer nearly 70% of religiously motivated killings. Local officials often turn a blind eye to violence, owing to corrupt ties with extremist groups.

Pakistan (28) is another country where corruption and Christian persecution stifle economic growth. The report highlights how corruption manifests in electoral fraud, bribery, and the misuse of blasphemy laws, leading to arrests, mob violence, and attacks on churches.

In India (39), the report discusses the alliance between Hindu nationalism and government corruption, which exacerbates the persecution of religious minorities, including Christians. This results in legal discrimination and inaction from authorities against violence towards Christians.

In China (42), the report emphasizes how government control over religious activities, worsened by corruption, leads to widespread human rights abuses. Corrupt officials at various levels enable severe consequences for Christians, such as surveillance, arbitrary detention, and harsh punishments without due process.

The study also touches on how state-controlled narratives and corrupt media practices fuel public intolerance against Christians, particularly in the Middle East. The ICC calls for a stronger international response to address both corruption and Christian persecution. It urges advocacy groups and international bodies to impose sanctions on corrupt officials and regimes and to collaborate on providing asylum and support for persecuted Christians while pressuring governments to reform their practices.