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Libya
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Here, Christians can suffer significant persecution for their faith in Christ.
Lord, You are a God of hope who can accomplish the impossible, so we boldly ask You to bring about a change this year. Bring Libyans to the knowledge of Your saving love and grace and help Libyan Christians find safe fellowship.
What is persecution like in Libya?
The absence of a single central government to impose law and order has made the situation for Christians precarious. The level of violence against Christians in Libya is categorised as ‘very high’. Since the arrest of several Libyan Christians in March 2023, different authorities have stepped up their monitoring of Christian activities on the internet. Libyan Christians who are from a Muslim background face intense pressure from their families and community to renounce their faith. All practise their faith in secret.
Foreign Christians, mostly from other parts of Africa, are targeted by various Islamic extremist groups and organised criminal gangs. These groups traffic and kidnap foreign Christians and demand ransoms, or force believers into hard labour. Their Christian faith makes believers more vulnerable to such abuse. Each year, many migrant Christians are believed to die at sea while trying to reach Europe, or die from abuse in detention camps.
What changed this year?
Libya fell by five positions on this year’s World Watch List, mainly due to a decrease in verifiable violent incidents. But it remains incredibly dangerous for anyone to follow Jesus, and most Christians in Libya are forced underground. Anyone caught sharing their faith will face arrest and imprisonment, and Christians risk violence if discovered.
Who is most vulnerable to persecution?
What does Open doors do to help
How can I be praying?
Violence in May 2025 rocked Libya’s capital, Tripoli, serving as a stark reminder of the country’s instability. Ask God to make a breakthrough – that the rule of law could come to this nation that has been mired in chaos.
There are very few Christians in Libya, and if they’re discovered, they could be targets. Pray that these believers could follow Jesus in safety and find fellowship.
Migrant Christians can be targeted both for their faith and their work status. Ask God to protect them.