3 Libya

Persecution Type
  • Islamic oppression (Very strong)
  • Clan oppression (Strong)
  • Organized  corruption and crime (Strong)
Christian population

35,100

Government

Currently in transition

Main Religion

Islam

Leader

Interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dubaybah

What does persecution look like in Libya?

Libya continues to be a place with very little political stability. Much of the country exists in a sort of perpetual anarchy, ruled over by militias linked to the official government (in the West of the country) or by the Libyan National Army (in the East), with strong Islamist influences in both cases. Due to lawlessness, Christians can easily be targets for violence and death.

Converts from Islam face the most intense and violent pressure from their family and community. They risk house arrest, attack, abduction, sexual violence and murder. It is incredibly dangerous for converts to meet together to worship, and church life is almost non-existent. 

Even Christians who aren’t Libyan or converts are at risk. Christians from other parts of Africa are targeted by extremist groups. Christians have been kidnapped and, in a few high-profile incidents, brutally murdered. Christians from Sub-Saharan Africa—many of whom come to Libya as displaced people trying to get to Europe—face additional risk. Because of their lack of official status, they can be kidnapped and trafficked, and extremist groups target these believers, as well. 

What changed this year?

Libya continues to be one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian. And this year, the violence against believers rose. It’s clear there is no safe part of Libya for any believer. Allegiance to Jesus is enough to result in pressure and violence.

How can I pray?

  • Libya remains deeply unstable, and parts of the country have little rule of law. This leads to danger for God’s people. Pray for stability and that order will come to Libya.
  • Ask God to protect migrant Christians. Pray they would be protected from militant extremists.
  • Pray that God would help His people be able to find fellowship with one another. Ask God to give the Libyan church the ability to meet. 

3

Libya

Libya

World Watch List Rank 3
World Watch List Score 88.46 /100
Last year’s rank 4
Persecution Type Islamic oppression (Very strong), Organized  corruption and crime (Strong), Clan oppression (Strong)  
Leader Interim Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah
Population 7,041,000
Christians 35,400 Data source: Johnson T M and Zurlo G A, eds, World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed April 2022)  
Main Religion Islam
Government In transition
Region Middle East North Africa
Persecution Level Extreme Persecution

Libya is effectively a lawless land where both native Christians and those passing through from other countries face extreme violence. With no central government to maintain law and order, both militant Islamic extremist groups and organized crime groups wield power. They target and kidnap Christians, and some believers have been killed.   If a Libyan from a Muslim background becomes a Christian, they are likely to face intense pressure and abuse from their family and the wider community to make them renounce their faith, or even be killed. Christians who publicly express their faith and try to share the gospel with others are likely to face arrest or retribution from extremist groups. 

What changed this year?

There has been a small decrease in Libya’s ‘persecution score’, according to World Watch List research, caused mainly by a decrease in reported violence (although the violence score is still very high). Persecution in all spheres of life remains at extreme levels. Although the country stabilised to a certain extent and saw less direct conflict last year, the overall vulnerability of Christians in the country remains extremely high.  

How we help

Open Doors works with local partners and churches in North Africa to provide leadership training, discipleship, livelihood support, Bibles and pastoral care. 

PRAY FOR LIBYA

Please pray for nationwide stability, law and order to come quickly to Libya 

Pray that God would break the power of the organised criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people
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