In nations with limited religious freedoms, persecution has been stepped up during the pandemic. In China, churches have continued to be demolished and Christians have been arrested for holding prayer meetings online. 

In the developing world, many Christians have been denied food and other forms of aid and are excluded from support systems during lockdown due to their faith, the charity Release International claims. Paul Robinson, the CEO of Release International, said that “cries for help are being ignored by local charities” who are discriminating against Christian families.

In Eritrea, Christians fleeing persecution on the grounds of their faith have been barred from finding shelter in refugee camps and unable to access UN support. 

In Pakistan, and other Muslim nations where many Christians live in poverty, the situation is especially difficult for converts from Islam. The only form of reliable social security, particularly in rural areas, is communal and family support, which converts to Christianity may be cut off from.

Christians have been subject to varying levels of persecution in China for many decades, but Release International partners in that country claim that the coronavirus pandemic has led to a crackdown on religious minorities.

Even government-backed Churches have reportedly been subject to restrictions and punitive actions, such as the demolition of crosses. Online church services have been “totally prohibited”, and pastors have been “rounded up” for preaching and distributing face masks on the street.

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