Stephen has attended the launch of the Open Doors World Watch List. It is an annual report on the persecution of Christians around the world.
Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors UK and Ireland, shared key trends from the World Watch List, and that Afghanistan was now number one - despite persecution having got worse in North Korea, previously number one since 2002. "The Taliban are actively hunting Christians to eliminate them," she said. "If Christian men are discovered, they are almost always killed. If Christian women and girls are found, they are given to Taliban fighters as the spoils of war."
MPs also heard that the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan has in turn encouraged jihadist activity across the world, from Boko Harem in Chad & Niger in West Africa to Al-Shabaab in East Africa.
Speaking afterwards, Stephen said: “This report notes that the persecution of Christians has reached its highest level since the Watch List began. This is deeply troubling.
“Members from across the House of Commons must continue to advocate for adoption of the Truro Report and for the rights of Christians around the world to practice their faith.”