Libya hardship

The horrific flood in Libya following the bursting of two dams near Derna has highlighted the perilous state of the country as a whole – and the country’s few Christians who already face great hardship.

According to Open Doors, just 0.5% of the country’s seven million people are Christians – about 34,500 in all. Most are Coptic Orthodox, with some Roman Catholics and one Anglican congregation. There are also two Pentecostal churches. In terms of indigenous believers, it is thought there are about 1,500 believers from a Muslim background.

In May this year, The Guardian reported: ‘Six Libyans are facing the death penalty for converting to Christianity and proselytising under laws increasingly being used to silence civil society and human rights organisations, say activists.