Bangladesh: Persecution

There has been a sharp rise in persecution towards Christians in Bangladesh following recent elections which saw Islamic parties secure their highest number of seats in the nation’s history.

While persecution was already trending upwards before the national vote, increased political power for Islamic parties appears to have “emboldened” Muslims further, leaving those belonging to minority religions, including Christianity, at increased risk of persecution unless perpetrators are held “accountable” by the authorities.

Religious leaders from minority faiths have spoken of increased fear as a growing number of hostile incidents are reported, including in areas which saw electoral gains for Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s main opposition party, as revealed by Open Doors.

Open Doors partner Robi told en how concerns among Christian leaders that hostility would increase towards believers following Islamic success in recent elections have been realised, even though such concerns were “rooted in a broader trend” which already existed.

He revealed that the new political situation appears to have “emboldened” Muslim leaders and extremists to “act more openly against Christians, especially converts from Islam”, and that while hostility varies in intensity across the country, attacks based on religion are “more visible” in several areas, particularly in the northern and southwestern regions and other areas which have experienced Islamic political gains.