Violence against Christians robs them of homes, livelihoods, and loved ones.
bottom“[The mobs] believed that after our property was destroyed, Christians would convert to Islam. They did not want Christians to remain in the town. Their goal was to eliminate Christianity.”
– Jemal*
*Name changed for security purposes
Persecution in Ethiopia is complicated because it varies according to the type of Christian and where they live. Converts from Islam can face severe hostility, ranging from family rejection to physical violence. In Muslim-majority regions, converts can also suffer mob attacks, church burnings and discrimination. This is often intensified by Ethiopia’s fragile security situation.
In 2025, armed groups carried out widespread attacks in the Oromia region and parts of Amhara. They burned, demolished, and looted at least 25 churches. Worshippers were assaulted, religious materials destroyed, and entire congregations scattered. Christians are also at heightened risk of kidnapping, especially in Oromia’s rural districts and areas bordering Amhara. Families report that captives are often released only after large ransoms are paid. Ongoing instability and ethnic tensions also continue, creating difficult situations for many followers of Jesus.
The Ethiopian Orthodox Church (EOC) has long influenced national identity and shaped the perception of certain Christian groups. Its ultra-conservative factions often portray Protestant and Evangelical Christians as foreign and unpatriotic. This can lead to widespread stigmatisation and pressure, especially against believers who have left Orthodoxy for other Christian traditions. These believers can also face pressure from their Orthodox families and community.
Christians living in different parts of Ethiopia are likely to experience different kinds of persecution. Those living in regions dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church may be persecuted if they leave that church for other expressions of Christianity, especially Evangelical, Protestant, or Pentecostal. Christians living in Muslim-majority areas may be targeted by extremists regardless of their Christian tradition. In these areas, converts from Islam are likely to face the most pressure.
– For Open Doors’ work that includes trauma care and school projects. Pray this work would lead to better treatment for God’s people.
– Ask God to keep those who leave Islam or the Ethiopian Orthodox Church safe and to unify His people in Ethiopia.
– Believers who live in areas with active Islamic extremists can be targeted. Pray for their protection.
Open Doors works in Ethiopia to provide psychosocial care, spiritual-resilience training, intergenerational ministry skills, and economic empowerment. This works to increase the influence of the church and seek justice for persecuted believers.
