Top countries where Christians are suffering, experiencing supernatural: 'Count the cost'

'The Holy Spirit is at work, thanks to your prayers'

By Jon Brown, Christian Post Reporter Saturday, January 17, 2026

Iraq and Afghanistan: 'Edge of a blade'

Despite lengthy U.S. military presence, Christians in both Iraq and Afghanistan continue to face intense, worsening persecution.

The Taliban's return to power after the U.S. withdrawal in 2021 has been disastrous for the thousands of Christians remaining in Afghanistan, where Muslims feel obliged to maintain clan and family honor by killing or otherwise persecuting those who leave Islam.

Afghan Christians who escape to neighboring countries are often forcibly returned, only to face increased suspicion and hostility for having fled. Women are especially mistreated. The Taliban, armed with weapons and technology the U.S. left behind, reportedly conduct random searches of phones to search for Christian content and utilizes CCTV to closely monitor cities such as Kabul.

"Being a secret believer [in Afghanistan] is like walking on the edge of a blade. It's full of caution, pain, but also hope and strength," a Christian called Samira told Open Doors, which noted they are limited in the information they can provide about Christians in the country because the persecution is so extreme.

In Iraq, the number of Christians has dwindled from nearly 1 million to about 187,000 over the past decade of political upheaval and war, during which ISIS made particular targets of Christians. Iranian-backed Shiite militias are the main source of danger for Iraqi Christians now, according to Open Doors. Turkish and Iranian military operations have also severely damaged Christian villages in the northern Kurdistan region.

Amid the carnage and suffering, reports have circulated in recent years that many in the Muslim world are experiencing striking supernatural dreams of Jesus Christ declaring Himself to be the Lord. Mission Frontiers magazine reported that such encounters with Jesus, who is respected as a prophet in Islam, are responsible for a quarter of Muslim conversions to Christianity.

An Iraqi called Yasin told Open Doors that he became a Christian because of such a dream. "I cannot describe how beautiful He was," he said of Jesus' appearance in his nighttime vision.

Like many Christians in Iraq, who often conceal Christian symbols to avoid harassment, Yasin at first felt the need to hide his faith. He even disguised his Bible to keep it from his wife, who also eventually came to Christ, along with their children.

Yasin's supernatural encounter with Jesus in his sleep seized him with a desire to share the Gospel, despite the persecution that came even from his own brother, who reportedly tried to kill him multiple times. His house was firebombed, his livelihood was ruined and he has found notes threatening his murder, but he has been able to share his faith with some of his persecutors — two of whom converted and two of whom are contemplating it.

"The persecution is continuous," Yasin said. "But there is no other way. Jesus died on the cross to redeem me. I will not deny or leave Him."