ECR Group - Presentation of the World Watch List 2026

2026-01-27T16:30:00+00:00

2026-01-27T18:00:00+00:00

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ECR EVENTPresentation of the World Watch List 2026Open Doors Annual Ranking of Christian Persecution📅 Date:Tuesday, 27 January 2026🕐 Time:17:30 – 19:00📍 Location:European Parliament, ANTALL 6Q1Hosted by Bert-Jan RUISSEN  Netherlands  Member of the European Parliament Co-Chair, EP Intergroup on Freedom of Religion, Belief and Conscience  European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR)  ChristenUnie Miriam LEXMANN  Slovakia  Member of the European Parliament   European People's Party (EPP)  Kresťanskodemokratické hnutie Matej TONIN  Slovenia  Member of the European Parliament   European People's Party (EPP)  Nova SlovenijaThe World Watch List is Open Doors' annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution. Worldwide, more than 388 million Christians experience high levels of persecution and discrimination because of their faith.During the World Watch List 2026 reporting period, 4,849 Christians were killed worldwide because of their Christian identity. 3,490 of these killings occurred in Nigeria, representing an increase of 3,100 compared to the previous year.Syria enters the top 10 for the first time this year. Under the new Al-Sharaa regime, the situation for Christians has become extremely dangerous.The event will be hosted together with MEPs Miriam Lexmann and Matej Tonin (EPP) and will feature a presentation of the main findings by Peter Paulsson, Director of Open Doors Sweden, as well as first-hand testimonies from Christians who have faced persecution in Nigeria and Yemen.Programme1. Introduction by MEPs2. Presentation of the main resultsPeter Paulsson, Director of Open Doors Sweden3. TestimoniesHaruna from Nigeria and John Ghanim from Yemen4. Exchange of viewsRepresentatives from the European Commission and European External Action Service5. Policy recommendations for EU InstitutionsDavid Sainz, Open Doors International6. Q&A7. Closing remarks by MEPsSpeakersPeter PAULSSONDirectorOpen Doors Sweden HarunaWitnessNigeriaJohn GHANIMWitnessYemenDavid SAINZEU Advocacy OfficerOpen Doors International Important – This event is by invitation, and only registered participants will be admitted. Due to capacity constraints, all attendees must register, including those already holding a European Parliament access badge.

https://www.expert-europe.eu/en/event/ecr-group-presentation-of-the-world-watch-list-2026/2026/01/27/367