Measuring levels of persecution, 2

I’ve been working on a research report on some North African countries for a large mission agency. In the course of doing this, I’ve revisited how I measure levels of persecution. I use an index that is representative of the general condition in a particular place (province, district, etc), rather than some kind of count of incidents of persecution or martyrdom (partly because there are so many people who disagree on what constitutes a martyr, even though my own feeling on the definition is clear; but even more because the numbers of martyrs in particular places are hard to get). I’ve been updating this index, and here’s the one I’m using now:

0 – “Normal” levels of persecution – isolated instances. [Germany vs homeschoolers for example]. Outlier cases do not indicate rising levels of persecution; it’s just “background” issues.

1 – Broad, systemic community/economic pressure on new believers, but threat of violence is low for most newly professing believers. As a definite “red line,” we will see reports of unjust accusations resulting in convictions, rights being denied, or people losing their jobs because they became believers, or spouses divorcing new believers, etc.

2 – Threat of violence against new professing believers from community, grassroots, family is elevated. Government turns a blind eye, or practices excessive or prejudicial regulation. Periods of anti-Christian violence occur in any given year. “Red lines” for crossing into this category: unjust imprisonment, threats, forced marriages, and instances of family violence.

3 – Threat of anti-Christian violence from community is moderate to high and incidents are frequent (as high as several per year or one per month). Red lines: Mob violence, damage to churches, beatings, abductions, rape, etc. This level is also where the government will be overtly harassing believers using regulation and periods of organized arrests of believers. The main policy here is “make an example.” Churches may be permitted but highly regulated, excessive growth will be stamped down on. State churches may be given free reign but all others regulated.

4 – At this level, anti-Christian violence is the norm, and deaths are not unlikely. Government consistently and in an organized fashion harasses, arrests, imprisons, fines believers and especially church leaders. Evangelization is prohibited.

5 – This is the most extreme form of persecution, and always takes the form of overt, public, state-sponsored harassment. Arrest, torture, death of believers in government prisons is common. Bounties, infiltration, secret police are all focused on eradicating the church. Some state or “show” churches may exist, but they will be very few.