Islamabad, Jan 30 (NationPress) The World Watch List 2026, published by the international Christian advocacy organization Open Doors, has revealed that Christians in Pakistan—making up only 1.8 percent of the total population—are enduring systemic discrimination, violence, forced conversions, bonded labor, and gender-based persecution, with scant state protection, according to a report released on Friday.

The report further indicates that Pakistan ranks among the top 10 most dangerous countries for Christians globally, claiming the 8th position on the Open Doors World Watch List 2026, which evaluates the persecution of Christians in 50 countries.

As reported by Eurasia Review, on January 27, 2026, Open Doors unveiled the World Watch List during a significant event at the European Parliament in Brussels. The event was led by the Chairs of the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Intergroup, including MEP Miriam Lexmann (EPP) and MEP Bert-Jan Ruissen (ECR), alongside co-host MEP Matej Tonin (EPP).

During the question-and-answer segment, Joseph Janssen, a prominent Pakistani minority rights advocate, emphasized the ongoing risks faced by religious minorities despite the existence of legislative measures.

He remarked, “While Pakistan’s Parliament enacted the Islamabad Capital Territory Child Marriage Restraint Act in May 2025, setting 18 years as the legal minimum marriage age, minority girls are still being abducted, forcibly converted to Islam, and married off to their captors, largely with no enforcement of this law. In such instances, courts often apply Sharia laws over standard civil laws.”

“Janssen also highlighted the abuse of Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, which are regularly utilized to target Christians through false claims, resulting in mob violence, church attacks, and extended imprisonment without justice. He referenced the 2023 Jaranwala attacks, where over 26 churches were set ablaze, noting that no accountability has been established for the offenders,” the report added.

The report also mentioned Janssen’s criticism of the Pakistani government's inaction against extremist factions like Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), stating that “religious prisoners remain behind bars, victims have not been served justice, and impunity continues to thrive.”

Janssen further urged the European Parliament to take action on its 2021 resolution regarding Pakistan’s blasphemy laws, questioning whether the EU would contemplate suspending Pakistan’s Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) trade status due to its failure to uphold human rights obligations as per international agreements.

Earlier this month, a report from Open Doors noted that Christians in Pakistan face significant challenges daily—from threats of violence to discrimination—as the country’s blasphemy laws are employed to intimidate them and other minority groups.

According to the report, a mere accusation can lead to mob violence against victims, their families, and the broader Christian community, as the weakened government and the growing power of extremist Islamist groups mean limited legal protection for Christians, further exacerbating their precarious situation.