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By Catherine Pepinster

The death and destruction in Sri Lanka was particularly shocking given that it took place on Easter Sunday, the holiest feast of the Christian year. However, it was also horribly familiar, for we are now living through an unprecedented era of Christian persecution.

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Most people associate persecution of Christians with the Roman empire and martyrs facing the lions. Others may recall the Soviet regime and the repression of believers during the time of Stalin. But this century is fast becoming a rival to both of these eras.

According to the respected Pew Research Center, Christians are the most targeted body of believers in 144 countries, up from 128 in 2015. And there is barely a country from Saharan Africa to Pakistan where Christians worship freely without intimidation.

Photo by Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP

The persecution takes various forms. The bloodshed of Sri Lanka was of a particular kind; it was well-organized with four churches bombed as well as Western-style hotels, and well-planned. A religious holiday was the date underlined in the bombers’ calendar.

Elsewhere, in such countries as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Christians are tolerated but suffer discrimination in such areas as employment, and in many countries there is state oppression by political regimes.