In a tragic turn of events, Ashur Sarnaya, a Christian influencer and Chaldean Catholic, was stabbed to death in Lyon, France, while livestreaming his faith on TikTok. Sarnaya, who was confined to a wheelchair due to his disability, was attacked on September 10, 2025, as he shared prayers and reflections with his followers. Known for his unwavering devotion, he hailed from Ankawa, a town in Iraqi Kurdistan, which has long been a bastion of Christianity in the Middle East. Having fled persecution by the Islamic State, Sarnaya had lived in France for nearly a decade and had legal residency. Tragically, his final moments were captured in a shocking livestream that has since gone viral.
This brutal murder has cast a spotlight on the increasing vulnerability of Christians around the world, particularly in Europe. Just days before Sarnaya’s death, Christian conservative advocate Charlie Kirk was assassinated in the United States, igniting fears of escalating violence against those who express their faith openly. According to some commentators, Sarnaya’s public witness directly contributed to his murder, as he experienced relentless online hate and had been physically assaulted for his beliefs earlier in the year. Fellow believers and commentators have referred to him as a martyr, reflecting on the grave risks faced by those who dare to profess their faith in today’s world.
The statistics paint a dire picture of growing anti-Christian sentiment globally. The Center Reflection Sur La Security Interior (CRSI) reported a 13 percent rise in anti-Christian incidents in France during the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year. This alarming trend has garnered attention from political leaders and communities alike. Right-wing politician Marine Le Pen attributed Sarnaya’s death to Islamist extremism and criticized France’s immigration policy for enabling the entry of both persecuted Christians and violent ideologies.
As the story unfolds, many are calling for a national demonstration against “Christianophobia” in Paris, highlighting a desperate need for a conversation on religious tolerance and security for Christians. Sarnaya’s murder is not an isolated incident but rather a manifestation of a broader, alarming trend: believers remain vulnerable to violent attacks not just in conflict zones like Iraq and Syria, but also in the supposed safety of European cities.
The realities of Christian persecution take on a dire form across the globe. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, around the same time, militants slaughtered at least 70 Christians during a funeral service. The assault, committed by fighters linked to the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), was part of a tragic pattern of violence that has plagued Christian communities in this region. Survivors recounted horrifying scenes, with churchgoers ambushed by armed militants. “They were caught off guard,” local administrator Macaire Sivikunula said, describing the chaos of the attack.
This situation reflects a broader reality where, despite being a majority-Christian nation, believers in the DRC face increasing risks from militant groups like ADF. Open Doors, an organization that tracks global Christian persecution, indicates that in addition to violence, Christians are often subjected to systematic discrimination and that “they are increasingly vulnerable to persecution.”
The grim statistics are staggering. Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List revealed that over 380 million Christians around the globe face high levels of persecution, a staggering number that equates to roughly one in seven Christians worldwide. In the past year alone, 4,476 Christians were murdered for their faith. Countries such as Nigeria and Burkina Faso continued to witness horrific spikes in violence, with Nigeria alone accounting for approximately 3,100 of these deaths.
Church leaders in various regions, including Africa and the Middle East, continue to sound the alarm about the deteriorating safety of Christians. In the DRC, church officials described the aftermath of the funeral attack with chilling detail: bodies lay scattered, and the violence has left communities shattered. “Women and children were dead all around,” parish priest Abbé Paluku Nzalamingi lamented, painting a haunting image of the tragedy. These instances serve not only as isolated attacks but as part of a persistent narrative of fear and persecution.
The crisis extends beyond acts of violence. Christians are being driven underground in nations like Syria, Afghanistan, and Iran, where practicing their faith is perilous. In places like Algeria, all Protestant churches face closure or restrictions, contributing to an increasingly hostile environment for worship. Meanwhile, the landscape remains bleak in sub-Saharan Africa, which has become one of the most dangerous regions for Christians globally, with eight of the ten most lethal areas for believers located there.
As believers in France mourn Ashur Sarnaya, his murder stands as a stark reminder of the challenges Christians face. While some countries have laws to protect religious freedom, much work is needed to ensure that this protection translates into safety on the ground. The cry for justice and protection continues to grow louder, underscoring the need for awareness and action in the face of escalating persecution both locally and globally.
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