Restricted Nations
Christian persecution that merits the attention and assistance of The Voice of the Martyrs has been identified and defined in two categories:
RESTRICTED NATION
This includes countries where government policy or practice prevents Christians from obtaining Bibles or other Christian literature. Also included are countries where government-sanctioned circumstances or anti-Christian laws lead to Christians being harassed, imprisoned, killed or deprived of possessions or liberties because of their witness.
HOSTILE AREA
This includes large areas in nations where governments consistently attempt to provide protection for the Christian population, but Christians are victims of violence because of their witness.
WORLD SITUATION FOR CHRISTIANS
The situation for Christians is always changing. In 2008, Kyrgyzstan passed new laws further restricting Christians. Due to this, we changed the country’s designation to Restricted Nation this year.
Formerly Oppressed Countries (post 1967):
These are countries where VOM previously worked, but where Christians now have freedom to worship.
Albania
Angola
Armenia (U.S.S.R.)
Belarus (U.S.S.R.)
Benin
Botswana
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cape Verde
Cambodia
Congo
Czechoslovakia
East Germany
Estonia (U.S.S.R.)
Georgia (U.S.S.R.)
Hungary
Latvia (U.S.S.R.)
Lithuania (U.S.S.R.)
Nicaragua
Mali
Mauritius
Moldova (U.S.S.R.)
Mongolia
Mozambique
Perú (Marxist guerilla controlled areas)
Poland
Rhodesia
Romania
Rwanda
Russia (U.S.S.R.)
Senegal
Tanzania
Uganda
Ukraine (U.S.S.R.)
Yugoslavia
Zaire
Zambia