The Leuven Consultation, staged in Belgium in early June, heard that 215 million Christians are experiencing high, very high or extreme persecution in more than 50 countries, with women suffering disproportionately.
The conference of academics and activists from 23 nations heard a catalogue of disturbing crimes against women, and a call was made for the church to listen in a radical new way to Christian women who have been driven to silence by persecution and shame.
Used as weapons
In Nigeria, Christian girls are being abducted and impregnated by Boko Haram. In Egypt, extremists are paying men to abduct women, force them into marriage and convert them to Islam. And in Pakistan, women are being kidnapped, raped and forced to change their religion.
