Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd and Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has today hosted the Wales launch of Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List, to provide Members of the Senedd and others with a greater understanding of the gravity of persecution and to discuss actions which can be taken to support religious freedom around the world.
The World Watch List is an annual ranking produced by Open Doors, published every January since 1993. It lists the top 50 countries in which it is most dangerous to be a Christian.
North Korea has, over the years, regularly appeared at the top of the list, and today’s event featured Timothy Cho, a North Korean defector, sharing his gripping story about his journey to the West and his Christian faith.
Speaking after the event, which was supported by Evangelical Alliance in Wales, and at which North Wales MS Sam Rowlands gave the opening speech, Darren said:
“More than 365 million Christians worldwide face persecution and discrimination for their faith. Open Doors work to ensure their stories are heard, especially by those who have the power to effect change.
“One of the key ways they do this is through the World Watch List, an annual review that ranks the countries where Christians experience the most extreme persecution. Based on thorough research, the World Watch List is more than just statistics – it’s a reflection of the realities faced by believers who continue to live out their faith despite immense opposition, and it sheds light on the dangers Christians face globally.
“I was very pleased to sponsor this event in the Senedd and to have Timothy Cho as our main speaker, a North Korean defector. He gave a moving account of his treatment by the North Korean regime, where he faced multiple imprisonments, found faith through that time, and eventually managed to escape to the West.
“He now lives in the UK, and has stood for office as a Conservative candidate, is on the All-Party Group for North Korea, and has spoken in the United Nations. He also highlighted Wales’s faith connection to Korea, via Robert Jermain Thomas, a Welsh Protestant Christian missionary who served with the London Missionary Society in late Qing Dynasty China and Korea."
Darren added:
“At its core, the World Watch List Wales Launch is about giving a voice to those who often go unheard, ensuring that their plight remains a priority for governments and international bodies alike. 2025’s list will be launched in full tomorrow.”
