The review, led by the Bishop of Truro the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen, estimated that one in three people suffer from religious persecution, and that 80 percent of religious believes who are being persecuted are Christians. Fox News’ Molly Line explained: “A new interim report released at the request of the British foreign secretary says Christian persecution, in some parts of the world, is ‘close to meeting the international definition of genocide.’ Christianity is being targeted by extremist groups in the Middle East, subsaharan Africa and east Asia.”
Addressing her guest, Iraq Christian Relief Council president Juliana Taimoorazy, Ms Line continued: “It’s really startling to see that takeaway from the report that it could potentially be reaching genocidal levels.
“Also worth noting from this report: 80 percent of religious believers who are being persecuted around the world are Christians.
“Should this be a worldwide wakeup?”
Ms Taimoorazy replied: “Absolutely. There has been a genocide that is already underway and perpetrated by ISIS.
“As you know, Secretary Kerry announced this as a genocide of the Christians of Iraq and also the Yezidis.
“This has been going on for so long.
“For example, in terms of Iraq, the Assyrians and the Syriacs of Iraq have come under persecution starting in 2003 until today.
“Our numbers were 1.5 million, today down to 200,000 people.
“Look at Sri Lanka, look at what happened there. Look at what’s happening in India.
“No one is really talking about India.
“So we’re grateful for Secretary Hunt for at least being able to do something in a positive way, in a more meaningful way.
“But there’s still so much that needs to be done worldwide.”
The interim report said the main impact of “genocidal acts against Christians is exodus” and that Christianity faced being “wiped out” from parts of the Middle East.
It warned the religion “is at risk of disappearing” in some parts of the world, pointing to figures which claimed Christians in Palestine represent less than 1.5% of the population.
The Bishop wrote: “Evidence shows not only the geographic spread of anti-Christian persecution, but also its increasing severity.
“In some regions, the level and nature of persecution is arguably coming close to meeting the international definition of genocide, according to that adopted by the UN.”
The foreign secretary commissioned the review on Boxing Day 2018 amid an outcry over the treatment of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman who faced death threats after being acquitted of blasphemy in Pakistan.
Its findings come after more than 250 people were killed and more than 500 wounded in attacks at hotels and churches in Sri Lanka on Easter Sunday.