A proposed law regulating the registration and formation of religious groups in Mozambique could further exacerbate the scale of persecution of Christians in the country.
A joint report released by the World Evangelical Alliance, Open Doors International, and the Mozambique Evangelical Association (AEM) said the law would disproportionately require Christian groups to collect more than 2,000 notarized signatures for registration and would require theological qualifications for leaders.
At the same time, Islamic institutions receive exemptions. The government applies the establishment of mosques only to jurisprudential requirements within Sunni, Shia, and Ismaili traditions. Local governments have already begun enforcing the provisions of the pending law, the report noted.
Amid an onslaught of attacks on churches, abductions, and executions by Islamic State militants from al-Sunnah wal-Jamaa (ASWJ), WEA, Open Doors, and AEM expressed concern about the impact the bill would have on small Christian congregations and house churches. Some Christian leaders were already facing arrest on church-founding charges even before lawmakers passed the new law.
“Withdraw the draft law on religious freedom and ensure that the legal framework regulating religious communities is fully compliant with article 18 of the Covenant on Human Rights and article 54 of the Constitution,” said the report, entitled “52nd Session of the Universal Review: Religious Freedom, Gender-Based Violence and Human Security.”
The report, addressed to the United Nations Human Rights Council, paints a grim picture of escalating religious violence by Islamic extremists in northern Mozambique.
Open Doors recorded 56 Christians killed for their faith during the 2025 reporting period. The extremists attacked or forced the closure of more than 100 churches and abducted 13 Christians in faith-related incidents. Thousands more have fled their homes, joining the growing number of internally displaced people in northern Mozambique.
In September alone, ISMP shot dead or beheaded at least 11 Christians and torched more than 130 homes in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province, according to terrorism monitoring groups.
Violence has torn apart communities. In Muangkina village, Nassibare, Kiure region, assailants set fire to two churches and 43 homes belonging to Christian families.
On August 3, insurgents attacked the village of Nafera in the early morning hours. A youth pastor at the Assemblies of God church watched helplessly as ASWJ fighters captured nine members of his family, ranging in age from 9 to 35. Months later, there is still no word on their fate.
Two nights ago, insurgents ambushed Marela village at dusk. They captured 15 Christian families on the outskirts of the village, tied them up, and executed them. Some of the victims had attended Christian churches that the militants had already destroyed in previous attacks.
These atrocities violate Articles 40 and 54 of the Mozambican Constitution, the joint report said. They also violate states’ obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in particular the right to life and freedom of religion.
conversion price
In northern Mozambique, converts from Islam to Christianity face serious repercussions. Communities ostracize them and deprive them of property and economic opportunities. Families get divorced. Neighbors threaten them with violence.
Women who convert bear the heaviest burden. The community ostracizes them and their children suffer along with them. Converts endure psychological pressure, face bribery attempts, and monitor an organized campaign to force them back to Islam. The result is trauma, poverty, and severe isolation.
The violence has displaced more than 600,000 people across northern states, and has been exacerbated by natural disasters. In July alone, more than 46,000 people were evacuated from Cabo Delgado’s Chiure, Ancuabe and Muidumbe districts. More than 42,000 people, more than half of them children, have been forced to flee Kiure.
Religious leaders are now calling for decisive government action to protect Christian communities. However, opinions differ on the solution.
Archbishop Inacio Saule told local media: “I don’t really like to talk only about religious radicalism, because for me we need to clearly identify the root causes of this war, this suffering and all these killings.”
The archbishop rejects military intervention as a solution.
“We absolutely need to think of another solution, because the military route only kills people, many have already died, many have been decapitated, and the war will never end,” he said.
Mozambique ranks 37th on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List of the 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. According to the report, Christians make up 55.6 percent of Mozambique’s population, ethnic religious people make up 26 percent, and Muslims make up 17.7 percent.
The report called on the government to restore order in the north and alleviate the suffering of local communities. The report recommended the development of comprehensive national strategies to prevent and counter violent extremism and radicalization, in line with the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.
