here is ephram graham. >> for the 9th consecutive year, north korea tops the list when it comes to persecutors of christians. carl moelle. overwhmlying are islamic ones. after north korea is iran, afghanistan, saudi arabia, and somalia. >> worldwide, worst place is primarily in the muslim world. >> christian persecution increased significant in places like iraq jumping to no. 8 up from 17 last year. >> iraq has jumped specifically because of the inteional targeting of the christian community of extremist of the factionsof iraq. al-qaeda indicated on its websites, christians were quote, legitimate targets for their holy warriors. >> just before christmas, muslim waged attas including a massacre at a baghdad church. >> we are labelling it religiouside, they want to exterminate all christians from the country of iraq. >> the obama administration is condemning e attacks. state department is deeply concerned about what appears to be a rising number of attacks on christians in middle east and africa. ephram aham the cbn news. >>> christians in egypare cryinout. egyptian officials blame al-qaeda. egy