With special reference to Burma, but equally applicable to many other contexts, Johann Candelin, Goodwill Ambassador of the World Evangelical Fellowship, writes:

‘Persecution seems to pass through three phrases. The first is disinformation. Disinformation begins more often than not in the media. Through printed articles, radio, television, and other means, Christians are robbed of their good reputation and their right to answer accusations made against them. Without trial, they are found guilty of all kinds of misdemeanours.

‘The public opinion that easily results from being constantly fed such disinformation will not protect Christians from the next step, which is discrimination.  Discrimination relegates Christians to a second-class citizenship with poorer legal, social, political and economic standing than the majority in the country.

‘The third stage is persecution, which, once the first two steps have been crossed, can be practised with impunity without normal protective measures taking place. Persecution can arise from the state, the police or military, extreme organisations, mobs, paramilitary groups, or representatives of other religions.’

Quoted in Christianophobia, by Rupert Shortt (emphasis added)