"Violent persecution" refers to the act of inflicting harm, using physical force or aggression, against someone based on their beliefs, ethnicity, or other characteristics, with the intention to oppress, harm, or get rid of them. Full definition
The medieval papacy's violent persecution of heresy is almost the only human behavior in the whole book to be censured. (firstthings.com)
Having faced such violent persecution at the militant atheist hands of the Communist regime, it is a blessing to see the growth of the Church in Russia, especially in an era when religion is becoming less and less relevant in the Western part of the world. (firstthings.com)
«Islamic hard - liners stormed a mosque in suburban Cairo, turning it into torture chamber for Christians who had been demonstrating against the ruling Muslim Brotherhood in the latest case of violent persecution that experts fear will only get worse.» (religion.blogs.cnn.com)