PRAY FOR QATAR
– Ask God to continue to strengthen the faith of secret believers.
– Thank God for the growing number of Christians in the region.
– For protection for Christian migrant workers who face mistreatment.
WORLD WATCH LIST
Qatar
#34Telling a Muslim about Jesus can lead to prosecution and deportation.
bottom"We already see the move of the Holy Spirit here. God is visiting people in their dreams. God is doing miracles. God is doing healings among the people.”
– Elder of church in Qatar
Country
Profile
- Region
- Middle East
- Sources of persecution
- Islamic Oppression
- Population
- 2,980,000
- Christian population
- 409,000
- Religions
- Islam
- Leader
- Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani
- Score
- 68
What’s Life Like For Christians?
Qatari believers are few in number and keep their faith secret. Almost all Qatari Christians converted abroad, and most do not return to the country out of fear. Converts from Islam face severe persecution, including harassment, police monitoring, loss of status, and legal problems.
Migrant workers, who make up the majority of the Christian population in Qatar, are not free to openly practice their faith. Telling a Muslim about Jesus can lead to prosecution and deportation.
What Has Changed This Year?
Pressure on Christians, especially converts from Islam to Christianity, remains at an extremely high level. Many previously closed house churches were not allowed to re-open, which has made it difficult for the affected Christian communities to gather and encourage one another.
Monitoring and surveillance continued to be very pervasive. Culturally, converts continue to face limitations, restrictions, and persecution from all angles: the government, society, and their own families.
