Qatari converts face immense pressure and violence from their families.
bottom“The risks are very real not just for the individual but also the extended family who are shamed by association. It’s very challenging to find a church”
– Nadia*, Arabian Peninsula
Christians in Qatar are either workers from non-Muslim countries, or people from Muslim backgrounds–and the two rarely interact.
There are many migrant workers in Qatar who are allowed to practise the Christian faith–if they stick to Qatar’s rules. There is an official religious complex outside the capital, Doha, where a select number of churches have been allowed to meet. Qatari citizens are not allowed to enter, and migrant Christians must not speak about Christianity to Muslims. If they do, they may be arrested or deported.
Qataris and migrants from Muslim families who have faith in Jesus cannot openly practise Christianity and can face discrimination, harassment and police monitoring. Changing one’s faith from Islam is not officially recognised, which can cause legal problems around marriage and property ownership.
Qatar is increasingly using advanced technology to monitor both citizens and immigrants. This has caused Christians in Qatar to become increasingly careful about their activities. There are few reports of Christians being physically harmed for their faith, because believers from Muslim backgrounds keep their faith secret.
Qatari believers and Muslim background believers are most at risk of persecution. Christian migrant workers may face danger if they share their faith with locals. If a Qatari woman is discovered to have converted to Christianity, her family has the authority to keep her under house arrest. A Qatari man who becomes a Christian may lose his job, affecting the family income. His Muslim wife can legally choose to leave him and would be granted custody of their children.
– Praise God that expatriate Christians in Qatar can worship relatively freely.
– Pray that native Qataris will be permitted to convert from Islam without repercussion.
– Pray for protection over secret believers and help them find other Christians.
Open Doors supports the body of Christ on the Arabian Peninsula by organising prayer, distributing Scripture resources, and training believers and pastors.
