PRAY FOR QATAR
– Praise God that expatriate Christians in Qatar can worship relatively freely.
– Pray for strength for secret believers under pressure from their families.
– Pray that God will open the hearts of the Qatari authorities to Jesus.
WORLD WATCH LIST
Qatar
#40Qatari converts face immense pressure and violence from their families.
bottom“We already see the move of the Holy Spirit in Qatar. God is visiting people in their dreams. God is doing miracles.”
– Fazad*, Church leader in Qatar
Country
Profile
- Region
- Middle East
- Sources of persecution
- Islamic Oppression
- Population
- 3,029,000
- Christian population
- 414,000
- Religions
- Islam
- Leader
- Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani
- Score
- 67
What’s Life Like For Christians?
There are two categories of Christian communities in Qatar—expatriates and converts from Islam. They are separate from each other and must be careful when interacting.
Large worship events have been allowed in the past, but a major issue remains a shortage of space for churches, with only a select number allowed to establish buildings at the official Religious Complex outside the capital, Doha. Foreign Christians must be incredibly careful when sharing their faith, as evangelising Muslims is forbidden and can lead to prosecution and deportation. Many migrant workers must live and work in poor conditions, while their Christian faith can add to their vulnerability.
Converts from both Qatari and migrant backgrounds can face intense pressure from their families and communities for choosing to follow Jesus. The latter can avoid this by living within an international community rather than their own ethnic one. For Qataris, conversion from Islam to another religion is forbidden, and those known to be Muslims are not even allowed to enter a church.
There are hardly ever reports of Christians being killed, imprisoned, or harmed for their faith, because the number of converts is low, and they keep their faith secret.
Who Is Most Vulnerable To Persecution?
Christians who come from Muslim backgrounds are heavily persecuted in Qatar. They are considered apostates and face discrimination and harassment from society and even risk being killed by their family. Apostasy is punishable under the criminal law. Many Christian domestic migrant workers, almost all of whom are female, experience serious abuse and exploitation. Christian leaders and pastors are closely monitored and must report details of church activities.
What Does Open Doors Do To Help?
Open Doors supports the body of Christ on the Arabian Peninsula by organising prayer, distributing Scripture resources, and training believers and pastors.
