CHRISTIANS & PERSECUTION

Qatar’s national religion is the strict Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam. Proselytizing Muslims is strictly forbidden. While non-Qatari Christians living in the country are allowed to practice their faith—there is a special place in the capital city set aside for churches to meet—many expats don’t share openly for fear of deportation, job loss, and other forms of persecution. In fact, Qatar has been ranked for several years in the top 25 worst countries in the world for Christian persecution.

Because of the sheer quantity of expatriates in Qatar, and also the cultural and economic divide, Qataris are relatively inaccessible. This is one reason there are only two known Qatari believers in the country. Additionally, Qataris who choose to follow Jesus put themselves at risk of family tensions, and sometimes government pressures.

Read John 15:18-20. We pray Jesus followers would stand strong in their faith in the midst of persecution. We pray such persecution would be a witness to others who are not yet followers of Jesus. Read Michael’s profile. We pray expats would boldly share how Jesus has made a difference in their lives.

Tags: access, believers, foreigners, freedom, islam, persecution