Qatar

Key Facts:
Leader: Emir Sheikh Hamad
Population: 885,000 (10% Christian)
Majority Religion: Islam
Type of Government: Traditional emirate

The constitution provides for freedom of worship and forbids discrimination based on religion but it remains illegal to present the Gospel to Muslims.

The expatriate Christian community have been permitted to rent space for public worship, and legal status has been given to many Christian denominations. But there are very few Qatari believers.

The publication, import and distribution of non-Islamic religious literature is banned; individuals can however import Bibles but only for personal use.

Prayer

• Praise God that religious materials for use at Christmas and Easter were readily available in shops
• Pray that Arabic Bibles will also become readily available
• In public schools Islamic instruction is compulsory – pray that Qatari children will come to know the saving grace available in Jesus Christ.