Kuwait
Leader
How many Christians?
Main threat
- Islamic oppression
How many Christians are there in Kuwait?
There are 513,000 Christians in Kuwait – they make up 11.9 per cent of the total population.
How are Christians persecuted in Kuwait?
Conversion from Islam to another faith is not officially recognised in Kuwait. Kuwaiti believers from Muslim backgrounds face the most extreme persecution. As well as pressure from their families and community to recant their faith, these believers risk discrimination, harassment, monitoring of their activities by the police, and even intimidation by vigilante groups.
However, the number of Christians in the country is rising fast. One worker active among local believers said that even some police agents tasked with keeping the different religions in line are now following Christ in secret.
Meet Judah*
“The Word of God is eaten here. People are so hungry for the Word that it just finds its ways to them.” JUDAH
What’s life like for Christians in Kuwait?
Expatriate Christians are relatively free to worship informally, but places of worship must be registered with the government, and these are few and far between. It’s extremely difficult to obtain a property for gathering for worship.
In Kuwait, men who convert to Christianity fear the rejection of their immediate and extended families and the repercussions that has on their livelihood. In this Islamic society, male converts are likely to be ostracised by their families, simultaneously losing their respect and their financial support.
Is it getting easier to be a Christian in Kuwait?
Not really. While Kuwait has gone down the rankings on this year’s World Watch List by five places, persecution levels there remain at a very high level.
How can I help Christians in Kuwait?
Please keep praying for your brothers and sisters in Kuwait. Your gifts and prayers make an enormous difference to those following Jesus no matter the cost.
Open Doors supports the body of Christ on the Arabian Peninsula by organising prayer, distributing Scripture resources and training believers and pastors.
*Name changed for security reasons
Father, we ask You to strengthen Your church in Kuwait. Please give our brothers and sisters in Christ a passion to follow You in the fires of persecution – and let them know You are with them. We also pray for government officials to loosen their grip and to allow more freedom for the Christian community to meet, to worship and to freely live out their faith. Amen.
