Algeria
Algerian Christians face challenges at different levels. Applications by churches for official recognition through the registration process continue to…
Bahrain
Expatriate Christians enjoy considerable freedom in Bahrain, provided that their activities are restricted to designated compounds and, in particular, that they…
Egypt
Christians have traditionally enjoyed good standing in society, with guaranteed representation in Parliament. However, restrictions apply to…
Iran
Officially recognised churches have been subjected to increasingly restrictive controls since 2011. Churches are effectively banned from using the Farsi…
Iraq
The advance and military offensive of Daesh (so-called ‘Islamic State’) in June 2014 led to mass displacement, including of Christians whose heartlands…
Israel
Messianic believers have at times faced social prejudice and harassment. In some cases Jewish people seeking to enter Israel under the Law of Return…
Jordan
Christians generally enjoy good standing in society, even having guaranteed representation in Parliament (at a disproportionately high level, given…
Kuwait
Expatriate Christians enjoy comparative freedom in Kuwait, provided that their activities are restricted to designated compounds and, in particular…
Lebanon
Christians generally enjoy good standing in society and a high degree of religious freedom. Some discern growing political pressure against Christian…
Libya
Key challenges faced by expatriate Christians in Libya primarily derive from the ongoing political and security crisis and the lack of application of…
Mauritania
Christians face severe restrictions in practice. While expatriate Christians are permitted to worship, Christian activities are restricted to designated…
Morocco
Registered expatriate Christian communities enjoy considerable freedom in Morocco, provided that they avoid interaction with Muslims that could be construed…
N Cyprus
The Greek Orthodox Church in the Republic of Cyprus has made regular complaints in recent years about desecration of buildings, restrictions on or non-…
Oman
Expatriate Christians enjoy considerable freedom in Oman, provided that their activities are restricted to designated compounds and that they avoid…
Palestine
Some of the challenges facing Christians in Palestine vary by area according to the governing authorities. In recent years, Christian communities in the…
Qatar
Expatriate Christians enjoy considerable freedom in Qatar, provided that their activities are restricted to designated compounds and, in particular, …
Saudi Arabia
Calls for expatriate Christians to be permitted to worship in public, on the grounds of reciprocity, have been rejected by the Saudi authorities. Expatriate…
Somalia
Somali Christians face very significant challenges. There is no officially recognised church in any part of Somalia. Pressures are principally from non-…
Sudan
Sudanese Christians face intense pressures. Recognised Christian communities have increasingly been marginalised and their freedom to worship obstructed…
Syria
Syria’s Christian communities face multiple challenges within the context of the current conflict. In parts of the country, in particular those areas…
Tunisia
Both expatriate and local Christian communities enjoy relative freedom in Tunisia, provided that they avoid activities that could be construed as…
Turkey
Christians in Turkey enjoy a considerable degree of freedom, though a number of pressures persist. Some long-standing legal cases involving Christians…
UAE
Expatriate Christians enjoy considerable freedom in the UAE, provided that they avoid activities that could be construed as proselytism. In recent years…
Yemen
Pressures faced by Christians in Yemen come principally from non-State actors, given the political instability and weak application of the rule of law in many…