Qatar

Leader: Emir Sheikh Hamad
Population: 1.4 million (89,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Traditional emirate
World Watch Rank: 17

Nearly all citizens in Qatar are Muslims; almost the entire Christian population are expatriates. The constitution explicitly provides for freedom of worship, and Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches are officially recognised. However, the Government places restrictions on public worship and continues to prohibit evangelisation of non-Muslims. Several expatriate Christians were expelled from the country in 2010, almost certainly because of their Christian faith. Leaving Islam is considered apostasy; believers from a Muslim background face severe persecution.

Please Pray:

• That isolated indigenous believers will connect with other believers and experience real fellowship
• That the Qatari people will open up to the gospel and not rely on wealth and their feeling of Islamic superiority
• For the witness of the expatriate Christian community. Pray that no more foreign Christians will be expelled from the country.