Kuwait

How many Christians are there in Kuwait?

There are 520,000 Christians in Kuwait – they make up 11.9 per cent of the total population.  

What does persecution look like in Kuwait?

In Kuwait, conversion from Islam to another faith is not officially recognized and is likely to lead to legal problems in personal status and property matters. Converts to Christianity from Islam face discrimination and harassment from their family and community, intimidation from Islamist groups, and even police monitoring. 

Expatriate Muslims who convert to Christianity experience the same levels of pressure as they would face in their home countries, as they often live within their own national or ethnic communities.

Because of the potentially severe consequences, it is almost impossible for converts to reveal their new faith, which is why there are hardly any reports of Christians being killed or harmed for their faith.

Although expatriate Christians are relatively free to worship, finding a place to meet is often difficult. Christians must be very careful when sharing their faith, since proselytizing is illegal and they could be expelled from the country. 

Who is most vulnerable to persecution?

Christian converts are most vulnerable to persecution because Kuwaiti society is highly conservative and leaving Islam is regarded as a betrayal of the family and tribe. In many cases, converts are alienated from their families because of their conversion. Expatriate Christians with lower levels of skills are more likely to face discrimination and abuse, especially female domestic workers.

What has changed this year?

Little has changed for Christians in Kuwait, despite the country dropping a place on the World Watch List. While expatriate believers remain relatively free to practice their faith, converts from Islam continue to face severe opposition from both their families and communities—and, if anything, this hostility has only increased over the past year.

What does Open Doors do to help Christians in Kuwait?

Open Doors supports the body of Christ on the Arabian Peninsula by organising prayer, distributing Scripture resources, and training believers and pastors. 

How can you pray for Kuwait?

• Pray for the protection of Christians in Kuwait.
• Pray that the sexual abuse of migrant workers will stop. Ask the Lord to heal all those who have experienced this.
• Pray for wisdom and boldness as Christians seek to tell others about Jesus.