Christians In Bahrain: A Religious Minority In A Muslim Country

Christians make up a notable minority in Bahrain, with sources estimating that they constitute 12% of the population. While the majority of Christians in Bahrain are expatriates, there is also a small community of native Christians who hold Bahraini citizenship. This community numbers approximately 1,000 people, with most originally emigrating from Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq, and a smaller number from Lebanon, Syria, and India. Bahraini Christians enjoy a range of religious and social freedoms and even have members in the Bahraini government.

Christian Bahraini citizens

History

Bahrain has had a native Christian community for many centuries, with the first recorded presence dating back to the 12th century. The majority of Christian Bahraini citizens tend to be Orthodox Christians, with the largest church by membership being the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Religious and Social Freedoms

Notable Christian Bahraini Citizens

• Alees Samaan – Former Bahraini ambassador to the United Kingdom
• Hani Aziz – Pastor of the Arabic Congregation of the National Evangelical Church in Bahrain
• Hala Qurisa – Second Deputy Chairman of the Shura Council
• Camillo Ballin – Italian-Bahraini Bishop

Churches in Bahrain

• Sacred Heart Church (Manama, Bahrain) – Catholic
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church – Indian Orthodox
• St. George's Antiochian Church – Greek Orthodox
• St. Peter's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
• The Mar Thoma Church & St. Paul's Marthoma Church
• Indian Pentecostal Church of God Bahrain
• House of Praise Community Church
• St Christopher’s Cathedral and Awali Anglican Church
• The National Evangelical Church
• The Father's House AG Church
• The Bahrain Malayalee Church of South India

Expatriate Christians

The Bahraini government does not interfere with the religious practices of expatriate Christians and even provides security for large religious events. Expatriate Christians have their own religious organizations and associations, such as the Bahrain Federation of Expatriate Associations (BFEA), which promote peaceful religious coexistence and social diversity in the country.

The presence of expatriate Christians in Bahrain contributes to the country's social and economic development. They work in various sectors, including education, healthcare, business, and finance. The Bahraini government has encouraged the participation of expatriate Christians in the country's economic activities, such as banking, insurance, and financial services.

Religious freedom in Bahrain

The Constitution of Bahrain

The Constitution of Bahrain states that Islam is the official religion and that Shari'a (Islamic law) is a principal source for legislation. Article 22 of the Constitution provides for freedom of conscience, the inviolability of worship, and the freedom to perform religious rites and hold religious parades and meetings, in accordance with the customs observed in the country. However, the government has placed some limitations on the exercise of this right.

Religious Demography

Among the citizens of Bahrain in 2010, 99.8% were Muslim according to the government's published census statistics. However, when the non-national population is included, the Muslim proportion falls to 70.2%. The current census data does not differentiate between the other religions in Bahrain, but there are about 1,000 Christian citizens and fewer than 40 Jewish citizens. The Bahraini citizens of Muslim faith belong to the Shi'a and Sunni branches of Islam.

Foreigners, mostly from South Asia and other Arab countries, constituted 54% of the population in 2010. Of these, 45% are Muslim and 55% are non-Muslim, including Christians, Hindus, Baháʼís, Buddhists, and Sikhs.

Legal and Policy Framework

The Constitution of Bahrain states that Islam is the official religion and provides for freedom of religion. However, there are limits on this right. The government allows religious-based political non-governmental organizations to register as political "societies", which can conduct political activities. Every religious group must obtain a license from the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs (MOJIA) to operate. Depending on the circumstances, religious groups may also need approval from other ministries, such as the Ministry of Social Development or the Ministry of Education. Holding a religious meeting without a permit is illegal, but there have been no reports of religious groups being denied a permit to gather.

Restrictions on Religious Freedom

The government of Bahrain generally contributes to the free practice of religion. Members of other religious groups are allowed to practice their faith privately without interference from the government and are permitted to maintain their own places of worship and display religious symbols. The government funds all official religious institutions, including Shi'a and Sunni mosques, and allows public religious events, such as the large annual commemorative marches by Shi'a Muslims during Ramadan and Muharram.

Converts to Islam from other religious groups are generally welcomed into the Muslim community. However, converts from Islam to other religions are not well tolerated by society and may face shunning, physical abuse, or feel the need to leave the country.

Forced Religious Conversion

Bahrain has no history of forced religious conversion. Foreign nationals and local minorities are able to practice their religion without interference from the government or other religious groups.

Status of the Jewish Community

The small Jewish community in Bahrain has been safe from attacks and vandalism. While some anti-Zionist political commentary and cartoons appear, they are usually linked to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Outside of this context, the Jewish minority is fully respected and allowed to operate freely. Jewish people in Bahrain can practice their faith privately without interference from the government. In 2008, Bahrain appointed Houda Ezra Ebrahim Nonoo, a Jewish female lawmaker, as its ambassador to the United States.

Improvements and Positive Developments

Bahrain has made some improvements and positive developments in terms of religious freedom. Parliamentary and municipal elections have been held, with candidates from religious political groups participating freely. There is also a degree of religious tolerance in society, with minority religious groups reporting a good level of tolerance for their beliefs and traditions. However, there is no tolerance for conversion away from Islam.

In November 2022, Pope Francis became the first Catholic pope to visit Bahrain, holding mass for a crowd of almost 30,000 people. However, in 2023, the country received a score of 1 out of 4 for religious freedom.

Notable Bahraini Christians

• Alees Samaan: Former Bahraini ambassador to the United Kingdom.
• Hani Aziz: Pastor of the Arabic Congregation of the National Evangelical Church in Bahrain.
• Hala Qurisa: Second Deputy Chairman of the Shura Council.
• Camillo Ballin: Italian-Bahraini Bishop.

In addition to these individuals, there are several churches in Bahrain, including:

• Sacred Heart Church (Catholic)
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church (Indian Orthodox)
• St. George's Antiochian Church (Greek Orthodox)
• St. Peter's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
• The Mar Thoma Church & St. Paul's Marthoma Church
• Indian Pentecostal Church of God Bahrain
• House of Praise Community Church
• St Christopher’s Cathedral and Awali Anglican Church
• The National Evangelical Church
• The Father's House AG Church
• The Bahrain Malayalee Church of South India
• The Indian Pentecostal Church of God, Hebron Bahrain

Christian churches in Bahrain

Bahrain is a predominantly Muslim country, but it has a small native Christian community that has existed for many centuries, with the first recorded presence dating back to the 12th century. In 2022, Christians in Bahrain made up approximately 12% of the population, including expatriates.

There are 19 officially registered churches in Bahrain, with half of them located in the Capital Government. The National Evangelical Church became the first church to offer services in Bahrain in 1906.

• Sacred Heart Church (Catholic)
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church (Indian Orthodox)
• St. George's Antiochian Church (Greek Orthodox)
• St. Peter's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
• The Mar Thoma Church & St. Paul's Marthoma Church
• Indian Pentecostal Church of God Bahrain
• House of Praise Community Church
• St Christopher’s Cathedral and Awali Anglican Church
• The National Evangelical Church
• The Father's House AG Church
• The Bahrain Malayalee Church of South India
• The Indian Pentecostal Church of God, Hebron Bahrain
• Church of Our Lady of Visitation (Catholic)

Frequently asked questions