Christianity In Bahrain: Religious Freedom And Acceptance

While Islam is the official religion of Bahrain, Christianity is also practised in the country. In fact, Bahrain has had a native Christian community for many centuries, with the first recorded presence dating back to the 12th century. Christians in Bahrain can be divided into two groups: expatriate Christians, who make up the majority, and Bahraini Christians, who hold citizenship and number approximately 1,000. While Christians in Bahrain enjoy religious freedom, those who convert to the faith from Islam often face persecution, including the loss of social status and rejection by their families.

Christians in Bahrain make up around 12% of the population

Native Christians

Native Christians in Bahrain have a long history, with the first recorded presence dating back to the 12th century. Today, there are approximately 1,000 Christian citizens, the majority of whom are Orthodox Christians. They enjoy equal religious and social freedoms and even have representation in the Bahraini government. Bahrain is one of only two Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with a native Christian population, the other being Kuwait.

Expatriate Christians

Foreign citizens who live and work in Bahrain make up the majority of Christians in the country. They come from diverse regions, including Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Expatriate Christians belong to various denominations, including Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches.

Notable Bahraini Christians

Some notable Bahraini Christians include:

• 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.

The majority of Christians in Bahrain are expatriates

Christianity in Bahrain can be divided into two groups: Expatriate Christians and Bahraini Christians. Foreign citizens who live and work in Bahrain make up the majority of Christians in the country. They include people from Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. They belong to various Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches.

The number of Christians from other nationalities living and working in Bahrain is over 100,000, according to the Christian community. They make up about 8% of the population. Expatriate Christians come from all over the world and make up the majority of Christians in Bahrain. They are a mix of Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant Christians.

On the other hand, there are only about 1,000 citizens of Bahrain who are Christian. The majority of them emigrated to Bahrain and received Bahraini citizenship. They are primarily from Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq, although there are smaller numbers from Lebanon, Syria, and India. The majority of Bahraini citizens tend to be Greek Orthodox and enjoy many religious and social freedoms. They have their own churches and cemeteries, and some even hold positions in the government.

Bahrain is one of the few Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to have a local Christian population. It has had a native Christian community for many centuries, with the first recorded presence dating back to the 12th century. While native Christians make up a much smaller community compared to expatriates, they still have a significant presence and enjoy religious freedom in the country.

There are approximately 1,000 Christian citizens of Bahrain

While the majority of Christians in Bahrain are expatriates, there are approximately 1,000 Christian citizens of Bahrain. The majority of these citizens are originally from Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq, with smaller numbers from Lebanon, Syria, and India. Most have been Bahraini citizens for less than a century, though a small minority have lived in the country for many centuries.

Christian Bahraini citizens enjoy many equal religious and social freedoms. They are free to practice their religion and perform religious rites, and they have their own places of worship. The Bahraini constitution provides for freedom of conscience and the inviolability of worship. Notably, Bahrain is one of only two Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries with a native Christian population.

The majority of Christian Bahraini citizens tend to be Orthodox Christians, with the largest church by membership being the Eastern Orthodox Church. There are various Christian churches in Bahrain, including St. Christopher's Cathedral (Anglican), Sacred Heart Church (Catholic), St. Mary's Orthodox Church (Indian Orthodox), and St. Peter's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church.

Christian Bahraini citizens also participate actively in the country's governance. For example, Alees Samaan, the former Bahraini ambassador to the United Kingdom, is a native Christian. Other notable Christian Bahraini figures include Hani Aziz, pastor of the Arabic Congregation of the National Evangelical Church in Bahrain, and Hala Qurisa, Second Deputy Chairman of the Shura Council.

The Bahraini constitution provides for freedom of conscience and religion

While the Bahraini constitution guarantees freedom of conscience and religion, there are some restrictions in place. For example, the constitution declares that Islam is the official religion and that Sharia (Islamic law) is a principal source for legislation. It is important to note that the government has placed some limitations on the freedom of religion, particularly for non-Muslim groups. Every religious group must obtain a license from the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs (MOJIA) to operate. In addition, certain religious practices, such as holding a religious meeting without a permit, are illegal.

Despite these limitations, the Bahraini government generally respects the freedom of religion for both Muslim and non-Muslim groups. Members of other religious groups, such as Christians and Jews, are allowed to practice their faith privately without interference from the government. They are also permitted to maintain their own places of worship and display religious symbols.

In terms of demographics, the majority of citizens in Bahrain are Muslim, with 99.8% of citizens identifying as Muslim according to the 2010 census. However, when including non-national residents, the proportion of Muslims decreases to 70.2%. There are also approximately 1,000 Christian citizens and less than 40 Jewish citizens in Bahrain.

Expatriate Christians, or foreign citizens living and working in Bahrain, make up the majority of Christians in the country. They come from various countries and belong to different denominations, including Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches. On the other hand, Bahraini Christians, or Christians who hold Bahraini citizenship, make up a smaller community. The majority of them have emigrated to Bahrain and received citizenship, with roots mainly in Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq. Bahraini Christians enjoy many religious and social freedoms and even have representation in the government.

Christian converts from Islam often face persecution

While the Constitution of Bahrain provides for freedom of religion, there are limits to this right. The government has placed some restrictions on the exercise of religious freedom. Although there is a degree of tolerance in Bahraini society for minority religious beliefs and traditions, there is no tolerance for conversion away from Islam.

Christian converts from Islam in Bahrain often lose their jobs and social status, and many are rejected by their families. They may also face imprisonment or harassment from the government. Bahrainis have limited access to the Bible through the internet and churches.

In 2022, Christians in Bahrain made up approximately 12% of the population. However, the majority of these are expatriate Christians, while local Christian Bahrainis make up a much smaller community of around 1,000 people.

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