Tunisia

Where Persecution Comes From

Most of the persecution in Tunisia results from Islamic society’s general hostility towards Christians. While the state has actually become more tolerant of Christians since the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011, there has at the same time been a noticeable increase in radical Islamic teachings. Foreigners enjoy a good deal of religious freedom in the country, so long as they avoid openly engaging in evangelistic activities. Converts to Christianity from Islam experience the worst Christian persecution at the hands of family members, relatives, the community at large and government authorities.

How Christians are Suffering

Christians in Tunisia experience such a great deal of persecution that most prefer to only practice their faith in secret. The hostility and pressure they face makes it dangerous to share their faith with anyone, even those closest to them. If others come to know of their Christian faith, believers experience job insecurity, abandonment and abuse. They are ostracized by family, friends and the community at large, and are sometimes violently attacked. For these reasons, gathering for worship or fellowship is extremely difficult. They also lack the right to legally identify themselves as Christians, which poses problems in daily life.

Examples

During the WWL 2018 reporting period, more than a dozen Christians were detained and questioned by the authorities for faith-related reasons.

In February 2017, reports indicated that a Christian cemetery in the town of Sfax had been vandalized. It is believed that the incident was religiously motivated.