United Arab Emirates

Christian converts face penalties

Because Islam dominates public life, Christian converts often lose their inheritance and parental rights, are forced to marry, are fired or are required to work for free. To avoid the death penalty or other penalties, Christian converts often feel like they must hide their faith or flee to another country due to fears of Christian persecution. Evangelism is also prohibited, but non-Muslims can worship in dedicated buildings or private homes.

How Christians are suffering

Christian expatriates are free to worship in private, but the government does not allow them to evangelize or pray in public. Converts from Islam endure the most persecution as they face pressure from family members and the local community to recant their Christian faith. This makes it almost impossible for converts to reveal their conversion and explains why there are hardly any reports of Christians being killed or harmed for their faith.

Examples

Converts from Islam to Christianity (both national or migrant) continue to face high pressure from their families, employers and society. Losing inheritance and parental rights, being forced to marry, being fired or placed under pressure to work for “free” are all possible consequences for these converts. Many flee the Emirates and seek asylum in another country.

There are too few churches in the United Arab Emirates to meet the demands. Especially since it has become harder to use non-designated buildings like hotels and schools for gatherings, which was tolerated before. Although the ruling Emirati families donated land for church buildings, it remains difficult to establish new churches.