Laws In The Middle East Nations For Non-

Muslims
| by Shenali D Waduge
( July 28, 2014, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian !e"i#ro"i$y i% a
deba$able %ub&e"$ 'or (u%lim% and )%lam* When #eo#le are di+ided a% belie+er% and non,
belie+er% $here i% li$$le $o argue or de'end $he %$a$u% o' e-uali$y* Wha$ i% no$ re"i#ro"a$ed %hould
no$ be demanded* .he %$a$u% o' non,(u%lim% in ma&ori$y (u%lim na$ion% "ome% /i$h %$ri"$
rule% and regula$ion%* 0on,(u%lim% are guaran$eed #ro$e"$ion in $he (u%lim %o"ie$y a% long a%
$hey #ay a head $a1 and abide by $he %#e"i'i" legi%la$ion% men$ioned in )%lami" La/* .he
obliga$ion o' #aying &i2yah $a1 i% al%o "an"elled /hen non,(u%lim% #ar$i"i#a$e /i$h (u%lim% in
de'ending $he )%lami" %$a$e again%$ i$% enemie%* When non,(u%lim% are no$ /el"omed in (e""a
by la/ or ne/ non,(u%lim religiou% %$ru"$ure% are al%o $aboo and a religiou% $e1$ de"lare% $ha$
non,belie+er% are $o be 'ough$ and annihila$ed and +ery 'e/ #eo#le "an -ue%$ion )%lam in%#i$e
o' i$% $e1$% being /ri$$en 200 year% a'$er and $he 3uran /ri$$en 40 year% a'$er $he dea$h o'
(ohammad* .here are "on$en$ion% in )%lam i$%el' 'or /hi"h non,(u%lim% "anno$ be 'aul$ed*
.he di%"u%%ion "en$re% around $he 'reedom% /hi"h non,(u%lim% ha+e $o %$ri"$ly adhere $o and
$he 'reedom% "om#arable /i$h $he demand% in %o,"alled %e"ular na$ion% unable and un/illing $o
main$ain hi%$ori"al iden$i$y*
5man
6 .he 7a%i" La/, in a""ordan"e /i$h $radi$ion, de"lare% $ha$ )%lam i% $he %$a$e religion and $ha$
Sharia i% $he %our"e o' legi%la$ion*
6 0on,)%lami" religion% are allo/ed %o long a% $hey do no$ di%ru#$ )%lam
6 (a&ori$y o' non,(u%lim% are non,"i$i2en% 'rom Sou$h 8%ia
6 Grou# /or%hi# in #ri+a$e home% i% #rohibi$ed and moni$ored
6 5man al%o moni$or% %ermon% in mo%-ue% $o en%ure $ha$ imam% do no$ #rea"h #oli$i"al
%ermon%*
Syria
6 Syria i% 94: Sunni (u%lim, 1;: (u%lim% o' o$her denomina$ion%, and 10: Chri%$ian, /i$h
$iny "ommuni$ie% o' Je/% in Dama%"u%,
6 !eligiou% 'reedom i% guaran$eed by $he Con%$i$u$ion, bu$ $he <ead o' S$a$e mu%$ be (u%lim*
)ran
6 Chri%$ian% are only 0*2: o' $he #o#ula$ion o' )ran, a 44: (u%lim, mo%$ly Shii$e (84:
"oun$ry
6 )ran i% an )%lami" re#ubli" =$he Con%$i$u$ion o' $he )%lami" !e#ubli" o' )ran manda$e% $ha$
$he o''i"ial religion o' )ran i% Shia )%lam and $he ./el+er Ja>'ari %"hool, and al%o manda$e% $ha$
o$her )%lami" %"hool% are $o be a""orded 'ull re%#e"$, and $heir 'ollo/er% are 'ree $o a"$ in
a""ordan"e /i$h $heir o/n &uri%#ruden"e in #er'orming $heir religiou% ri$e%*
6 ?oroa%$rian, Je/i%h, and Chri%$ian )ranian% are $he only re"ogni2ed religiou% minori$ie%, /ho,
/i$hin $he limi$% o' $he la/, are 'ree $o #er'orm $heir religiou% ri$e% and "eremonie%, and $o a"$
a""ording $o $heir o/n "anon in ma$$er% o' #er%onal a''air% and religiou% edu"a$ion*
6 .he 'orma$ion o' #ar$ie%, %o"ie$ie%, #oli$i"al or #ro'e%%ional a%%o"ia$ion%, a% /ell a% religiou%
%o"ie$ie%, /he$her )%lami" or #er$aining $o one o' $he re"ogni2ed religiou% minori$ie%, i%
#ermi$$ed #ro+ided $hey do no$ +iola$e $he #rin"i#le% o' inde#enden"e, 'reedom, na$ional uni$y,
$he "ri$eria o' )%lam, or $he ba%i% o' $he )%lami" !e#ubli"*
Lebanon
6 .he "oun$ry, 'ounded a% a modern %$a$e in 144@, ha% an area o' 4,0@A %-uare mile% (10,4A0
km2 and a #o#ula$ion o' 4 million
6 Lebanon ha% one o' $he highe%$ "on"en$ra$ion% o' Chri%$ian% in a ma&ori$y (u%lim "oun$ry*
Chri%$ian% make u# 40: o' $he #o#ula$ion, /hile $he remaining ;0: are (u%lim and are
di+ided among a +arie$y o' %e"$%*
6 .he "on%$i$u$ion and o$her la/% and #oli"ie% #ro$e"$ religiou% 'reedom* .he "on%$i$u$ion
re-uire% $he %$a$e $o re%#e"$ all religiou% grou#% and denomina$ion% and de"lare% re%#e"$ 'or $he
#er%onal %$a$u% and religiou% in$ere%$% o' #er%on% o' e+ery religiou% %e"$*
B8C
6 .he 'ederal Con%$i$u$ion de"lare% $ha$ )%lam i% $he o''i"ial religion o' $he "oun$ry*
6 .he "oun$ry ha% an area o' 82,880 kmD (@0,000 %-* mi and a non,#ermanen$ re%iden$ (a% all
/ork +i%a% ha+e a ma1imum rene/able $enure o' 2 year%, #re+iou%ly @ year% #o#ula$ion o' 9*4
million (2010 e%$** 5nly 10: o' re%iden$% are B8C "i$i2en%
6 .he Con%$i$u$ion de"lare% $ha$ )%lam i% $he o''i"ial religion o' all %e+en o' $he "on%$i$uen$
emira$e% o' $he 'ederal union*
6 )n #ra"$i"e, $he Go+ernmen$ %u##or$% a modera$e in$er#re$a$ion o' )%lam* 8% $he %$a$e religion,
)%lam i% 'a+ored o+er o$her religiou% grou#% and "on+er%ion $o )%lam i% +ie/ed 'a+orably*
6 .he Go+ernmen$ #rohibi$% non,(u%lim% 'rom #ro%ely$i2ing or di%$ribu$ing religiou% li$era$ure,
under #enal$y o' "riminal #ro%e"u$ion, im#ri%onmen$, and de#or$a$ion, a% i$ "on%$i$u$e%
engaging in beha+ior o''en%i+e $o )%lam*
6 .he "oun$ry>% %ole )n$erne$ %er+i"e #ro+ider, C$i%ala$, %ome$ime% blo"ked /eb%i$e% "on$aining
religiou% in'orma$ion* .he%e %i$e% in"luded in'orma$ion on $he 7ahE>F 'ai$h, Judai%m, nega$i+e
"ri$i-ue% o' )%lam, and $e%$imonie% o' 'ormer (u%lim% /ho "on+er$ed $o Chri%$iani$y*
6 )%lami" %$udie% are manda$ory in #ubli" %"hool% (%"hool% %u##or$ed by $he 'ederal go+ernmen$
#rimarily 'or "i$i2en "hildren and in #ri+a$e %"hool% 'or (u%lim "hildren* )n%$ru"$ion o' any
religion o$her $han )%lam i% no$ #ermi$$ed in #ubli" %"hool%G ho/e+er, religiou% grou#% may
"ondu"$ religiou% in%$ru"$ion 'or $heir member% on $heir religiou% "om#ound%* Hri+a$e %"hool%
'ound $ea"hing %ub&e"$% $ha$ "on$ra+ene )%lam, de'ame any religion, or "on$ra+ene $he na$ion>%
e$hi"% and belie'%, may 'a"e #enal$ie%, in"luding "lo%ure*
6 0on,(u%lim religiou% grou#% "an o/n $heir o/n land and build hou%e% o' /or%hi#, /here
$hey "an #ra"$i"e $heir religion*
Hale%$ine
6 .he H8 doe% no$ ha+e a "on%$i$u$ionG ho/e+er, $he 7a%i" La/ #ro+ide% 'or religiou% 'reedom*
.he 7a%i" La/ /a% a##ro+ed in 2002 by $he Hale%$inian Legi%la$i+e Coun"il (HLC and %igned
by $hen,Hre%iden$ Ia%ir 8ra'a$* .he 7a%i" La/ %$a$e% $ha$ )%lam i% $he o''i"ial religion bu$ al%o
"all% 'or re%#e"$ and %an"$i$y 'or o$her Jhea+enlyK religion% (%u"h a% Judai%m and Chri%$iani$y
and $ha$ $he #rin"i#le% o' Sharia ()%lami" la/ %hall be $he main %our"e o' legi%la$ion*
6 .he H8 re-uire% $he $ea"hing o' religion in H8 %"hool%, /i$h %e#ara$e "our%e% 'or (u%lim and
Chri%$ian %$uden$%* 8 "om#ul%ory "urri"ulum re-uire% $he %$udy o' Chri%$iani$y 'or Chri%$ian
%$uden$% and )%lam 'or (u%lim %$uden$% in grade% one $hrough %i1*
.urkey
6 .urkey i% an almo%$ en$irely (u%lim "oun$ry (48,44: /i$h a %mall Chri%$ian #o#ula$ion
(%ome A00,000 ou$ o' almo%$ 92 million $ha$ border% Syria, )ra- and )ran, a% /ell a% 8rmenia,
Georgia, Gree"e and 7ulgaria*
6 .urkey i% a %e"ular "oun$ry #er 8r$i"le 24 o' $he Con%$i$u$ion o' .urkey* Se"ulari%m in .urkey
origina$e% 'rom (u%$a'a Lemal 8$a$Mrk>% Si1 8rro/% o' re#ubli"ani%m, #o#uli%m, laN"i$O,
re'ormi%m, na$ionali%m, and %$a$i%m* .he .urki%h go+ernmen$ im#o%e% %ome re%$ri"$ion% on
(u%lim and o$her religiou% grou#% and on (u%lim religiou% e1#re%%ion in go+ernmen$ o''i"e%
and %$a$e,run in%$i$u$ion%, in"luding uni+er%i$ie%*
6 .he go+ernmen$ o''i"ially re"ogni2e% only $hree minori$y religiou% "ommuni$ie%P Greek
5r$hodo1 Chri%$ian%, 8rmenian 8#o%$oli" Chri%$ian%, and Je/%, al$hough o$her non,(u%lim
"ommuni$ie% e1i%$
6 )n 2009, au$hori$ie% "on$inued $o en'or"e a long,$erm ban on $he /earing o' head%"ar+e% by
%$uden$% a$ uni+er%i$ie% and by "i+il %er+an$% in #ubli" building%* .he Con%$i$u$ional Cour$ ha%
in$er#re$ed %e"ulari%m in a /ay $ha$ doe%n>$ allo/ 'or a #er%on $o /ear religiou% %ymbol% (e*g* a
head %"ar' or a "ro%% in go+ernmen$al and #ubli" in%$i$u$ion%, and #ar$i"ularly /hile a$$ending
#ubli" %"hool% and %$a$e uni+er%i$ie%*
)ra-
6 .he "on%$i$u$ion
6 re"ogni2e% )%lam a% $he o''i"ial religion, manda$e% $ha$ )%lam be "on%idered a
6 %our"e o' legi%la$ion, and %$a$e% $ha$ no la/ may be ena"$ed $ha$ "on$radi"$% $he
6 e%$abli%hed #ro+i%ion% o' )%lam*
6 (any Chri%$ian% ha+e 'led $he "oun$ry and $ho%e %$aying ha+e endured $he de%$ru"$ion o'
"hur"he% and "on+en$%, $or$ure, bombing%, dea$h $hrea$%, a%%a%%ina$ion%, kidna##ing%, murder%,
and e1$or$ion*
6 8 Chur"h mu%$ ha+e o+er A00 adheren$%*
6 0a$ional iden$i$y "ard% deno$e $he holder>% religion, bu$ do no$ di''eren$ia$e
6 be$/een Shia and Sunni (u%lim*
6 )%lam i% $he %$a$e religion o' )ra-, /hi"h ha% a (u%lim ma&ori$y o' 49: (;0,;A: Shii$e, @2,
@9: Sunni* While $he righ$% o' religiou% minori$ie% are guaran$eed by la/, $he go+ernmen$
doe%, in 'a"$, di%"rimina$e again%$ Chri%$ian%*
Saudi 8rabia
6 .he Lingdom o' Saudi 8rabia i% an )%lami" $heo"ra$i" monar"hy in /hi"h Sunni )%lam i% $he
o''i"ial %$a$e religion*
6 Saudi 8rabia i% an almo%$ en$irely Sunni (u%lim "oun$ry, e1"e#$ 'or a $iny number o'
Chri%$ian immigran$%*
6 )%lam i% no$ merely $he o''i"ial religion, i$ i% $he only religion allo/ed*
6 )%lami" #ra"$i"e generally i% limi$ed $o $ha$ o' a %"hool o' $he Sunni bran"h o' )%lam a%
in$er#re$ed by (uhammad ibn 8bd al Wahhab, an 18$h,"en$ury 8rab religiou% re'ormer*
5u$%ide Saudi 8rabia, $hi% bran"h o' )%lam i% o'$en re'erred $o a% K WahhabiK a $erm $he Saudi%
do no$ u%e* .he $ea"hing% o' 8bd al Wahhab are more o'$en re'erred $o by adheren$% a% JSala'iK
or J(u/ahhidun,K $ha$ i%, 'ollo/ing $he earlie%$ genera$ion% o' (u%lim% (Sala'i, or belie+er%
in $he di+ine uni$y ((u/ahhidun* Hra"$i"e% "on$rary $o $hi% in$er#re$a$ion, %u"h a% "elebra$ion
o' (uhammad>% bir$hday and +i%i$% $o $he $omb% o' reno/ned (u%lim%, are di%"ouraged*
6 .he (ini%$ry o' )%lami" 8''air% %u#er+i%e% and 'inan"e% $he "on%$ru"$ion and main$enan"e o'
almo%$ all mo%-ue% in $he "oun$ry, al$hough o+er @0: o' all mo%-ue% in Saudi 8rabia are buil$
and endo/ed by #ri+a$e #er%on%* .he (ini%$ry #ay% $he %alarie% o' imam% (#rayer leader% and
o$her% /ho /ork in $he mo%-ue%
6 Saudi la/ #rohibi$% al"oholi" be+erage% and #ork #rodu"$% in $he "oun$ry a% $hey are
"on%idered $o be again%$ )%lam* .ho%e +iola$ing $he la/ are handed har%h #uni%hmen$%* Drug
$ra''i"king i% al/ay% #uni%hed by dea$h
6 Saudi 8rabia #rohibi$% #ubli" non,(u%lim religiou% a"$i+i$ie%* 0on,(u%lim /or%hi#er% ri%k
arre%$, im#ri%onmen$, la%hing, de#or$a$ion, and %ome$ime% $or$ure 'or engaging in o+er$
religiou% a"$i+i$y $ha$ a$$ra"$% o''i"ial a$$en$ion
6 .he Go+ernmen$ doe% no$ #ermi$ non,(u%lim "lergy $o en$er $he "oun$ry 'or $he #ur#o%e o'
"ondu"$ing religiou% %er+i"e%, al$hough %ome "ome under o$her au%#i"e% and #er'orm religiou%
'un"$ion% in %e"re$*
6 .he Go+ernmen$ re-uire% non"i$i2en re%iden$% $o "arry a Saudi re%iden"e #ermi$ ()-ama 'or
iden$i'i"a$ion in #la"e o' $heir #a%%#or$%* 8mong o$her in'orma$ion, $he%e "on$ain a religiou%
de%igna$ion 'or J(u%limK or Jnon,(u%lim*K
6 Cu%$om% o''i"ial% regularly o#en #o%$al ma$erial and "argo $o %ear"h 'or non,(u%lim
ma$erial%, %u"h a% 7ible% and religiou% +ideo$a#e%* Su"h ma$erial% are %ub&e"$ $o "on'i%"a$ion*
6 .he en$ire $erri$ory o' Saudi 8rabia i% "on%idered $o be a Qgrand mo%-ue> and all o$her
religion% are #rohibi$ed and "anno$ be #ra"$i"e #ubli"ally or #ri+a$ely*
6 !eligiou% #oli"e make %ure $he #ra"$i"e o' o$her religion% i% no$ +i%ible* Chri%$ian immigran$%
(mainly 'rom Haki%$an and $he Hhili##ine% or %e"re$ "on+er$% $o Chri%$iani$y 'ound #ra"$i"ing
$heir religion "an be %ub&e"$ $o im#ri%onmen$, $or$ure and e1e"u$ion, al$hough au$hori$ie% are
more "are'ul /i$h +i%i$ing mili$ary #er%onal and e1#a$ria$e%*
Iemen
6 Iemen ha% a #o#ula$ion o' &u%$ o+er 2@ million /hi"h i% 48: (u%lim and 2: Je/i%h,
Chri%$ian, and <indu%, e+en $hough Iemen re#or$% $ha$ all i$% "i$i2en% are (u%lim*
6 .he Con%$i$u$ion de"lare% $ha$ )%lam i% $he %$a$e religion, and $ha$ Sharia ()%lami" la/ i% $he
%our"e o' all legi%la$ion* (u%lim% and 'ollo/er% o' religiou% grou#% o$her $han )%lam are 'ree $o
/or%hi# a""ording $o $heir belie'%, bu$ $he Go+ernmen$ #rohibi$% "on+er%ion 'rom )%lam and $he
#ro%ely$i2a$ion o' (u%lim%*
6 )%lam i% $he %$a$e religion and no Chri%$ian denomina$ion% are allo/ed, bu$ $he %mall number%
o' Je/% and Chri%$ian% (many 'rom )ndia or Haki%$an are no$ #er%e"u$ed and are allo/ed $o
#ra"$i"e $heir religion% #ri+a$ely*
6 .here are re#or$edly 1A0 7aha>i% in Iemen and 'e/er $han A00 Je/% remaining in $he "oun$ry*
.here are an e%$ima$ed @,000 Chri%$ian%, many o' /hom are re'ugee% or $em#orary re%iden$%
'rom abroad*
Lu/ai$
6 (u%lim% a""oun$ 'or 8A: o' $he #o#ula$ion (o' /hi"h 90: are Sunni and @0: are Shii$e
/hile Chri%$ian%, <indu% and Har%i% make u# $he remaining 1A:*
6 )%lam i% $he religion o' $he %$a$e and legi%la$ion i% ba%ed on Sharia la/* !eligiou% 'reedom i%
guaran$eed, bu$ religiou% in%$ru"$ion 'or non,(u%lim "on'e%%ion% 'orbidden, a% i% a$$em#$ing $o
"on+er$ (u%lim%* Con+er%ion 'rom )%lam i% "on%idered a "rime #uni%hable by dea$h, and in
144@,44 a "on+er$ $o Chri%$iani$y /a% "ondemned $o be e1e"u$ed and 'led $he "oun$ry, /hile hi%
/i'e /a% kidna##ed, ra#ed, and 'or"ed $o di+or"e him*
3a$ar
6 Bnder $he #ro+i%ion% o' 3a$ar>% %#on%or%hi# la/, %#on%or% ha+e $he unila$eral #o/er $o "an"el
/orker%> re%iden"y #ermi$%, deny /orker%> abili$y $o "hange em#loyer%, re#or$ a /orker a%
Jab%"ondedK $o #oli"e au$hori$ie%, and deny #ermi%%ion $o lea+e $he "oun$ry
6 3a$ar re$ain% $he dea$h #enal$y, #rimarily 'or e%#ionage, or o$her $hrea$% again%$ na$ional
%e"uri$y*
6 Rlogging i% u%ed in 3a$ar a% a #uni%hmen$ 'or al"ohol "on%um#$ion or illi"i$ %e1ual rela$ion%
6 .he go+ernmen$ u%e% Sunni la/ a% $he ba%i% o' i$% "riminal and "i+il regula$ion%* <o/e+er,
%ome mea%ure o' religiou% $olera$ion i% gran$ed* Roreign /orker%, and $ouri%$%, are 'ree $o
a''ilia$e /i$h o$her 'ai$h%, i*e* Chri%$ian%, <indu%, Sikh%, 7uddhi%$%, and 7aha>i%, a% long a% $hey
are di%"ree$ and do no$ o''end #ubli" order or morali$y*
6 Ror e1am#le, in (ar"h 2008 $he !oman Ca$holi" "hur"h J5ur Lady o' $he !o%aryK /a%
"on%e"ra$ed in Doha* <o/e+er, in kee#ing /i$h $he need $o be di%"ree$, no mi%%ionarie% are
allo/ed and $he "hur"h
7ahrainP
6 Con%$i$u$ion P 7ahrain i% an )%lami" %$a$e S )%lam i% o''i"ial %$a$e religion S Shariah la/
#rin"i#le la/ o' legi%la$ion
6 Ho#ula$ion P 44*8: (u%lim
6 Go+ernmen$ #rohibi$% an$i,)%lami" /ri$ing%
6 0on,(u%lim #la"e% o' /or%hi# in"lude 4 %ikh $em#le% S %e+eral hindu ko+il% S $he %ynagogue
i% o+er ;0 year% old S Chri%$ian "ongrega$ion%
6 8 (u%lim /oman may legally marry a non,(u%lim man only i' he 'ir%$ "on+er$% $o )%lam* )n
%u"h marriage%, $he "hildren au$oma$i"ally are "on%idered (u%lim
6 0on,(u%lim% are #ermi$$ed $o 'ollo/ $heir religion% #ri+a$ely and #ermi$$ed $o main$ain $heir
o/n #la"e% o' /or%hi# and di%#lay $he %ymbol% o' $heir religion, %u"h a% "ro%%e% and %$a$ue% o'
dei$ie% and %ain$%*
6 .here i% no 'or"ed religiou% "on+er%ion in 7ahrain
6 0on,(u%lim% "an "on%ume li-uor in de%igna$ed #la"e%* (u%lim% are banned 'rom $aking
li-uor*
6 During !amadan non,(u%lim% are e1#e"$ed $o re%#e"$ (u%lim "ul$ure T non,(u%lim% "anno$
ea$ in #ubli", %hould no$ ea$ in 'ron$ o' (u%lim "olleague%,
Cgy#$P
6 (u%lim Ramily la/% are "on%idered $he general la/ in Cgy#$* 0on,(u%lim% "ommuni$ie% are
no$ re"ogni2ed o''i"ially bu$ are go+erned by $he 'amily la/% 'or (u%lim%
6 all non,(u%lim #er%onal %$a$u% la/% "urren$ly 'orbid unila$eral di+or"e*
6 Co#$i" Chri%$ian% are %aid $o be $he $rue de%"endan$% o' an"ien$ Cyg#$ian% bu$ $hey are being
dri+en ou$ o' Cgy#$* Chri%$iani$y "ame $o Cgy#$ around 42 8*D* /hen $he 8#o%$le (ark
'ounded a "hur"h in 8le1andria, no/ o''i"ially kno/n a% $he Co#$i" 5r$hodo1 Chur"h o'
8le1andria* 7y $he 'i'$h "en$ury, $he ma&ori$y o' Cgy#$ian% /ere Chri%$ian%* )$ /a%n>$ un$il
%e+eral "en$urie% a'$er $he 8rab "on-ue%$ o' ;41 $ha$ )%lam be"ame $he "oun$ry>% #redominan$
religion* .hi% i% a #er'e"$ e1am#le o' a Chri%$ian,ma&ori$y na$ion $ran%'ormed in$o an )%lami"
o##re%%ion,
6 (u%lim% are 40: o' $he #o#ula$ion in Cgy#$, in /hi"h Co#$i" Chri%$ian% make u# ano$her 4:
and o$her Chri%$ian denomina$ion% a""oun$ 'or $he la%$ 1:*
6 )%lam i% $he %$a$e religion, and /hile in $heory 'reedom o' religion i% guaran$eed by $he
Con%$i$u$ion, in #ra"$i"e $he righ$% o' non,(u%lim% are no$ re%#e"$ed*
6 Chri%$ian% are di%"rimina$ed again%$ a$ admini%$ra$i+e le+el% and in %"hool% and "on+er%ion% $o
Chri%$iani$y "an be me$ /i$h #uni%hmen$ and im#ri%onmen$* Chri%$ian% are denied e-ual a""e%%
$o &ob% and edu"a$ion and rarely ob$ain go+ernmen$ #o%i$ion%* )n"iden$% o' +iolen"e again%$
Chri%$ian% al%o o""ur*
Jordan
6 Chri%$ian% in Jordan, /here $hey are 4: o' $he #o#ula$ion in a 4;: Sunni (u%lim "oun$ry
6 8""ording $o $he Con%$i$u$ion $he %$a$e religion i% )%lam and $he Ling mu%$ be (u%lim*
6 .he Go+ernmen$ #rohibi$% "on+er%ion 'rom )%lam and #ro%ely$i2a$ion o' (u%lim%*
6 While Chri%$iani$y i% a re"ogni2ed religion and non,(u%lim "i$i2en% may #ro'e%% and #ra"$i"e
$he Chri%$ian 'ai$h, "hur"he% mu%$ be a""orded legal re"ogni$ion $hrough admini%$ra$i+e
#ro"edure% in order $o o/n land and admini%$er %a"ramen$%
6 .he Rree C+angeli"al%, $he Chur"h o' $he 0a2arene, $he 8%%embly o' God, and $he Chri%$ian
and (i%%ionary 8llian"e, are regi%$ered /i$h $he (ini%$ry o' )n$erior a% J%o"ie$ie%K bu$ no$ a%
"hur"he%
6 .he Go+ernmen$ doe% no$ re"ogni2e Jeho+ah>% Wi$ne%%e%, or $he Chur"h o' Chri%$, bu$ ea"h i%
allo/ed $o "ondu"$ religiou% %er+i"e% /i$hou$ in$er'eren"e*
6 .he Go+ernmen$ $radi$ionally re%er+e% %ome #o%i$ion% in $he u##er le+el% o' $he mili$ary 'or
Chri%$ian% (4 #er"en$G ho/e+er, all %enior "ommand #o%i$ion% are held by (u%lim%*
6 While )%lam i% $he o''i"ial religion o' $he %$a$e, Chri%$ian% en&oy e-ual "i+i" righ$% and
Chri%$ian "hur"he% are allo/ed $o de+elo# $heir #a%$oral, edu"a$ion, and humani$arian a"$i+i$ie%*
.ied $o $he rigid la/% in #la"e /e ha+e %"ore% o' o$her indo"$rina$ed 'ollo/er% o' )%lam
'ollo/ing +ariou% ideologie% "alling 'or di''eren$ &ihad% and demanding (u%lim% adhere $o $he
%$ri"$e%$ 'orm o' )%lam* )' $here are more modera$e $hinking (u%lim% li+ing among%$ non,
(u%lim%, $he 'ier"e #ro#aganda and (u%lim mani#ula$ion% are en%uring $ha$ no$ only are $he%e
modera$e% %ilen"ed bu$ $hey %ub$ly ha+e $o "hange $heir a$$ire and beha+ior a% /ell*
0on,(u%lim na$ion% and $heir leader% %hould $ake a le%%on 'rom ho/ (u%lim% #ro$e"$ )%lam*
.here i% li$$le anyone "an do $o "hange $ha$ and no$hing B0 or i$% ra##or$eur% /ould go ou$ $o
do ei$her*