Bahrain, Arabian Peninsula
Population: 708,573 note: includes 235,108
non-nationalsChristians: 9%
Dominant Religion: Shia Islam (Sunni Ruler)
Persecution Ranking: 47th
Political Leader: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa
Religious Freedom in Constitution: Yes
In the Gulf there is a small group of islands linked to Saudi Arabia by a causeway. This is the nation of Bahrain, literally meaning two seas. Bahrain nationals are made up of two Muslims groups. Although Shi'ite Muslims have the larger number at 65%, it is the Sunni, at 35%, that hold most of the political and economic power. This results in significant tensions between these two communities. Foreign workers comprise one third of the population and have over 40 Christian fellowships worshipping in many languages. Three of these worship in the local Arabic language and are attended by Christians from Egypt, Jordan, and elsewhere. Like the nation of Kuwait, national Believers are mostly descendents of Christians from Jordan, Lebanon and Syria who were living in Bahrain when the state was founded in the 1970s. They enjoy freedom of worship. Others who choose to follow Jesus, however, face intense family pressure.
