13 Saudi Arabia

Saudi-Arabia
Persecution Type
  • Islamic oppression (Very strong)
  • Clan oppression (Very strong)
  • Dictatorial paranoia (Strong
Christian population

2,194,000

Government

Absolute Monarchy

Main Religion

Islam

Leader

Crown Prince and Prime Minister Muhammad Bin Salman bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud

What does persecution look like in Saudi Arabia?

The small number of Saudi Christians has been slowly increasing and they’re becoming bolder, sharing their faith with others online and on satellite TV—but it comes at a cost.

This is because conversion from Islam to Christianity is unacceptable under Islamic law—in fact, it’s considered one of the biggest sins a Muslim can commit. If discovered, men and boys are more likely to be forced out of the home, whereas women and girls are usually isolated and abused within the home. All converts risk being killed to “restore” the family honor. While some Saudi Christians are open about their faith, most choose to keep it hidden—even from their own children, so they don’t inadvertently reveal their parents’ faith.

Foreign Christians can face similar challenges. All expatriates are severely restricted in sharing their faith with Muslims and gathering for church activities. Doing so can lead to detention and deportation. Asian and African workers are regularly exposed to verbal and physical abuse because of their ethnicity and low status, but their Christian faith can also play a role. Persecution can be exacerbated if they are from Muslim backgrounds.

Encouragingly, there seems to be more openness in society to expressing and exploring new ideas, and some Saudis are exploring Christianity. There are also reports that many young people would not be against allowing the presence of church buildings in Saudi Arabia. Amid pressure and persecution, God is on the move.

What changed this year?

Not much has changed in Saudi Arabia this year, outside of a slight uptick in violence against the Christian community. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman has expressed his desire to return Saudi to a more “moderate” form of Islam, introducing reforms such as allowing women to drive and permitting certain forms of entertainment. With the curbing of the religious police’s powers, there is less public enforcement of Islam than in previous years, which has led to relatively more freedom for both expatriates and Saudi citizens.

These freedoms have made people feel more free to explore other ideas, ideologies and faiths. While atheism and esoteric ideologies are in vogue, this development has not yet led to much greater openness towards the Christian faith. On the other hand, in certain parts of the country some converts from Islam have been able to speak of their new faith to their families without major repercussions. However, the influence of the values and beliefs of tribe and community remains undiminished.

How can I pray?

  • That secret believers will find other Christians to meet with, and that Christian communities will have discernment and courage as they distinguish between true believers and spies
  • That Christians will be led to those who are searching for truth, and that the number of people coming to know Jesus will grow
  • That Saudi society would be opened to allowing people to freely follow Jesus. 

More Christians need help than ever before.

As we close out 2023, the number of persecuted Christians is higher than ever. With greater persecution comes greater need. Your year-end gift will help – including providing more Bibles, more discipleship, and more relief aid.

Our year-end goal is $500,000 to help our persecuted family. Will you prayerfully give a gift today?

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