What does persecution look like in Oman? What is life like for Christians?
In Oman, all Omani citizens are assumed to be Muslim. Islam is the state religion, and legislation is mostly based on Islamic law. Although civil courts were established more than 20 years ago, the legal system still assumes all citizens are Muslims and makes legal rulings under that assumption.
The level of persecution for Christians in Oman depends on if they are migrant workers or if they are Omani. Local converts from Islam are under the most pressure—their families, neighbors and broader society all press them to return to their national and tribal faith. Converts can be expelled from their families and lose their jobs. Their children can be taken from them, and families could strip away their inheritance rights.
Christians who have converted from Islam but who are non-Omani migrant workers face different levels of pressure based on the level of pressure in their home countries. Normally, they live in expatriate communities of people from their native land, so the local community makes a dramatic difference in the persecution that followers of Jesus face.
The government largely tolerates foreign Christian communities, but even so, greatly restricts and monitors their public gatherings. All Christian meetings are monitored for political statements and attendance by Omani citizens. Additionally, all religious organizations must be registered with authorities.
Meet “Daniel” from the Arabian Peninsula
“Many believers [on the Arabian Peninsula] live in secret, and their families don’t know about their change of heart. If they share their faith, it’s not unusual for there to be family tension. Sometimes, new believers are accepted and find a new role within the family. But whenever new tensions surface, such as COVID-19, those trials challenge the fragile balance. This might result in accusations against new believers for bringing stress on the family. Believers might be mocked for not acting as Jesus commands; or the family will find other ways to try and shame the believers.”
What has changed in Oman?
Oman has fallen two spots on this year’s World Watch List, but persecution has actually risen in the small country in the Arabian Peninsula. Pressure in daily life for followers of Jesus—especially those who have converted from Islam—continues to be very high across the board. Oppression, discrimination and coercion are common, and even non-converts face daily discrimination and monitoring from the government and Omani society.
Who is most vulnerable to persecution?
Omani converts are easily the most persecuted in Oman. They come under significant pressure in their private, family and community lives. This pressure slightly increases outside cities and in rural areas.
What does Open Doors do to help Christians in Oman?
Open Doors raises prayer support for Christians and churches in Oman.
Population statistic: Johnson T M and Zurlo G A, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed February 2020).
Pray for Oman
January 18, 2021
13 Christians murdered for following Jesus—every day
Read More -
May 19, 2020
Don’t waste COVID-19: Lessons from believers in the Arabian Peninsula
Read More -
March 6, 2020
A ‘living death’: How Christian women experience persecution
Read More -
In Oman, all Omani citizens are assumed to be Muslim. Islam is the state religion, and legislation is mostly based on Islamic law. Although civil courts were established more than 20 years ago, the legal system still assumes all citizens are Muslims and makes legal rulings under that assumption.
The level of persecution for Christians in Oman depends on if they are migrant workers or if they are Omani. Local converts from Islam are under the most pressure—their families, neighbors and broader society all press them to return to their national and tribal faith. Converts can be expelled from their families and lose their jobs. Their children can be taken from them, and families could strip away their inheritance rights.
Christians who have converted from Islam but who are non-Omani migrant workers face different levels of pressure based on the level of pressure in their home countries. Normally, they live in expatriate communities of people from their native land, so the local community makes a dramatic difference in the persecution that followers of Jesus face.
The government largely tolerates foreign Christian communities, but even so, greatly restricts and monitors their public gatherings. All Christian meetings are monitored for political statements and attendance by Omani citizens. Additionally, all religious organizations must be registered with authorities.
Meet “Daniel” from the Arabian Peninsula
“Many believers [on the Arabian Peninsula] live in secret, and their families don’t know about their change of heart. If they share their faith, it’s not unusual for there to be family tension. Sometimes, new believers are accepted and find a new role within the family. But whenever new tensions surface, such as COVID-19, those trials challenge the fragile balance. This might result in accusations against new believers for bringing stress on the family. Believers might be mocked for not acting as Jesus commands; or the family will find other ways to try and shame the believers.”
What has changed in Oman?
Oman has fallen two spots on this year’s World Watch List, but persecution has actually risen in the small country in the Arabian Peninsula. Pressure in daily life for followers of Jesus—especially those who have converted from Islam—continues to be very high across the board. Oppression, discrimination and coercion are common, and even non-converts face daily discrimination and monitoring from the government and Omani society.
Who is most vulnerable to persecution?
Omani converts are easily the most persecuted in Oman. They come under significant pressure in their private, family and community lives. This pressure slightly increases outside cities and in rural areas.
What does Open Doors do to help Christians in Oman?
Open Doors raises prayer support for Christians and churches in Oman.
Population statistic: Johnson T M and Zurlo G A, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, accessed February 2020).
Pray for Oman
- In the Arabian Peninsula, fear is a barrier to the growth of Christ’s Church. There is a fear that if you doubt Islam, it will prevent you from entering heaven, as fear is seen as a form of unbelief in Islamic society. Then, there is the fear of what will happen if you start following Christ, the fear of trusting brothers and sisters, and the fear that one of your new fellow Christians will betray you. Please pray this bondage of fear will be broken.
- Many believers who convert from Islam live in secret and isolation from other followers of Jesus. Believers grow to maturity best when surrounded by a community of Christians. Ask God to bring these isolated secret believers into fellowship with other believers. Pray for whole families to come to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
- As the church of the Arabian Peninsula grows, many believers from a Muslim background seek to marry. These Christians desire to raise up families who love and honor God through Jesus. Pray for God to connect believers to one another for the purpose of marriage. Pray these Christians could shed the lies they grew up with regarding family, and renew their minds with God’s truth concerning marriage and family. Pray for God to raise up families who glorify His name.
January 18, 2021
13 Christians murdered for following Jesus—every day
Read More -
May 19, 2020
Don’t waste COVID-19: Lessons from believers in the Arabian Peninsula
Read More -
March 6, 2020
A ‘living death’: How Christian women experience persecution
Read More -
