#50 in Christian persecution, Brunei.

How are Christians persecuted in Brunei?​

• Christians are a minority in Brunei, with local Bruneian Christians coming mostly from indigenous groups and those who are ethnically Chinese.
• Apostasy is punishable under the law, so believers who have left Islam can face severe persecution. Whilst there is a moratorium on the death penalty, converts can still face whipping and imprisonment of up to 30 years – and the threat of even worse always lingers.
• New believers also face pressure from their families and communities. Men who convert to Christianity can encounter a whole host of reprisals, including expulsion from home, disinheritance, loss of social benefits, threats and beatings.
• Christian women must adhere to Islamic dress codes in certain settings.
• Christian women often face the most persecution at home, where they are vulnerable to house arrest, forced marriage, separation from children and forced rehabilitation programmes. One believer, Kayla*, shares, “My husband wasn’t happy with me attending church. He would hit me and treat me with cruelty, both verbally and physically. He would kick me like I’m a dog.”
• Mandatory Islamic education starts aged three, making it challenging for parents and churches to tell children about Jesus.

“I want to continue serving the Lord for the rest of my life.”
KAYLA

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• Despite the persecution, many Bruneian Christians are still bravely standing firm in their faith. Kayla* says, “I want to continue serving the Lord for the rest of my life — until the day I die.”

Why are Christians persecuted in Brunei?​

• Brunei is majority Muslim, and there is no separation between state and Islam.
• “Dakwah”, the spread of Islam, is strongly encouraged and supported by the Brunei government. The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) oversees Islamic education, dakwah programmes, and activities to strengthen Islamic values in society.
• While dakwah for Islam is encouraged, propagation of other religions (such as Christianity) is strictly forbidden. This means Muslims may share their faith, but Christians cannot openly share theirs.
• Christian activities are being increasingly marginalised. While worship and church activities can still exist within the confines of the church, evangelising and distributing Christian literature are against the law. Churches that welcome converts risk fines and imprisonment.
• Non-traditional Christian communities, such as Pentecostals, cannot register as churches. Instead, they must operate as companies, societies or family centres. This means they are treated as secular entities and required to submit annual reports to the government, putting their activities under even sharper scrutiny.

Who is particularly vulnerable in Brunei?​

• Converts are at greatest risk of persecution, both from the authorities and from their families and communities.
• Traditional church communities, such as Catholics and Anglicans, experience some scrutiny. However, those from non-traditional groups, like Pentecostals and Evangelicals, are most susceptible to opposition, particularly those more involved in outreach activities.

What has changed in Brunei in the past year?​

• Little has changed this year, thought recent incidents have brought Christians a sobering reminder that they must be careful in even the simplest acts of everyday life. One believer was asked to resign from her job after praying for her food. Elsewhere, a student was accused of being disrespectful to Islam for sharing a fact during class and, in a similar episode, a believer was accused of blasphemy because of a social media post. Thankfully, neither accusation went far, but Christians are concerned that might not always be the case.

How can I help Christians in Brunei?​