The reality of being a Christian in the Gulf

The persecution of religious minorities is a significant root of global disorder, and constant and concerted efforts should be made by all to diminish this everywhere.

Additionally, of special concern is the persecution of Christians in so many parts of the world.

While these realities are serious and not to be ignored, our facts must be clear. This balanced letter from Rev Canon Andy Thompson, is very helpful to move us away from generalizations and stereotypes, in this case about “the Middle East.”

The Guardian carries this letter

As the Anglican chaplain living in Abu Dhabi, a former chaplain in Kuwait and a canon of Bahrain Cathedral, I would like to address your editorial on Christian persecution (26 December). I appreciate the Guardian highlighting what has become a disturbingly widespread trend. However, as a resident in the Gulf, I felt the throwaway line presenting the Gulf as a front line in Christian persecution was misleading. While this would be true for Saudi Arabia, the reality in other Gulf countries is far more nuanced. Though there is a large domestic workforce consisting of Christians from the Philippines, India and Ethiopia, there is also a significant Christian minority who work in the professional sector, in education, health, tourism and the oil and gas industry – in other words, we are not all impoverished servants.

An Iraqi Christian woman sits inside a church in Telkaif near Mosul

 An Iraqi Christian woman fleeing violence in the Iraqi city of Mosul, sits inside a church in Telkaif. ‘Iraq is another case where Muslims who fall foul of the Isis brand of Islam are just as savagely persecuted as Christians,’ writes the Rev Canon Andy Thompson. Photograph: Reuters

As the Anglican chaplain living in Abu Dhabi, a former chaplain in Kuwait and a canon of Bahrain Cathedral, I would like to address your editorial on Christian persecution (26 December). I appreciate the Guardian highlighting what has become a disturbingly widespread trend. However, as a resident in the Gulf, I felt the throwaway line presenting the Gulf as a front line in Christian persecution was misleading. While this would be true for Saudi Arabia, the reality in other Gulf countries is far more nuanced. Though there is a large domestic workforce consisting of Christians from the Philippines, India and Ethiopia, there is also a significant Christian minority who work in the professional sector, in education, health, tourism and the oil and gas industry – in other words, we are not all impoverished servants.

There is no persecution in the UAE, Bahrain or Oman. Living in Kuwait, I saw a lot of abuse of domestic workers, and sometimes that was related to religion, but mainly it was abuse of power rather than persecution. I have found that the ruling families have been unstintingly generous towards the church, especially in the UAE. At the recent G20 Interfaith Summit in Brisbane, as a representative of the Christian community in the UAE, I spoke about the UAE as an excellent example of religious freedom within an Islamic framework.

I think your editorial also needs to remind readers that some of the named countries are dysfunctional to the extent where all minorities and even the majority suffers (I think of North Korea especially). Iraq is another case where Muslims who fall foul of the Isis brand of Islam are just as savagely persecuted as Christians.

Yet Christian persecution is a reality and I thank you for raising awareness about the suffering of countless devout Christians. In the case of the Gulf, though, your editorial is an inadequate representation of the experience of the church.

Rev Canon Andy Thompson
Senior chaplain, St Andrew’s Church, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

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