Qatar
(2000)
There is no constitutional protection for freedom of
religion. The Official State religion follows the conservative Wahhabi
tradition of the Hanbali school of Islam. The Government officially
prohibits public worship by non-Muslims; however, it tolerates private
worship for "peoples of the book," (i.e., Christians and Jews).
During the past year, the Government took substantive
steps that somewhat improved respect for religious freedom by recognizing
Christian clergy and proceeding with plans to construct Christian churches
in the capital, Doha.
There are generally amicable relations among persons of
differing religious beliefs. However, much of the population opposes the
construction of Christian churches. Discrimination in some areas occurs, at
times along religious lines. In general Muslims hold all positions of
authority in the Government, with citizens holding higher level positions
and foreign Muslims holding lower positions. Shi'a Muslims experience
discrimination in employment in sensitive areas. Non-Muslims may not
proselytize, and the Government formally prohibits the publication,
importation, and distribution of Bibles and other non-Islamic religious
literature. However, in practice individuals generally are not prevented
from importing Bibles and other religious items for personal use.
The U.S. Ambassador and embassy staff meet regularly
with government officials to discuss issues of religious freedom. Other
embassy officers have taken the lead in bringing government officials and
lay church leaders together to discuss the modalities of expanding
toleration and understanding of non-Islamic worship. The Government has
been receptive to quiet dialog and has offered to donate land for and
assist in the construction of Christian churches.
Section I. Government Policies on Freedom of Religion
Legal/Policy Framework
There is no constitutional protection for freedom of
religion. The state religion is Islam, as interpreted by the conservative
Wahhabi order of the Sunni branch. The Government officially prohibits
public worship by non-Muslims; however, it tolerates and protects services
conducted privately with prior notification to the authorities. The
Government allows Shi'a Muslims to practice their faith freely; however,
community leaders have agreed to refrain from certain public practices,
such as self-flagellation.
The Government and ruling family are inextricably linked
to the practice of Islam. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs controls the
construction of mosques, the administration of clerical affairs, and
instruction in the Koran. The Minister of Islamic Affairs is a member of
the Emir's cabinet and participates in policymaking at the highest level.
The only official government holidays aside from the independence day are
the Eid Al-Fitr, following the holy month of Ramadan, and the Eid Al-Adha,
which commemorates the end of the Hajj. The Emir participates in widely
publicized "Eid prayers" and each year personally finances the
Hajj pilgrimages of many who cannot afford to travel to Mecca.
During the period covered by this report, the Catholic,
Anglican, and Orthodox churches in effect received de facto official
recognition. However, formal recognition apparently has not yet been
granted. There reportedly is a verbal commitment by the Government to allow
the churches to operate openly in a manner that apparently reflects de
facto government recognition.
Religious Demography
There are no reliable population figures available;
however, the population is estimated to be about 650,000. Of that number,
about 170,000 are believed to be citizens. It is estimated that the
majority of the remaining 480,000 persons are Sunni Muslim foreigners, and
that the rest are Shi'a Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, and Baha'is.
A large foreign population practices other faiths,
albeit privately and quietly. Most foreigners are concentrated in and
around the capital city of Doha. In addition to Muslim foreigners, there
are a significant number of Christians (Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and
other Protestant denominations), as well as smaller numbers of Hindus,
Buddhists, and Baha'is living and working in the country. The Christian
community consists of a diverse mix of Americans, Europeans, Arabs,
Indians, and Filipinos. The Hindu community is almost exclusively Indian.
Buddhists are found among the East Asian community, and a small number of
ethnic Persians make up the Baha'i community. The Shi'a community has a
small number of mosques.
Police provide traffic control for authorized Catholic
masses, which may be attended by 1,000 or more persons at Easter and
Christmas. In December 1999, Christmas cards and decorations were readily
available in several shops in the capital, even though the holiday
coincided with the holy month of Ramadan. During March and April, Easter
merchandise was widely available.
Governmental Restrictions on Religious Freedom
Non-Muslims may not proselytize, and conversion from
Islam is theoretically a capital offense. However, there is no record of an
execution for such a conversion since independence in 1971.
The Government formally prohibits the publication,
importation, and distribution of Bibles and other non-Islamic religious
literature. However, in practice individuals generally are not prevented
from importing Bibles and other religious items for personal use. In
previous years, there were sporadic reports of confiscation of such
materials by customs officials. During the period covered by this report,
some Christian worship groups reported having no trouble importing
instructional materials (i.e., Sunday school materials and devotionals) for
use by the groups.
There are no restrictions on non-Muslims providing
religious instruction to their children; however, the public schools
provide compulsory instruction in Islam. The public schools generally are
closed to foreigners, most of whose children attend any of a number of
private schools.
Practice of Islam confers advantage in civil life. For
example, non-Muslims do not have the right to bring suit in the Shari'a
(Islamic law) courts. These courts are utilized to settle the majority of
civil claims; thus, non-Muslims are at a distinct disadvantage.
Improvements in Respect for Religious Freedom
The overall trend during the period covered by this
report has been toward somewhat more religious freedom for Christian
worship. Private discussions between the Government and the ambassadors of
the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, and
South Korea have yielded progress in the area of religious freedom. The
Government apparently has recognized the Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox
churches on a de facto basis and allowed them to operate more openly. For
example, priests of the three churches have been asked to wear their
clerical garb and can apply to be sponsors for visitor visas for other
church representatives. In addition, church representatives can import
reasonable amounts of Bibles and other religious literature for use by
their congregations. In February 2000, the Government identified a parcel
of land on which it plans to allow the construction of three churches, one
each for the Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox communities. Officials from
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and
Agriculture met with diplomats and representatives of the churches to
discuss initial design plans.
Such progress for Christians is due, in large part, to
their status as "people of the book;" the Koran accords special
status to Christians and Jews. The Government intends neither to permit
Hindus and Buddhists to worship openly nor to establish temples because it
claims that there is no Koranic justification for tolerance of polytheistic
religions.
There were no reports of religious detainees or
prisoners.
There were no reports that the Government forcibly
converted any individuals. However, a criminal may have his or her sentence
reduced by memorizing the Koran. For non-Muslim prisoners, this may create
an incentive to convert to Islam.
Forced Religious Conversion of Minor U.S. Citizens
There were no reports of the forced religious conversion
of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the
United States, or of the Government's refusal to allow such citizens to be
returned to the United States.
Section II. Societal Attitudes
Relations between persons of differing religious beliefs
generally are amicable and tolerant. However, a sizable percentage of the
citizen population opposes the construction of Christian churches.
Discrimination in the areas of employment, education,
housing, and health services occurs, at times along religious lines.
Non-Muslims hold jobs in the Government and military; however, they are
generally technical positions. In general Muslims hold all positions of
authority in the Government, with citizens holding higher level positions
and foreign Muslims holding lower positions. Shi'a Muslims experience
discrimination in employment in sensitive areas, such as security. However,
the critical factor in most cases of discrimination is citizenship. Muslim
and non-Muslim foreigners face the same challenges. Health care,
electricity, water, and education are provided free-of-charge to citizens,
while foreigners must pay for these services. Citizens also may receive
low- or no-interest home loans from the Government. Foreigners must rent
housing because they are not permitted to own property.
Section III. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. Ambassador, Deputy Chief of Mission, and the
Embassy's political officer meet regularly with government officials at
many levels to address the issue of religious freedom, both in public and
in private. The issue has been raised with the Emir, the Foreign Minister,
and several other government officials. Efforts to emphasize religious
freedom are also being coordinated with the Embassies of the United
Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Romania, and South Korea.
The Government has been receptive to the pleas from
foreign governments to allow the construction of Christian churches, as
evidenced by recent progress (see Section I). Its main concern is that the
process should proceed slowly so as not to create undue opposition among
more conservative elements of the population in the hope that, by taking
the time to lay the groundwork, opposition will be minimal.
Sources: U.S. State Department - Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor |