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Hub AI
Religion in Bahrain AI simulator
(@Religion in Bahrain_simulator)
Hub AI
Religion in Bahrain AI simulator
(@Religion in Bahrain_simulator)
Religion in Bahrain
The Constitution of Bahrain states that Islam is the official religion and that Shari'a (Islamic law) is a principal source for legislation. Article 22 of the Constitution provides for freedom of conscience, the inviolability of worship, and the freedom to perform religious rites and hold religious parades and meetings, in accordance with the customs observed in the country; however, the Government has placed some limitations on the exercise of this right.
Among the citizens of Bahrain in 2010, 99.8% were Muslim according to the government's published census statistics, although the Muslim proportion falls to 70.2% when the non-national population is included. The current census data does not differentiate between the other religions in Bahrain, but there are about 1,000 Christian citizens and fewer than 40 Jewish citizens. The Bahraini citizens of Muslim faith belong to the Shi'a and Sunni branches of Islam. The last official census (1941) showed that 52% (88,298 citizens) of the Muslim population were Shia and 48% of the Muslim population were Sunni. During the 1980s, unofficial sources, such as the Library of Congress Country Studies, and The New York Times, estimated that 45% of Bahraini population were Sunnis, while 55% of Bahraini population were Shias. The last official Bahraini document published in 2011 revealed that 51% of the country's citizens are Sunnis, while the Shi'ite population had declined to 49% of the citizen population.
Foreigners, overwhelmingly from South Asia and other Arab countries, constituted 54% of the population in 2010. Of these, 45% are Muslim and 55% are non-Muslim, including Christians (primarily: Catholic, Protestant, Malankara Orthodox, and Mar Thoma from South India), Hindus, Baháʼís, Buddhists, and Sikhs.
The Constitution states that Islam is the official religion of the country and also provides for freedom of religion; however, there were limits on this right. The Government allows religion-based, political nongovernmental organizations to register as political "societies", which operate somewhat like parties with the legal authority to conduct political activities. Parliamentary and municipal elections were held in 2006 and all political societies participated, including the largest Shi'a political society, which had boycotted the last parliamentary elections in 2002. Of eligible voters, 73% participated in the elections.
Every religious group must obtain a license from the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs (MOJIA) to operate. In December 2006 the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Islamic Affairs merged to form the MOJIA. Depending on circumstances, for example, the opening of a religious school, a religious group may also need approval from the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Information, and/or the Ministry of Education. Christian congregations that are registered with the Ministry of Social Development operated freely and were allowed to offer their facilities to other Christian congregations that did not have their places of worship. The Government prohibits anti-Islamic writings.
Four Sikh temples and several Hindu temples are allowed to function freely. During the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Bahrain he announced redevelopment project for the Shrinathji (Krishna) Temple which will cost $4.2 million. The country's only synagogue has not been operational for nearly 60 years.
Holding a religious meeting without a permit is illegal; however, there were no reports of religious groups being denied a permit to gather. Unregistered Christian congregations exist, and there were no reports of the Government attempting to force unregistered congregations to register. The High Council for Islamic Affairs is charged with the review and approval of all clerical appointments within both the Sunni and Shi'a communities and maintains program oversight for all citizens studying religion abroad. Historically there is evidence of discrimination against Shi'a Muslims in recruitment for the country's military and domestic security services. During the reporting period, the Ministry of Defense did not recruit Shi'a for military service. The Ministry of Interior made increasing efforts to recruit additional Shi'a into nonmilitary security agencies during the reporting period.
On April 19, 2007, officials in the Ministry of Education announced that the Ministry, in conjunction with the MOJIA, was developing a new religious education curriculum to be taught in all public schools, beginning the next academic year. According to the Undersecretary of Islamic Affairs, the new curriculum will focus on practices in Islam and jurisprudence and will contain content against radicalism and extremism.
Religion in Bahrain
The Constitution of Bahrain states that Islam is the official religion and that Shari'a (Islamic law) is a principal source for legislation. Article 22 of the Constitution provides for freedom of conscience, the inviolability of worship, and the freedom to perform religious rites and hold religious parades and meetings, in accordance with the customs observed in the country; however, the Government has placed some limitations on the exercise of this right.
Among the citizens of Bahrain in 2010, 99.8% were Muslim according to the government's published census statistics, although the Muslim proportion falls to 70.2% when the non-national population is included. The current census data does not differentiate between the other religions in Bahrain, but there are about 1,000 Christian citizens and fewer than 40 Jewish citizens. The Bahraini citizens of Muslim faith belong to the Shi'a and Sunni branches of Islam. The last official census (1941) showed that 52% (88,298 citizens) of the Muslim population were Shia and 48% of the Muslim population were Sunni. During the 1980s, unofficial sources, such as the Library of Congress Country Studies, and The New York Times, estimated that 45% of Bahraini population were Sunnis, while 55% of Bahraini population were Shias. The last official Bahraini document published in 2011 revealed that 51% of the country's citizens are Sunnis, while the Shi'ite population had declined to 49% of the citizen population.
Foreigners, overwhelmingly from South Asia and other Arab countries, constituted 54% of the population in 2010. Of these, 45% are Muslim and 55% are non-Muslim, including Christians (primarily: Catholic, Protestant, Malankara Orthodox, and Mar Thoma from South India), Hindus, Baháʼís, Buddhists, and Sikhs.
The Constitution states that Islam is the official religion of the country and also provides for freedom of religion; however, there were limits on this right. The Government allows religion-based, political nongovernmental organizations to register as political "societies", which operate somewhat like parties with the legal authority to conduct political activities. Parliamentary and municipal elections were held in 2006 and all political societies participated, including the largest Shi'a political society, which had boycotted the last parliamentary elections in 2002. Of eligible voters, 73% participated in the elections.
Every religious group must obtain a license from the Ministry of Justice and Islamic Affairs (MOJIA) to operate. In December 2006 the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Islamic Affairs merged to form the MOJIA. Depending on circumstances, for example, the opening of a religious school, a religious group may also need approval from the Ministry of Social Development, the Ministry of Information, and/or the Ministry of Education. Christian congregations that are registered with the Ministry of Social Development operated freely and were allowed to offer their facilities to other Christian congregations that did not have their places of worship. The Government prohibits anti-Islamic writings.
Four Sikh temples and several Hindu temples are allowed to function freely. During the Indian Prime Minister's visit to Bahrain he announced redevelopment project for the Shrinathji (Krishna) Temple which will cost $4.2 million. The country's only synagogue has not been operational for nearly 60 years.
Holding a religious meeting without a permit is illegal; however, there were no reports of religious groups being denied a permit to gather. Unregistered Christian congregations exist, and there were no reports of the Government attempting to force unregistered congregations to register. The High Council for Islamic Affairs is charged with the review and approval of all clerical appointments within both the Sunni and Shi'a communities and maintains program oversight for all citizens studying religion abroad. Historically there is evidence of discrimination against Shi'a Muslims in recruitment for the country's military and domestic security services. During the reporting period, the Ministry of Defense did not recruit Shi'a for military service. The Ministry of Interior made increasing efforts to recruit additional Shi'a into nonmilitary security agencies during the reporting period.
On April 19, 2007, officials in the Ministry of Education announced that the Ministry, in conjunction with the MOJIA, was developing a new religious education curriculum to be taught in all public schools, beginning the next academic year. According to the Undersecretary of Islamic Affairs, the new curriculum will focus on practices in Islam and jurisprudence and will contain content against radicalism and extremism.