In Mauritania, It Is Extremely Difficult To Be A Christian

Mauritania, very proud to be officially a pure Muslim country, does not include any provisions for religious freedom in its constitution, and its laws prohibit conversion to Christian faith. The sentence for apostasy is death.

In Mauritania, it is extremely difficult to be a Christian. Pressure on Believers from a Muslim Background from family and tribe members and leaders of local mosques, is very high. There is some freedom for expat churches, but even for expats residing in the country it is complicated. It remains completely impossible for Mauritanian Christians to register their churches, so they must meet in secret.

There are about 4,250 Christians in Mauritania.. The calculations of the indigenous Christians vary between 400 and 1000.

Laws forbid Mauritanians from hearing gospel or converting to Christianity. The government goes to great lengths to keep Christianity away from the people. The president even created a new religious radio station in Arabic, Fulani, Sononke, Wolof and French transmitting messages from the Quran.

There is no freedom for conversion to any religion other than Islam. The sentence for apostasy is death – although this sentence has not been carried out in recent years.

Article 11 of the Press Act is used to prevent proselytizing of Muslims by non-Muslims, and to restrict the printing, distribution and importation of non-Islamic religious materials, though private ownership is not illegal. (Source: Open Doors)