In Kuwait these days there is much gloom on Christians because they are afraid that their Churches may go for demolition. But in reality, it is not correct yet there was a reason for Christians to get a distress call when one Kuwaiti Member of Parliament made an unwarranted statement in this regard. According to the available report one Islamist MP Osama Al Monawer called for the removal of the existing Christian Churches in Kuwait. Then immediately he clarified his statement by sayinng "what he meant was not the removal of the existing Churches in Kuwait but issuance of new permits for the constructin of new Churches in Kuwait".
There are about 5 lakh expatriate Christians in Kuwait from different nationalities comprising innumerable denominations and out of this number around 200 are Kuwaitis. Catholics is one of the largest Christian communities in Kuwait but according to the internal circle since last two years their number is decreasing at a faster pace as they are deserting Catholicsm and embracing other Christian denominations.
There are many Churches in Kuwait but prominent among them are Catholiic Churches located in Kuwait City, Ahmadi, Salmiya and Abbasiya. Still these many Churches are not sufficient enough for the fast growing number of expatriate Catholics coming from Philippines, India, Middle Eastern Arab countries and from the West as well. The same situation is faced by the other Non-Catholic denominations.
According to the Bishop of Kuwait His Lordship Bishop Camillo Ballin in response to the first statement of the Islamist MP Al Monawer, " this is not according to the Kuwaiti mentality, Kuwaiti tradition and it spoils the name of Kuwait in the world unjustly". Then the Bishop Ballin continued saying "Kuwait is a tolerant country. Such statements spoils the name of Kuwait in the world because a statement like that, even though changed the next day, provoked fire in the world".
Further Bishop Ballin added saying "This is not in the honour of Kuwait. I was in Cairo when this happened and I received many phone calls and emails from Egypt, Italy and France with questions of whether it was true that Kuwait is going to destroy all the Churches. This is the message that was understood by the people. It seems that the MP changed his mind the next day. But this is not in his honour to change his mind. He made a mistake the first day; he made a mistake the second day".
Rev. Emmanuel Ghareb, patron of the National Evangelical Church in Kuwwait says that the Kuwaiti Law states the right to freedom of belief and the establishment of religion.
According to Islam, a Muslim has to believe in Christianity since Christianity is derived from one of the three Holy books as recognised by Islam. Islam accepts all three religions as they are originated by the three Prophets of God (Peace Be Upon Them). Islam keeps Christianity on high pedestal and Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) in his instructions adviced the Muslim to treat Christians fairly well. Said Prophet (PBUH), "if you open for Egypt, treat the Christian Copts well because they are good soldiers". And talking to the 4 Calips including Abu Bakr, Prophet (PBUH) advised them after conquering their land to protect the Churches of Christians.
In this regard the record of Kuwait is excellent allowing Christians to build their Churches and freedom for prayers. The Ahmadi Church is the oldest Church in Kuwait while the Kuwait City Cathedral is the second oldest Church in Kuwait. Under the rule of Sabah Family there is lot of freedom of worship in Kuwait not only for Christians but also for other religious entities. The leniency imparted by the ruling Sabah Family for the expartiates to perform their prayers and religious rites is really laudable.
Since time immemorial Christians and Muslims lived together peacefully for the good of human society. When Kuwait was invaded by Iraq, it was the unity of Christians and Muslims that helped to wage a war on Iraq to liberate Kuwait. It was the unity of Christians and Muslims that liberated Kuwait. The Christian soldiers from USA, UK, France and other Christian Western countries joined together with the Muslims from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other GCC countries and finally gave a fitting response to Saddam Hussein's Iraq. It was the victory of unity between Muslims and Christians that liberated Kuwait on 26th February in 1991.
Expatriate Christians are residing in Kuwait only temporarily and during this temporary period they need spirituall peace and solace to reach to Heaven. These they can achieve only thru their own respective religions. Human beings should be religious, the link betwwen men and God can be better established thru the places of worship, for this reason places of worship are a must, be they of any religion. All those who believe in God must facilitate the establishment of places of worship for the people to perform their religious rites finally to achieve their Hevenly goal.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
