Mauritania is staunchly Islamic; Christian activities are severely restricted.
bottom“I was sad, overwhelmed by fear and insecurity. But God helped me overcome all of that. I tasted true joy and true peace when I entrusted my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.”
—Yasmina*
*Name changed for security purposes
Converts from Islam to Christianity face severe opposition from their families and surrounding communities. Public expressions of faith by non-Mauritanian Christians can be viewed as proselytising Muslims, which may lead to imprisonment and deportation. This makes it largely impossible for anyone to live out their faith in public.
The government has indicated it will enforce strict apostasy laws. Since 2018, these laws include the death penalty with no leniency based on repentance, making execution mandatory for any Muslim convicted of leaving Islam or committing blasphemy.
In this tribal society, women are subject to the authority of their fathers and husbands, which leaves them especially vulnerable. They may be deprived of food, bullied, or put under house arrest. Most women are denied a choice in marriage and may be forced to marry a Muslim man. They risk being ostracised if they refuse.
Christian leaders from Muslim backgrounds are at high risk of being detained, subjected to extra surveillance, and death threats. Male converts also face pressure from their families and communities, including expulsion from the home and physical violence. They risk losing employment opportunities, being forced out of government jobs, or the community boycotting their business as a form of punishment.
Some foreign-born Christians are allowed to worship in specific places but are not permitted to share their faith in any way. Indigenous converts from Islam are the most vulnerable to persecution, particularly in rural areas (though the risk is high even in the capital city). Most converts are forced to hide their faith as loss of family and clan can make it difficult to survive in Mauritania’s nomadic society.
– For believers who feel the pressure radical Islamic leaders put on them through insults and public demonstrations against them.
– It is illegal for Muslims in Mauritania to convert to Christianity. Pray this law will be overturned.
– That God encourages Mauritania’s small, resilient Church to grow in their faith and live out the Great Commission.
In cooperation with local partners and churches, Open Doors supports believers in North Africa through leadership and discipleship training, trauma counselling, prayer, and livelihood assistance.
