How are Christians persecuted in Bhutan?
- Christian women who convert from Hinduism or Buddhism to Christianity are at the greatest risk of persecution; typically they will be emotionally abused by their families or divorced by their husbands.
- Forced marriage is also a risk for Christian converts. Unmarried converts, especially young women, fear being pressured into marrying a non-Christian.
- Christian men and boys can experience persecution through being disowned by their family or being asked to leave the family home. They are also likely to experience strong pressure from their peers, local community and work colleagues, compounding a sense of isolation and rejection.
- Local authorities often refuse to issue Christians with the right paperwork to file loan applications, property registration, job applications and ID card renewal.
“Villagers taunted my parents. They mentally harassed them. They called Christian faith a foreign religion and began to create chaos for our family.”
Deki*
Why are Christians persecuted in Bhutan?
- Everyone in Bhutan is assumed to be Buddhist. Anyone who converts to Christianity is treated with extreme suspicion, and usually there are efforts to bring them back to Buddhism.
- Since there are no registered churches in Bhutan, Christians instead resort to gathering in homes. No churches are officially recognised by the state, which means that Christians who gather in these small fellowships are acting illegally, leaving them vulnerable to criminal penalties.
“I heard that while receiving citizenship, we will be made to bow down to idols and drink holy water. Please pray for me and other Christians, that we remain strong in our faith.”
A believer in Bhutan
Who is particularly vulnerable in Bhutan?
- Converts from Buddhism are most vulnerable, as they can face pressure from family, community and local and national officials.
What has changed in Bhutan in the past year?
- Bhutan remains at 36 on the World Watch List, with a very slight increase in persecution score.
- A new prime minister took over in January 2024, but the change in power is not expected to make too much of an impact on the country’s small Christian minority.
“God has been good all the time. He has blessed me in my work and hears my prayers.”
Deki
How can I help Christians in Bhutan?
Please keep praying for your brothers and sisters in Bhutan. Your gifts and prayers make an enormous difference to those following Jesus no matter the cost.
Open Doors works through local partners to strengthen persecuted Christians in Bhutan through prayer support and other practical aid.
*Name changed for security reasons
Dear Lord, please be with our brothers and sisters in Bhutan as they risk so much to follow You. We pray for stamina, for courage and for wisdom. Let them find places where they can gather for worship, and protect them as they do. Help young Bhutanese believers to not grow weary, but rather to grow in faith to be the next generation of the church in this beautiful nation. We pray these things in the name of Your Son, Jesus, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, amen.
