The crisis between Riyadh and Doha is driving Catholics out of Qatar

Jul 14, 2017

DOHA: Many Catholic families “have left Qatar” in recent weeks due to the ongoing row between Qatar and the Saudi-led Gulf states. From a social point of view, it can be called a crisis, which has led “many people to lose their jobs” and “created a situation of uncertainty for the future,” said Camillo Ballin, apostolic vicar of Northern Arabia (Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain).

The prelate was speaking about the situation of Catholics in Qatar. Most of them are immigrants who have been badly affected by the serious dispute that broke out in June between Riyadh and Doha.

“This situation ends up touching Christians who have no personal interests in local politics,” the prelate said. Uncertainty “does not encourage investment and the result is a blockaded country”.

The row stems from charges against Qatar that it supports Islamic terrorist groups and, above all, that it maintains diplomatic and trading ties with Iran, Saudi Arabia’s main enemy in the Middle East.

Others contend, however, that a final battle for Middle East domination is underway between Wahhabis and the Muslim Brotherhood, with serious repercussions on the tourist sector and employment.

Saudi Arabia and three other Arab states have extended the deadline by 48 hours for Qatar to accept a list of demands or face further sanctions. The initial deadline expired on July 2.

According to some sources, the Qatari government, which has called the demands an “affront to international law,” is expected to respond in writing.

Qatari Foreign Minister Mohammad bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani in fact has handed a letter signed by the Qatar emir to the Kuwaiti government, who is acting as mediator.

At present, “there are still no definite numbers” about how many Christians have left the country, Msgr Ballin said.

However, it is certain that “several families have already gone” and that the number of more than 300,000 Catholics before the crisis “could soon drop.”

The local Catholic community is made up of “economic migrants and labourers, largely from Asian countries, especially India, the Philippines, Bangladesh and Pakistan.”

Christians work in various fields, some specialised like “nursing, pharmacy, medicine, education.” Others are unskilled labourers who do many things “to maintain their families.”

“In daily life, there are still no visible effects of the crisis,” Msgr Ballin noted, “because Iran and Turkey are providing the country with all its needs. However, these imports are more expensive and end up affecting poor people.”

The prelate warns that the present situation leads to the impoverishment of the local Christian community, and has become a source of "serious concern. That is why I ask you to pray for us and for the dozen priests who are in daily contact with the community.” -- Asia News