Tunisia (MNN) — Tunisia’s president Kais Saied has declared he will run for reelection in October. However, other potential candidates are currently in prison or facing litigation, so critics ask how legitimate the elections can be. In the midst of this national uncertainty, what is life like for Christians? 

“We don’t know where things are going, and how things will be in future, especially in the social area,” said Dr. Moez Mediouni in a recent conversation with Voice of the Martyrs Canada on their podcast Closer to the Fire. Dr. Mediouni is a professor as well as TV producer and host in Tunisia.

“Lots of people are becoming poor[er] on a daily basis. Many are trying — especially youth — to leave schools and leave the country. Many are dying in the sea, trying to cross to Europe.”

men, bedouin, Tunisia

Christians make up less than 1% of Tunisia’s more than 12 million people. The country is 99% Muslim. (Image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Herbert Bieser via Pixabay)

Christians make up less than 1% of the majority Muslim population. However, churches are not underground. Dr. Mediouni says many Muslim Tunisians know there are Christians in the country. Christians also have a presence on TV and society in general.

“The Constitution provides the freedom of belief, [but] maybe practicing faith is not fully guaranteed,” says Dr. Mediouni. 

“There are some Christians who even went to the Ministry of Religious Affairs asking for a public building. Normally the state should provide spaces for worship for Christians, but this topic is still not yet taken seriously. Many Christians are forced to use homes [or] house groups [to meet].” 

Intense government persecution may not be present today in Tunisia, but there is high social pressure for believers. They risk rejection and threats from their families by sharing Christ with them. 

“There are a lot of Tunisian Christians [who] can face their friends, they can talk to their friends, but the family is always the last part,” Dr. Mediouni says.  

“Our culture is based on the role of the family and the role of community. So it’s very hard always to be ready to pay that cost. That difficulty is almost faced by everyone who became Christian.”

Pray for courageous gospel witness for Tunisian believers. Pray also for fairness in the upcoming election. 

Click to learn more about Voice of the Martyrs Canada and hear the full episode from Closer to the Fire. 

 

Header image is a representative stock photo of Sfax, Tunisia courtesy of Taha Loukil via Unsplash.