Qatar government approves first church

DOHA, Qatar — The government of Qatar has given permission to Christians to build the first church in that country. Qatar, a small Islamic nation in the Middle East, has strict rules concerning religion and evangelism but has allowed Christian groups to meet informally in the past.

The recent announcement allows Christians of several denominations to build church compounds on a specific plot of land in the capital city of Doha, reports Compass Direct. The Gulf Times reports the announcement is “yet another sign of Qatar opening up to new vistas of freedom and religious tolerance.