Doha (AsiaNews) – Work has begun on the first Catholic Church in Qatar, which after a 14 centuries has finally received permission to open a place of worship in the country. The building which lies south of the capital – will not be open to the public, instead it will draw together in prayer Qatar’s mainly foreign Catholic community.

Render
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/7451/catholicchurchnp4.th.jpg (http://img139.imageshack.us/my.php?image=catholicchurchnp4.jpg)

Under Construction
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/2162/qatarchurchha8.th.jpg (http://img20.imageshack.us/my.php?image=qatarchurchha8.jpg)

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5524/qatarchiesaeb8.th.jpg (http://img100.imageshack.us/my.php?image=qatarchiesaeb8.jpg)

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/8830/qatarchurch2re8.th.jpg (http://img352.imageshack.us/my.php?image=qatarchurch2re8.jpg)

Future Parish priest Fr. Tom Veneration, tells AsiaNews: “After over 20 years of making formal requests to the authorities, the government has finally granted the Christian confessions land to build their own places of worship. The Catholic community were given the largest piece of land, because our presence here goes back down the centuries and also because our community is the largest, now numbering over 100 thousand faithful”.



He adds, the Church land “was given to us by Emir Amir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who in recent years has promoted a politics of inter religious dialogue while at the same time maintaining the laws which forbid any attempts to convert the local population, for the most part Muslim, to any other religion. This really is the only great limit to our pastoral work, but we must comply”. The Church will be dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary.



Roman Catholics from all over the Arabian Peninsula - many of them migrant workers - are helping to pay for the $15m building, which is scheduled to open at the end of the year.



The priest who has been working in Doha for the past three years is originally from Manila: “Up on till now we have been gathering to pray in our homes and in the small chapels inside the American and Philippine campus in Doha. Together with all the Catholics who live here we are really delighted at the idea that soon we will be able to celebrate mass in a true Church, sign of our presence in this land.”



He continues that Qatar’s Catholic community, “is free but isolated. We are growing in number each year, but in now way can we carry out our apostolic mission among the local community. In a way this guarantees stable relations with the government. However it also limits our mission”.



Qatar has a population of about 750 thousand, mainly of Islamic faith. The government re established its relations with the Vatican only in 2002, and for almost 15 centuries has opposed the construction of Christian Churches under pressure from the wahabi who hold a majority in the country and see them as a profanation of the “holy land”.

i believe there is a catholic church in Doha already near by the Marriot hotel, but its not a proper one.........i believe this one will be the first proper catholic church in Qatar................

This is the one near by the marriot
http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4689/qatarchurch3mx4.th.jpg (http://img139.imageshack.us/my.php?image=qatarchurch3mx4.jpg)

Antoher article

Doha, Sep. 26, 2007 (CWNews.com) - The first Catholic church in Qatar, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, will be consecrated in February 2008, the AsiaNews service reports.

The church, which will serve the 140,000 Catholics living in the country, will have neither a bell tower nor a cross prominently displayed, to avoid offending the Muslims who constitute the majority in Qatar. The church is being built in the capital city, Doha, on land donated by Emir Amir Hamad bin Al Thani.

About 9% of Qatar's 800,000 inhabitants are Christian. Most of these are foreign workers from the Philippines or India.

After 14 centuries????? hahaha

^^whats so funny?:D

I heard they are building six churches but not all for catholics.

^^whats so funny?:D

I heard they are building six churches but not all for catholics.

yeah each one for a different christian denomination

العذراء .. أول كنيسة في قطر

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5873/satellitejb5.th.jpg (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=satellitejb5.jpg)

مجسم للكنيسة الجديدة
الدوحة- يترقب المسيحيون المقيمون في قطر افتتاح أول كنيسة على الإطلاق قرب العاصمة الدوحة في مارس القادم، متطلعين في الوقت نفسه للاحتفال بعيد الفصح المقبل في الكنيسة التي لن يعلوها صلبان، وتحمل اسم "العذراء".
وقال الكاردينال الأب توم فينير يشون أحد العاملين في مركز الوعظ المسيحي بالدوحة: "تم تحديد 13 من مارس القادم موعدا لافتتاح أول كنيسة في قطر بمنطقة أبو هامور على مقربة من الدوحة"، بحسب صحيفة "العرب" القطرية الأحد 6-1-2008.

"مبنى الكنيسة الجديدة يضم 6 أقسام، وبلغت تكلفة إنشائها 65 مليون ريال قطري (18 مليون دولار تقريبا) بخلاف تكلفة الأرض"، بحسب الأب يشون الذي يتوقع الانتهاء من مبنى الكنيسة الكاثوليكية آخر فبراير المقبل.

طالع:
حملة تبرع للشعب الفلسطيني بمساجد قطر
قطر تمول مجمعا رياضيا لعرب 48

وأوضح أن "الكنيسة التي تحمل اسم (العذراء) لن تكون مفتوحة لكل الناس، ولن تعلوها صلبان، بل ستقتصر على مكان للصلاة الجماعية للمسيحيين".
ومن الناحية الإدارية والمالية ستتبع "العذراء" كنيسة "أبو ظبي" المشرفة على كنائس الإمارات وسلطنة عمان والبحرين واليمن.

ولحضور حفل الافتتاح جرى توجيه الدعوة لعدد كبير من القساوسة في منطقة الخليج وخارجها، وكذلك لاثنين من كرادلة الفاتيكان، ويأمل مركز الوعظ المسيحي بالدوحة في حضور بابا الفاتيكان بنديكت السادس عشر.

وأكد الأب يشون أن المسيحيين سيحتفلون في كنيسة "العذراء" بعيد الفصح في إبريل المقبل، مثمنا جهود الحكومة القطرية التي "تضمن للمسيحيين حرية ممارسة الطقوس الدينية، لكن تمنع التبشير منعا باتا".

مشروع كنيسة العذراء يحظى باهتمام الفاتيكان، فعلى الموقع الإلكتروني لإذاعته قال الفاتيكان: "إن قطر تستعد لافتتاح أول كنيسة كاثوليكية على أرضها منذ ألف وأربعمائة سنة بعدما وصل عدد المسيحيين فيها إلى مائة ألف معظمهم من العمال الأجانب المنتمين إلى الجنسيات الهندية والفيليبينية واللبنانية، وكانوا يقيمون صلواتهم بالمدارس أو الأماكن الخاصة".

ولفت إلى أن أمير قطر الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني تبرع بثمن أرض الكنيسة التي سترى النور بعد محاولات للحصول على رخصة لبنائها دامت عقدين.

"ليس جديدا"

الجانب القطري لم يعتبر الأمر جديدا على منطقة الخليج العربي، إذ نقلت الصحيفة عن مسئول رفيع لم تكشف عن هويته القول: "هذا ليس جديدا.. فعلت دول عربية خليجية الشيء نفسه (في إشارة للكويت والبحرين والإمارات وسلطنة عمان واليمن)، ونحن نحترم حق جميع السكان في ممارسة شعائرهم ومعتقداتهم".

أما السفير الإيطالي لدى الدوحة أجناتسيو دي باتشي فاعتبر في تصريح لصحيفة "جلف تايمز" القطرية أن افتتاح كنيسة للطائفة الكاثوليكية بقطر كان ضربا من المستحيل قبل سنوات قليلة، لكن الدوحة تغيرت منذ تولي الأمير الحالي السلطة عام 1995، حسب قوله.

غير أن الدكتور نجيب النعيمي وزير العدل القطري السابق توقع أن يتسبب خبر افتتاح أول كنيسة بقطر في "إثارة المسلمين بقطر، خاصة إذا لم يتم استشارتهم وقبولهم بهذا الأمر"، بحسب صحيفة "جلف نيوز" الإماراتية.

وخلافا لموقف بقية دول الخليج تتمسك السعودية بفتوى للجنة الدائمة للبحوث العلمية والإفتاء السعودية (أعلى مرجعية فقهية) تحرم إقامة دور عبادة لغير المسلمين في شبه الجزيرة العربية، استنادا إلى الحديث النبوي: "لا يجتمع دينان في جزيرة العرب".

أربع كنائس أخرى

ولن تكون "العذراء" هي الكنيسة الوحيدة في قطر، إذ من المقرر أن يتبعها إنشاء 4 كنائس أخرى لباقي الطوائف المسيحية المقيمة في البلد، بعد أن حصلت بالفعل على موافقات رسمية.

ويسعى المسيحيون الأرثوذوكس لبناء كنيسة ثانية تحمل اسم "البيت المقدسية". ويقول المهندس هاني عكاوي أحد أعضاء اللجنة المكلفة بالإشراف على بنائها لصحيفة "العرب": إن المشروع في بداياته الأولى، وجرى فتح حساب بأحد البنوك القطرية لجمع التبرعات.

ويعيش في قطر نحو 100 ألف مسيحي غالبيتهم أجانب على المذهب الكاثوليكي، بينما يقدر أتباع الكنيسة الإنجيلية بنحو 10 آلاف يستخدمون مدرسة إنجليزية في الدوحة كمكان للعبادة.

وتحتضن العاصمة القطرية مركزا لحوار الأديان (الإسلام والمسيحية واليهودية) تم إنشاؤه بتوصية من علماء يمثلون الديانات الثلاث في مؤتمرات حوار الأديان الخمسة التي استضافتها الدوحة خلال السنوات الماضية.

Source: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=ArticleA_C&cid=1199279355623&pagename=Zone-Arabic-News/NWALayout

i was going to post this a month ago but for religious reasons i decided not to post but thanks for posting ahmed :D i wonder if this is one of the first in the GCC...... wow seems like a large church !

^^me too, i found it since last year but wouldn't post it because it might offend you guys.

Nope its not the first church in the GCC.

^^ the first real permanent church ? like really huge major church ? oh well....

but i still dunno where this is. .. ... hmmm maybe i should read it again lol

^^The first one is in Dubai i think.

It said the church is in South Doha

العذراء .. أول كنيسة في قطر

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/5873/satellitejb5.th.jpg (http://img262.imageshack.us/my.php?image=satellitejb5.jpg)

مجسم للكنيسة الجديدة
الدوحة- يترقب المسيحيون المقيمون في قطر افتتاح أول كنيسة على الإطلاق قرب العاصمة الدوحة في مارس القادم، متطلعين في الوقت نفسه للاحتفال بعيد الفصح المقبل في الكنيسة التي لن يعلوها صلبان، وتحمل اسم "العذراء".
وقال الكاردينال الأب توم فينير يشون أحد العاملين في مركز الوعظ المسيحي بالدوحة: "تم تحديد 13 من مارس القادم موعدا لافتتاح أول كنيسة في قطر بمنطقة أبو هامور على مقربة من الدوحة"، بحسب صحيفة "العرب" القطرية الأحد 6-1-2008.

"مبنى الكنيسة الجديدة يضم 6 أقسام، وبلغت تكلفة إنشائها 65 مليون ريال قطري (18 مليون دولار تقريبا) بخلاف تكلفة الأرض"، بحسب الأب يشون الذي يتوقع الانتهاء من مبنى الكنيسة الكاثوليكية آخر فبراير المقبل.

طالع:
حملة تبرع للشعب الفلسطيني بمساجد قطر
قطر تمول مجمعا رياضيا لعرب 48

وأوضح أن "الكنيسة التي تحمل اسم (العذراء) لن تكون مفتوحة لكل الناس، ولن تعلوها صلبان، بل ستقتصر على مكان للصلاة الجماعية للمسيحيين".
ومن الناحية الإدارية والمالية ستتبع "العذراء" كنيسة "أبو ظبي" المشرفة على كنائس الإمارات وسلطنة عمان والبحرين واليمن.

ولحضور حفل الافتتاح جرى توجيه الدعوة لعدد كبير من القساوسة في منطقة الخليج وخارجها، وكذلك لاثنين من كرادلة الفاتيكان، ويأمل مركز الوعظ المسيحي بالدوحة في حضور بابا الفاتيكان بنديكت السادس عشر.

وأكد الأب يشون أن المسيحيين سيحتفلون في كنيسة "العذراء" بعيد الفصح في إبريل المقبل، مثمنا جهود الحكومة القطرية التي "تضمن للمسيحيين حرية ممارسة الطقوس الدينية، لكن تمنع التبشير منعا باتا".

مشروع كنيسة العذراء يحظى باهتمام الفاتيكان، فعلى الموقع الإلكتروني لإذاعته قال الفاتيكان: "إن قطر تستعد لافتتاح أول كنيسة كاثوليكية على أرضها منذ ألف وأربعمائة سنة بعدما وصل عدد المسيحيين فيها إلى مائة ألف معظمهم من العمال الأجانب المنتمين إلى الجنسيات الهندية والفيليبينية واللبنانية، وكانوا يقيمون صلواتهم بالمدارس أو الأماكن الخاصة".

ولفت إلى أن أمير قطر الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني تبرع بثمن أرض الكنيسة التي سترى النور بعد محاولات للحصول على رخصة لبنائها دامت عقدين.

"ليس جديدا"

الجانب القطري لم يعتبر الأمر جديدا على منطقة الخليج العربي، إذ نقلت الصحيفة عن مسئول رفيع لم تكشف عن هويته القول: "هذا ليس جديدا.. فعلت دول عربية خليجية الشيء نفسه (في إشارة للكويت والبحرين والإمارات وسلطنة عمان واليمن)، ونحن نحترم حق جميع السكان في ممارسة شعائرهم ومعتقداتهم".

أما السفير الإيطالي لدى الدوحة أجناتسيو دي باتشي فاعتبر في تصريح لصحيفة "جلف تايمز" القطرية أن افتتاح كنيسة للطائفة الكاثوليكية بقطر كان ضربا من المستحيل قبل سنوات قليلة، لكن الدوحة تغيرت منذ تولي الأمير الحالي السلطة عام 1995، حسب قوله.

غير أن الدكتور نجيب النعيمي وزير العدل القطري السابق توقع أن يتسبب خبر افتتاح أول كنيسة بقطر في "إثارة المسلمين بقطر، خاصة إذا لم يتم استشارتهم وقبولهم بهذا الأمر"، بحسب صحيفة "جلف نيوز" الإماراتية.

وخلافا لموقف بقية دول الخليج تتمسك السعودية بفتوى للجنة الدائمة للبحوث العلمية والإفتاء السعودية (أعلى مرجعية فقهية) تحرم إقامة دور عبادة لغير المسلمين في شبه الجزيرة العربية، استنادا إلى الحديث النبوي: "لا يجتمع دينان في جزيرة العرب".

أربع كنائس أخرى

ولن تكون "العذراء" هي الكنيسة الوحيدة في قطر، إذ من المقرر أن يتبعها إنشاء 4 كنائس أخرى لباقي الطوائف المسيحية المقيمة في البلد، بعد أن حصلت بالفعل على موافقات رسمية.

ويسعى المسيحيون الأرثوذوكس لبناء كنيسة ثانية تحمل اسم "البيت المقدسية". ويقول المهندس هاني عكاوي أحد أعضاء اللجنة المكلفة بالإشراف على بنائها لصحيفة "العرب": إن المشروع في بداياته الأولى، وجرى فتح حساب بأحد البنوك القطرية لجمع التبرعات.

ويعيش في قطر نحو 100 ألف مسيحي غالبيتهم أجانب على المذهب الكاثوليكي، بينما يقدر أتباع الكنيسة الإنجيلية بنحو 10 آلاف يستخدمون مدرسة إنجليزية في الدوحة كمكان للعبادة.

وتحتضن العاصمة القطرية مركزا لحوار الأديان (الإسلام والمسيحية واليهودية) تم إنشاؤه بتوصية من علماء يمثلون الديانات الثلاث في مؤتمرات حوار الأديان الخمسة التي استضافتها الدوحة خلال السنوات الماضية.

Source: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=ArticleA_C&cid=1199279355623&pagename=Zone-Arabic-News/NWALayout

translate?

^^ just for ya :) enjoy

Doha - awaits Christians residing in Qatar opening of the first church ever near the capital Doha in March of next year, looking at the same time to celebrate Easter next to the church, which would not above crosses, and bears the name "Virgin."
Cardinal said Father Tom Wishon Vn workers at the centre of one of preaching Christianity in Doha: "identified 13 March next date for the opening of the first church in Qatar Abu Grouper area in the vicinity of the Doha", as "Al Arab" country Sunday 6-1-2008.

"Building new church includes sections 6, and cost $ 65 million established Qatari riyals (about $ 18 million) than the cost of land," according to Father Lechon, which is expected completion of the building of the Catholic Church another next February.

Read:
Campaign donation to the Palestinian people inside Qatar
Qatar funded sports complexes Arabs 48

He explained that "the church that bears the name of (Virgin) will be open to all people, not higher crosses, but will be confined to a place of collective prayer for Christians."
On the administrative and financial followed "virgin" church "Abu Dhabi" supervisor of the churches Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman, Bahrain and Yemen.

And to attend the opening ceremony were invited to a large number of priests in the Gulf region and beyond, as well as to two Vatican cardinals and hopes to preach the Christian Centre in Doha in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI.

The father Wishon Christians celebrate in the church "virgin" Easter in April this year, valuing the efforts of the Qatari government, which "guarantees the free exercise of Christian religious rites, but strictly prohibit evangelization."

Draft Church of the Virgin is with the Vatican, actual Web broadcast by Vatican said: "Qatar is preparing for the opening of the first Catholic church on its territory since thousand four hundred years after the number of Christians to the one hundred thousand, mostly foreign workers belonging to the Indian and Philippine forces and the Lebanese, and they have their prayers schools or private premises. "

He noted that the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani donated priceless land that the church will see the light after attempts to obtain a licence for construction lasted two decades.

"Nothing new"

The country is not considered new to the Arabian Gulf region, as the newspaper quoted a senior official did not reveal his identity, saying: "This is nothing new .. Gulf Arab states did the same thing (referring to Kuwait and Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman and Yemen), and we respect the right of all people to practice their beliefs. "

The Italian ambassador to Doha Ajnatsiau De Pace considered in a statement to the newspaper "Gulf Times" channel that the opening of a Catholic Church in diameter was beaten impossible a few years ago, but the Doha changed since Prince took the current power in 1995, as saying.

However, Dr. Najeeb Al-Nuaimi and Minister of Justice previous country expected to cause the opening of the first news of a church in Qatar "raise Muslim Qatar, especially if it is not consulted and acceptance of this matter", according to the newspaper "Gulf News" Emirates.

Contrary to the position of the rest of the Gulf states Saudi Arabia adheres to the advisory opinion of the Standing Committee for Scientific Research and Ifta Saudi Arabia (top doctrinal reference) deprive the administration of the role of worship to non-Muslims in the Arabian peninsula, according to the Hadith: "do not meet religions in the Arabian Peninsula."

Four other churches

There will be "Virgo" is the only church in Qatar, as scheduled to be followed by the creation of 4 churches again for the rest of the Christian communities living in the country, having already obtained approval official.

Orthodox Christians and seeks to build a second church to bear the name "Palestine House." Engineer says Hani Akkawi a member of the Committee in charge of overseeing the construction of the "Al Arab": that the project in its infancy, and was opening a bank account to collect donations country.

Live in Qatar 100 thousand foreigners, mostly Christian Catholic doctrine, while an estimated Evangelical Church about 10 thousand schools using English in Doha a place of worship.

And embraces the Qatari capital centre for the dialogue of religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism) was founded recommendation of scientists representing the three religions in the dialogue of religions five conferences hosted by Doha in years.

^^thx very much

atlast..

The first church in the GCC was in Abu Dhabi ages ago............i think like 13 or 14 years ago.......then Doha got one 10 years ago.....not a proper one though.....then Dubai anmd Bahrain as a proper churches and now a proper one in Doha.............

PS: why should this ever be offensive......? its a religion that worships the same god muslims are........come on peoplee.....

^^ please dont take this as a religiouse topic just take it as a normal project !

infact i was never here :ohno:

i agree..........

so.......where is it located exactlyy.....? anyone have any idea...?

Never seen it before, thanx for posting.

south, so i'm guessing somewhere near salwa highway or US base, just a guess.

OHHH it says Abu Hamouuur.........where is this exactlyy...?

The first church in the GCC was in Abu Dhabi ages ago............i think like 13 or 14 years ago.......then Doha got one 10 years ago.....not a proper one though.....then Dubai anmd Bahrain as a proper churches and now a proper one in Doha.............


kuwait had its first church in 1931, and the missionaries built the american hospital at the same time.

kuwait had its first church in 1931, and the missionaries built the american hospital at the same time.

But there are Kuwaiti Christians. ITs another issues. There are no Christian nationals in the Gulf Countries except Kuwait.

aaha, ok... lol, sorry about that.. but doesn't bahrain have christians and jews, i think ive heard about that

aaha, ok... lol, sorry about that.. but doesn't bahrain have christians and jews, i think ive heard about that

Bahrain has Jews but not Christians. I dont think they have a Synagouge--there are very few.

oh, ok..... Offtopic ----> i thought a7lam was fananat il 5aleej il 2oola :P

all iam gonna say ......................i love ksa.

lol :nuts: why cuz there is no freedom there ?

^^ what the heck happend to this thread ! suddenly its back to chit-chats !

lol, he started it !!

i am confused......there are jews in Bahrain and Christians in Kuwait.....? is that true....? and WOW the first church in the gulf was built in 1930's....and an American hospital too....i never knew that......how sure are you guys from all the mentioned information above.....i should ask my dad about this......he might have an idea......

is there an orthodox church among the 6 that are under construction?

i am confused......there are jews in Bahrain and Christians in Kuwait.....?

yes, theres even a jewish member of parliment or shura councile represntative in Bahrain.




Would this mean there might be a synagouge for the 2016 olympics? :nuts:

^^ whats a synagouge ?

a Jewish temple.......

wooow.......that is actually very possibleeee...........OMG......whaaaaaattttt........lets wait and see..........

i am enjoying the thread. i've worked in doha for more that a year and the country is a very friendly host.

Thanks!

Easter opening for Qatar’s first church

Doha • The consecration of Qatar's first church will be celebrated on March 14. Cardinal Ivan Dias from Vatican will lead the consecration ceremonies, Father Tomasito Veneracion, official spokesperson of the church, told The Peninsula yesterday.

“We have decided to open the church on March 14. The final phase of the construction is fast progressing. Cardinal Ivan Dias will lead the consecration ceremonies. Bishop Paul Hindr, Apostolic Vicarate of Arabia, will also attend the ceremony. It will be a simple event,” Father Veneracion said.

Located at Mesaimeer, near Abu Hamour, St Mary's Catholic Church is the first Christian church to be opened in Qatar. The church will be part of a larger complex, which will also have five other churches of different denominations. The Catholic church will have a capacity to accommodate 2,700 people. The church complex will also house staff quarters, meeting halls and other multipurpose buildings.

Unlike the traditional Catholic churches, St Mary's church will not bear any motifs of Christianity. It will neither have a bell tower nor a standing Cross or other insignia.


The construction of five other Churches is also progressing in the vast compound that has been leased out for the respective Churches by Qatari leadership. They include the Anglican, the Coptic and the Greek Orthodox communities; and an Inter-denomination Christian Church Centre, where 11 Indian churches will converge under a single roof.

In Qatar, the Christian community includes Indians, Filipinos, Europeans, Arabs and Americans, of Catholic, Orthodox Coptic, Anglican and other protestant denominations.

Meanwhile, a debate has been raging in several Arab dailies in Qatar. While one section opposes the opening of a church in Qatar, others, including nationals, are supporting the decision pointing out that Qatar is not the first GCC nation to have one. “There are churches in other Gulf countries for a long time,” they argue.

“The opening of the church underlines the fact that Qatar is pursuing a policy of tolerance and promotion of religious rights, which has also become a law under the new Qatari Constitution,” say the nationals who support the opening of the church.

Reacting to the controversies raging in Arabic dailies, Fr Veneracion said: “We have made it clear more than once that the church will not bear any religious motifs and insignia, including Cross and bell tower. The consecration ceremony will also be a simple affair,” he said.

Asked about the possible presence of non-Christian religious leaders in the ceremony, he said the list of special invitees has not been finalized yet. "We will sit in the coming days to finalise the list of special invitees", he said.

become a law under the new Qatari Constitution...............realllyyy...??

religious rights? yeah its a must

lol :nuts: why cuz there is no freedom there ?
بعض الناس راسهم فيه حرش

Whats Bda3 and Harsh....?

^^ it is b3d
and harash means problems

^^ it is b3d
and harash means problems

I think your going to have a very hard time arguing that Saudi Arabia is a free country...

Harash menas problems.............in what...Qatari...? i've never heard it before.....thats weird.......

Thanks......

^^ I don't know in what!! I even don't know what is my Arabic dialect :? (I love calling it modern Riyadhi accent! )
btw, it is formal Arabic word, not only local dialect or slang
I think your going to have a very hard time arguing that Saudi Arabia is a free country...
who said that I'm tending to do that?
have I said that I am going to to proof that Saudi is a free county?

Halawala can lock this thread since the chit chat is mostly off topic.

^^ deleting posts is much easier LMAO

i heard its open,,, can someone post some pics of the church from the inside

the only pic i've seen on alarabiya website.


http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/03/14/46928.html

http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2008/03/15/46974.html

I think this is a good move. I mean a great number of Christians live in Doha, probably more than qatari combined. So whats the harm really?? Honestly id prefer to have a church down my street than a bar.. so if bars are spotting everywhere in doha why not allow churchs?

The first church in bahrain is the american mission church opened in 1906 which also expanded into a hospital, the american mission hospital. My dad and I were both born in that hospital.

Christians account for around 100,000 according to BBC.
Qataris are around 400,000? So no way there are more Chistians than Qataris but either way, I'm all for religious tolerance.

but arnt there 400,000 christians in Qatar already ??

There def more than 100,000 christians in doha.

PPL forget that Qatar's population today is more around 1.5 million as stated by Dr. Ibrahim a couple of weeks ago.

From what I have read in the previous posts I think some points need highlighting here

1. The first Church in the Gulf is in Bahrain and was opened in 1906, the American Mission Hospital was opened in 1903 then followed by the American Mission School.

2. Bahrain has many churches for different denominations and most of them are very old.

3. There is a very old Synagogue in Bahrain and is open for worshipers for more than 100 years.

4. There are Bahraini Jews and Christians plus Buhra and Baha'i too.

5. There are graveyards for all religions in Bahrain.

Bahrain has Jews but not Christians. I dont think they have a Synagouge--there are very few.

actually bahrain has both jews & Christians , as there are both jewish ( huda nonoo )& Christian ( alice samaan ) representatives in the parlimant as local christians are more than the jews . and the American Mission arrived in bahrain in 1893 and officialy opened its hospital in 1903 . while bahrain has a synagogue since more than 100 years now aswell as the first church was opened in 1906 known back then as the American Mission Church.

actually bahrain has both jews & Christians , as there are both jewish ( huda nonoo )& Christian ( alice samaan ) representatives in the parlimant as local christians are more than the jews . and the American Mission arrived in bahrain in 1893 and officialy opened its hospital in 1903 . while bahrain has a synagogue since more than 100 years now aswell as the first church was opened in 1906 known back then as the American Mission Church.

911 online, I used information from your post to edit mine, thanks.

@Qatar4ever, our populartion is NOT 1.4million.
It is just hitting the 1 million mark.

I know this because I worked with the ministry on those statistics. Anyone who says otherwise is making up numbers.

@Qatarson, there is not 400,000 Christians.

This article by the washington post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031302825.html and along with the CIA factbook state that there are at most 150,000 Christians and that includes all denominations.

According to the statistics, Qatari's make up no more than 300,000.

@adel, why do those points need highlighting?
It's obvious only a couple of those are related to the topic.

[QUOTE=amnesia;19129650]@Qatar4ever, our populartion is NOT 1.4million.
It is just hitting the 1 million mark.

I know this because I worked with the ministry on those statistics. Anyone who says otherwise is making up numbers.

@Qatarson, there is not 400,000 Christians.

This article by the washington post http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/13/AR2008031302825.html and along with the CIA factbook state that there are at most 150,000 Christians and that includes all denominations.

According to the statistics, Qatari's make up no more than 300,000.

@adel, why do those points need highlighting?


It's obvious only a couple of those are related to the topic.[/QU

I'm just answering and correcting some comments in the thread

take it easy. We're all trying to help each other here.

^^^^^^
Exactly

I guess this is completed!

Two years ago ;)

will try to take pictures when i go for prayers in Sunday :)

will try to take pictures when i go for prayers in Sunday :)

I always wanted to go see and examine their rituals closely (فيني فضوووول) :popcorn:

Maybe I will sometime this year.