Pray for Tunisia

Mausoleum of Habib Bourguiba, Monastir, Tunisia

Flickr / ahisgett

Tunisia gained independence from France in 1956 under the leadership of Habib Bourguiba, who introduced freedoms found nowhere else in the Arab world. In 1987, Zine el Abidine Ben Ali took control through a coup. He is currently serving his fifth consecutive five-year term, despite allegations of manipulation and boycotts that have accompanied his re-elections. Under Ali, the political system became increasingly autocratic and repressive. While there is a pretext of political freedom, there is no real political opposition and hundreds of dissidents have been arrested.

In earlier centuries, the Christian Church was widespread, producing such leaders as Tertullian and Cyprian. Schism, heresy, failures to put roots deep into the local culture and to translate the Bible into local languages, foreign invasions and finally Islam greatly reduced numbers in the church.  Today, Christians account for 0.2 percent of the more than 10 million people in Tunisia.

Islam is the state religion. The government strongly maintains a secular tone, and only a minority actively practice their faith, although this appears to be growing. Politicized Islam, which has been on the rise, is met with little tolerance by the state. The government is not favourable toward any form of Christian proselytism, but tolerance is shown to foreign religious minorities, and increasingly to native Christians.

Please pray for Tunisia.

• Pray for opportunities to reach out to the people of Tunisia with the gospel.
• Pray that the Spirit of God will break down the barriers that have been built up against the gospel in Tunisia.

For reports and accompanying prayer requests on other countries hostile to the gospel, visit our Restricted Nations site.