Christians make up less that 1 per cent of the population— and the number is reducing.
Close links between family and religion mean that leaving Islam is difficult and dangerous. Militant Islamic extremists are a source of real fear for Christians communities. Converts from Islam bear the brunt of persecution.
Christians are caught in the crossfire of the ongoing Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Their faith makes them a minority in the Palestinian community but, equally they face restrictions from Israel.
The Christian population is shrinking rapidly in the light of the many difficulties faced by believers.