Religious Freedom World Report

Prepared by the International Coalition for Religious Freedom

Yemen

Yemen has a population of 14.7 million. Islam is the state religion, and there are restrictions on the practice of other religions. Virtually all citizens are Muslims, either of the Zaydi branch of Shi'a Islam or the Shafe'ei branch of Sunni Islam. There are also some Ismailis in the north. Private Islamic organizations may maintain ties to pan-Islamic organizations and operate schools, but the Government monitors their activities.

Most Christians are foreign residents, except for a few families of Indian origin in Aden. There are several churches and Hindu temples holding regular services in Aden, but no non-Muslim public places of worship in the former north Yemen. Church services are, regularly held without harassment in private homes or schools. Christian clergy belonging to the Baptist Church provide medical and educational services to the small communities of foreigners. In 1995, a Christian-run hospital was threatened by militant Islamists in a mob attack.

The Jewish community is the only indigenous religious minority. Nearly all of Yemen's once sizable Jewish population have emigrated. Jews who have remained, are restricted to living in certain sections of the cities and villages.

2003 US State Department International Religious Freedom Report on Yemen

 

Search Amazon.com for books on religious freedom in Yemen

Search:

Keywords:

In Association with Amazon.com