Integrity Score 122
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In the post 1990s, after the liberation of Kuwait church activities have picked up, most probably because of the discernible presence of Americans in the country.
For instance, the United States Department of State‘s report on religious freedom (2010) says that ―the U.S. Government discusses religious freedom with the Government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights. Intensive monitoring of religious freedom matters remained an embassy priority.
During the reporting period, embassy officials met with senior representatives from the major recognized Christian denominations, encouraged them to present their concerns in a unified manner to the Government, and advocated on their behalf in high-level meetings with government officials.
The American intervention in Kuwait altered the social dynamics of the Arab Christian minority and also expanded the non-Islamic space in Kuwait. For instance in January 1999 the Arab Congregation in Kuwait ordained Reverend Immanuel Benjamin Ghareeb as the clergy .
Though he graduated from the Presbyterian Theological seminary in 1989, he was ordained as a priest in 1999 and he was the first Kuwaiti Christian to be ordained with the support of American Episcopal Church.
Secondly, in December 1999, the Bible Society established its distribution office - The Book House Company Ltd.
Interestingly Kuwait was the first country to allow the Bible society to set up the office in GCC states. Currently NECK has an agreement with the Kuwaiti government to import books and gifts that relate to the Christian faith through the Book House Company Ltd. Finally, Kuwait was notably the first member of the Gulf Cooperation Council to maintain diplomatic ties with the Vatican State.
But in 2001 Apostolic Nunciature was upgraded from charge d'affaires to full
ambassadorial status to represent Vatican‘s interest in the region.
During the Christmas season in 2009, I witnessed the display of religious symbols like stars, the bursting of crackers and loud carol singing in the streets by the immigrants.