The‚ Emirati newspaper,‚
The National,‚ reported‚ on‚ 6‚ April‚ 2020‚ that the‚ Emirate of Dubai has given permission‚ for‚ the first Mormon temple of the Middle East‚ to be built.‚ A building for the approximately 2,000 adherents of the "Church of‚ Jesus Christ of‚ Latter-day‚ Saints"‚ in UAE‚ is to‚ be‚ constructed‚ in Dubai‚ on the‚ Expo 2020‚ site.
Michael Bosch, Persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "Due to the COVID-19 crisis, Expo 2020 may be‚
postponed‚ for a year (as reported by Al-Jazeera on‚ 30‚ March 2020), which would mean‚ a considerable delay before construction of the temple would begin.‚ Nevertheless,‚ the Emirate"s decision does indicate a‚ further advancement of the freedom of worship in the‚ country and‚ gives a clear signal‚ that‚ religious‚ diversity and tolerance‚ is being taken‚ seriously.‚ Previously, in February 2019,‚ Roman Catholic‚ Pope‚ Francis‚ had visited Dubai and‚
signed‚ a‚ declaration of "˜fraternity" with‚ Sheikh Ahmad al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar (The Guardian, 4 February 2019)."
Michael Bosch continues: "Although perhaps not welcomed by all Christians, these are‚ still positive steps away from‚ the‚ religious hatred and intolerance which have been so pronounced in the wider Middle East during the last decade.‚ Unfortunately, religious freedom remains limited and means in practice only freedom of worship for Christians and other non-Muslims residing in the Emirates (Art. 32 of the UAE Constitution).‚ Conversion from Islam to Christianity is against the law (Art. 312 of the penal code) and proselytizing is strictly forbidden (Art. 317 of the penal code).‚ This‚ is a reminder that‚ the United Arab Emirates still have a long way to go before‚ they can be called champions of Freedom of Religion and Belief."
