In 2023, Kuwait was scored 2 out of 4 for religious freedom;[1] blasphemy is a punishable offence and non-Muslims are forbidden from proselytizing.
The law requires jail terms for journalists convicted of defaming any religion and prohibits denigration of Islam and Judeo-Christian religious figures, including Muhammad and Jesus.
The government does not designate religion on passports or national identity documents, with the exception of birth certificates.
The Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs is officially responsible for overseeing religious groups.
The government imposes quotas on the number of clergy and staff officially recognized religious groups can bring into the country.
Shia Muslims follow their own jurisprudence in matters of personal status and family law at the first instance and appellate levels.
Kuwaiti Shias who wanted to serve as imams had to seek training and education abroad (primarily in Iraq, Iran, and to a lesser degree Syria) due to the lack of Shia jurisprudence courses at Kuwait University's College of Islamic Law, the country's only institution to train imams.
In some instances, Sunni imams were suspended for delivering sermons whose content the government deemed inflammatory.
These religious groups freely operated in rented villas, private homes, or the facilities of recognized churches.
Members of these congregations reported that they were able to worship without government interference provided they did not disturb their neighbors or violate laws.
Some Shia alleged that a "glass ceiling" of discrimination prevented them from obtaining leadership positions in some of these organizations.
Many hotels, stores, and other businesses patronized by both citizens and non-citizens openly acknowledged non-Muslim holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and Diwali.