Tunisian Arab in Sweden


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

In the first few centuries after Christ, Christianity spread throughout North Africa. A strong church was established in present-day Tunisia despite intense persecution from the Romans. Today one can find ancient baptisteries and sites of martyrdom in Tunisia. However, disunity, factions, and a failure to translate the Bible into the local languages weakened the church.

When Arab invaders arrived in the 7th century an empty shell of a church was all that existed. Islam spread rapidly and the Christian roots of the people were forgotten. The early Islamic period was a time when "Arab identity" meant that all Arabs had descended from a common male ancestor. Thus, being an Arab brought recognition, honor, and certain privileges.

Tunisians tend to be more modern and secular than other Arab Muslim peoples. This mindset has, no doubt, helped Tunisians fit in with Europe's culture better than other Arabic-speaking people.

Tunisia has a large youth population that is highly educated. Almost two out of every three Arabs are under the age of 30. Both the Middle East and North Africa have the highest youth unemployment on the planet. Frustration, lack of opportunity, and Tunisian government corruption produced a revolution in January 2011 resulting in the president fleeing the country and a regime change. There was a ripple effect that we call the Arab Spring in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, and other Arabic speaking countries. The aftermath of this time period is still being felt as Tunisians and other Arabic-speaking people are fleeing to Sweden and other countries to find work and safety.


Where Are they Located?

Tunisian Arabs are most likely to live in Sweden's urban centers. More recent migrants are being settled in the less hospitable lands of Sweden's cold north.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Some Tunisian Arabs have managed to start small businesses in Sweden, while others struggle with unemployment.
Tunisian Arabs typically live in proximity to their extended families and place a high value on family. But with many going to Europe for work, these family ties are becoming weaker.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Virtually all Tunisian Arabs are Sunni Muslim, even those in Sweden. While many are nominal or secular, Islam heavily influences every aspect of Tunisian culture. Their religious practices include various ceremonies and festivals that bring them together as a community.


What Are Their Needs?

Most Muslims say they love Jesus, but few have heard His teachings. Resources in the various Arabic dialects are available; however, there needs to be a greater effort to effectively distribute these to Arabs in each of the European countries. Believers can meet with spiritually hungry Muslims and teach them about Jesus from the Bible.


Prayer Points

Pray that the Tunisian Arabs people will hear about and accept the living Lord through every possible means.
Pray that they will be convicted of sin and ask the living Lord for forgiveness so they will finally know the assurance of salvation, peace, and be freed from the bondage of Islam.
Pray that ministries and churches will flourish that are taking the gospel to Arabic speakers.
Pray that God will raise up faithful intercessors who will stand in the gap for Tunisian Arabs wherever they live.
Pray that the softening of their traditional culture will create open doors for the gospel to be preached among them.
Ask the Lord to strengthen local churches among the Diaspora Arabs in Europe.


Scripture Prayers for the Arab, Tunisian in Sweden.


References

http://www.globalprayerdigest.org/index.php/issue/day/maghrebi-north-africans-in-sweden/
https://joshuaproject.net/people_groups/15641/SW


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

People Name General Arab, Tunisian
People Name in Country Arab, Tunisian
Natural Name Tunisian Arab
Pronunciation too-NEE-zhun AE-rub
Alternate Names Tunisian Arab
Population this Country 4,400
Population all Countries 12,039,000
Total Countries 12
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 15641
ROP3 Code 110285
Country Sweden
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Country Sweden
Region Europe, Western
Continent Europe
10/40 Window No
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked

No people group map currently available. Use the above button to submit a map.



Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.00 %
Non-Religious
1.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Arabic, Tunisian (4,400 speakers)
Language Code aeb   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Arabic, Tunisian (4,400 speakers)
Language Code aeb   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Arabic, Tunisian

Primary Language:  Arabic, Tunisian

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1903–2014)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1847-2011)
Bible-Complete No
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Arabic Bible Online Arabic Bible Outreach Ministry
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories One Story
Audio Recordings Oral Bible stories Story Runners
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Arabic, Tunisian Spoken Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Arabic, Tunisian Spoken YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: العهد الجديد بالعربية التونسية General / Other
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Arabic, Tunisian Spoken YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Tools for faith conversations Cru
Photo Source Homayon Zeary - Flickr  Creative Commons 
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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