ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the legal and social situation of Christians living in Muslim-majority states. The rights and status of non-Muslims living under Islamic rule were traditionally defined by legal conventions and statutes derived from qur'anic verses such as 9:29, from Hadiths or sayings of Muhammad and from accounts of how Muhammad related to Christians, Jews and other People of the Book. Classically, People of the Book were permitted to practise their religion, govern their internal affairs and, with certain restrictions, take part in commercial and civil life alongside Muslims. Under Muslim rule dhimmis participated in many areas of public life. They occupied government posts, including senior ones, although some rulers prohibited this and removed any non-Muslims from office. In many Muslim states, non-Muslims hold positions in government. Thus, in Bangladesh, where Christians number only 0.3% of the population, the Christian Promode Mankin was a minister of state from 2009 to 2012 and represented a majority-Muslim constituency.
