WIN News - Monthly News - From the Arabian Peninsula (Saudi)
Intercessors are needed to stand in the gap for Saudi Arabia, which was again recently designated as a ‘‘country of particular concern’’ for its ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom by the U. S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USIRF).
The document, released May 3, 2006, reported that the government of Saudi Arabia continues to enforce vigorously its ban on all forms of public religious expression other than the government’s interpretation of the Hanbali school of Sunni Islam.
Additionally, according to Open Doors International, Saudi Arabia holds the second spot on the list for the fourth year in a row on the 2006 World Watch List of nations where persecution against Christians is most intense.
Religious freedom does not exist in Saudi Arabia where citizens are allowed to adhere to only one religion— the officially recognized Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam. No legal protection is provided for freedom of religion; neither does this protection exist in practice. The legal system is based on Islamic law (Shariah). Apostasy—conversion to another religion—is punishable by death.
<><
"Mother, wait ‘til you hear the things my teacher told us about Christianity today,” Sameh said, as he walked in the front door. “Christianity!” Her voice was sharp. “What was he doing talking about that? What a disgrace!” His mother’s reaction made Sameh more curious. “But how will I learn about other religions, if not in school?” he asked.
“You do not need to know about those religions,” his mother scolded. “You are a Muslim just as your father is, and your grandfather and great-grandfather were before him. The less you know about those false teachings, the better. In fact, we will make sure you never hear of this in school again!” Sameh didn’t understand why his parents wanted to hide these things. Even the government would not allow libraries to have the holy books of other religions. Some day I will study in Europe, he thought, and I will learn all the things that are now hidden from me.
A young person like Sameh, growing up in the country of Saudi Arabia, doesn’t usually learn about any religion but his own. Recently, a high school chemistry teacher named Muhammad al-Harbi, talked to his students about Christianity and Judaism. He was accused of putting doubtful thoughts into the minds of children about their own religion. He was sentenced to 750 lashes, 50 a week for 15 weeks, and sent to prison for three years.
For the full newsletter (which includes news on Libya and Sudan as well, visit:
http://www.prayersquared.org/WINEmailNe
The document, released May 3, 2006, reported that the government of Saudi Arabia continues to enforce vigorously its ban on all forms of public religious expression other than the government’s interpretation of the Hanbali school of Sunni Islam.
Additionally, according to Open Doors International, Saudi Arabia holds the second spot on the list for the fourth year in a row on the 2006 World Watch List of nations where persecution against Christians is most intense.
Religious freedom does not exist in Saudi Arabia where citizens are allowed to adhere to only one religion— the officially recognized Wahhabi form of Sunni Islam. No legal protection is provided for freedom of religion; neither does this protection exist in practice. The legal system is based on Islamic law (Shariah). Apostasy—conversion to another religion—is punishable by death.
<><
"Mother, wait ‘til you hear the things my teacher told us about Christianity today,” Sameh said, as he walked in the front door. “Christianity!” Her voice was sharp. “What was he doing talking about that? What a disgrace!” His mother’s reaction made Sameh more curious. “But how will I learn about other religions, if not in school?” he asked.
“You do not need to know about those religions,” his mother scolded. “You are a Muslim just as your father is, and your grandfather and great-grandfather were before him. The less you know about those false teachings, the better. In fact, we will make sure you never hear of this in school again!” Sameh didn’t understand why his parents wanted to hide these things. Even the government would not allow libraries to have the holy books of other religions. Some day I will study in Europe, he thought, and I will learn all the things that are now hidden from me.
A young person like Sameh, growing up in the country of Saudi Arabia, doesn’t usually learn about any religion but his own. Recently, a high school chemistry teacher named Muhammad al-Harbi, talked to his students about Christianity and Judaism. He was accused of putting doubtful thoughts into the minds of children about their own religion. He was sentenced to 750 lashes, 50 a week for 15 weeks, and sent to prison for three years.
For the full newsletter (which includes news on Libya and Sudan as well, visit:
http://www.prayersquared.org/WINEmailNe
Comments