It is unlikely that this will ever change. After all, the Saudi stance toward non-Muslims is based on Muhammad's saying: "I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula and will not leave any but Muslim."
Islamic Tolerance Alert from the Kingdom of the Two Holy Places: "Brian O'Connor: discrimination and religious intolerance the evils of Saudi Arabia," by Nirmala Carvalho for AsiaNews, February 6 (thanks to C. Cantoni):
New Delhi (AsiaNews) - In Saudi society, "discrimination and intolerance" are an "evident" matter of fact, exacerbated by the "unlimited powers" enjoyed by the muttawa - the kingdom's religious police - who perpetrate crimes, violence and promote a system of widespread corruption. This is the statement of Brian Savio O'Connor, a Christian of Indian origin, for 7 months and 7 days a prisoner, chained and tortured in a Saudi jail on charges of proselytizing. [...]Mr O'Connor, where does the problem with corruption begin?
Unless the Saudi kingdom, permit Religious Freedom and respect the Spirit of Reciprocity, corruption will continue to plague the Saudi Kingdom and have disastrous social consequences. The 'muttawas' have unquestionable powers and yield their powers to harras people of other faiths, evidence is planted, prayers in the privacy of the homes are cause for arrests and jail terms, While these are also the ways and avenues for corruption of these 'police.
What was your experience of corruption in jail?
[Prison] is a haven for corruption, any favours could be 'bought for a price' from the jailors, and for the non- muslims, it was even worse, they would be attempts by the jail authorities to subtly get us to renounce my faith and embrace Islam, and this was the case with most who were thrown into jail on fabricated(faith based) cases. The corruption had even stooped to a level that even a change of name to a Mohammedan one sufficed to some fringe benefits inside the jail. It is significant that arbitrary powers of the Muttawas, have spurred the rise of religious fundamentalism which has implications for social development, for social justice and human rights.
Can you describe to readers your days in the Saudi Kingdom?
In Saudi society, discrimination and in tolerance toward non-Muslims is evident and it is worrisome, that all this lacks transparency, to there can be cases of indiscriminate harassment of non- Muslims leading to human rights abuses. In my humble opinion, it is the rigidity of the Saudi society, and denial of religious freedom that, engenders fundamentalisms. However, from recent account, in Riyadh (where I lived), the muttawahs have lessened their vigilance and harassment/intimidation of private worship and this is encouraging.
What according to you can help Saudi emerge from this corruption and extremism?
It is known that in the Saudi Kingdom Freedom of religion is legally not recognized and this opens avenues for legal sanction for corruption. In order to weed out the source of corruption, it is urgent that by Law, the Saudi authorities ensure protection for private worship for all religious groups, curb harassment of religious groups, and promote tolerance toward all religions....
Robert:
Brian O'Oconner means well but it's a waste of time to advocate respect for different faith. Shar'ia simply prohibits any compromise and as 'good' Moslems, they aren't to question but to obey.
I'm with Hugh, walk away and simply not do business with the Arabian peninsula and if they want something from the outside, charge them what they'd be willing to pay.
Working and living there just isn't worth the aggravation and stress.
xavier
But the West accepts only the rich which happens to be from the Arabian Peninsula. Most workers found in the KSA are from third world countries of Asia, particularly the Philippines, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
There is no way that these Chistians are allows to work in Europe or the USA for that matter.
"There is no way that these Chistians are allows to work in Europe or the USA for that matter."
Baloney.
It is too bad how Muslim cultures treat non-muslim faiths. It is wonderful that they love God. They worship God and sincerely want to please Him. They just need to understand that God loves them.
I wish there was some way to convince them that their love for God is wonderful and desirable, but that their understanding of God could be wrong. It's not about condemning non-Christians to hell or anything. It is about celebrating God's love through Christ.
I think the reason they treat non-Muslims poorly in Muslim countries is that the message is so compelling. Islam can't compete with the Truth of Christianity side-by-side. That's why Christians aren't afraid of people preaching other religions the way Muslims are.
Thank you for your resource Mr. Spencer.short term health insurance
Ridding the entire Arabian peninsula of Muhammadens will be one of, if not the first military project to be accomplished when the world wakes from its sleep to find Muhammadenism has been at war with it for 1400 years with no end in sight. The only way to end this war is complete submission to the Muhammaden suicide cult of war or complete sterilization of any glimpse of legitimacy in the Koran and therefore Muhammad's life and example.
Yawn- so Saudi Arabia is to religious repression what North Korea is to political oppression.
Wait until the oil runs out and then give this benighted bigoted backwater of a Kingdom the contemptuous indifference that it manifestly deserves!!!
Terry
Folks - even the Shia are considered kuffar in the Kingdom.
I think we should just bite the bullet and invade Saudi Arabia and give the Saudis a new place to live (I'm thinking that Antarctica is empty. The heirs of Mohammed could have a whole continent to play with!). Besides West discovered the oil, processed it and pays way too much for it.
I know that Muslims would object, but look at their attempts to conquer Israel. Israel is tiny, yet Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Iran still can't wipe it. It's not like two Israelis with Uzis can stand off the Jordanian army, but still.........
"ISLAM FOR PIGS,DONKEYS,MONKEYS,AND OTHER
BEASTS"HANS JANSEN-BOOK-
I'd like to see the day that we stay out of the middle east and don't allow any of them over here. We don't need to waste out money and lives by sending our soldiers over there. We need to ween ourselves of their oil and let them have it to drink. Don't educate them, don't feed them, and don't associate with them. If they aren't in this country, they can't commit suicide here.
They don't play well with others and they deserve to be quaranteened.
They also deserve their religion that the warlord Mohammed created, as a tool, to encourage his ignorant followers to die in battle.
Give a chimp a gun and explosives and this is what you get.
Abscedere:
It is not bologna unfortunately. I've lived there and I know, most of these workers have few skills if any (namely maids, drivers, gardeners, even construction workers). We only admit professionals into the US. These people are very poor, mostly barely educated (grade 6 or 8 maybe if that).
The women even less. My maid had only finished gr. 3. She was in her early 20s back in 1993. The Philippinos are the best as they are usually better educated. Working in gulf countries, including Saudi, is nothing more than paid slavery. The workers supposedly have "rights" which are usually ignored. It is a very sad situation for workers there. They are underpaid, usually making $135 a month (avg pay for maids), work 7 days a week, hours: 5/6 am to 10/11pm, aren't allowed to leave the house for the duration of their contract, they have to pay an agency to get a job in the gulf, alot of them are not paid, it is not unusual if they are hit/beaten/even raped, they have no authority over the children even though they are in charge of them. Some workers have it good, but they are rare. The refrigerator is locked. Sometimes they don't even have a bed, they sleep on the floor. Sometimes if they break/ruin something, they are charged for it. No sick days. Why do the workers stay? They feel they have no choice. No work back home, they've invested $ in hopes of a better return. The embassies are full of the brave/desperate ones who couldn't handle it anymore. But I feel there are many who are too afraid of running away lest they are caught.) The employer often accuses the maid of stealing if she runs so its almost an impossible situation. Of course the employer will be believed above the maid/worker. There is a high incidence of suicides. (Some are girls jumping out windows to escape rape/beating or perhaps even insanity as they are treated like machines, confined to sometimes very small quarters, perhaps an apartment, with kids to watch, food to cook and cleaning/laundry. They are lucky to go to the park with the kids or maybe an outing with the family to the mall or eating out (I've seen the maids sit (not eating) while the family ate.) In Sri Lanka, the women have to pay the men to marry. So they have to work and get enuf $ in hopes of getting married. They leave their husbands and children for 2 years or more to earn $ sometimes because the husband can't find work or whatever the reason they need $. I hope this has been enlightening. Feb 8, 2010 5:10:19 PM
Thank you linda.
It has been enlightening for me.