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….