Muhammad Alarefe, a prominent Saudi religious leader, has demanded that FIFA, the international soccer governing body, instruct players to stop making the Christian sign of the cross.
For many Christians, their deep, personal and peaceful faith is inextricable from every aspect of their life. Making the sign of the cross — or any other religious gesture — should not pose a problem or threat to anyone, but to the Islamic supremacist leader Muhammad Alarefe and his ilk, any religious expression outside of Islam represents a threat, especially since FIFA is so prestigious. Let’s hope FIFA honors the religious freedoms of their talented players and rejects the demands of Muhammad Alarefe. If FIFA bows to the demand of Alarefe, it should also ban Muslim prayer on the field and outskirts, too.
Back in February, Real Madrid soccer team removed the cross from its logo to avoid offending Muslims
Discriminating against Christian values and attempting to stifle Christianity — a foundational faith in the evolution of modern understandings of human rights and the formation of Western democratic principles — is nothing new. Most troubling is that discrimination against Christians while kowtowing to Muslims is being presented as the norm to the next generation.
The American Center for Law and Justice reported in 2015 that:
Public colleges and universities are taking the gloves off when it comes to Christian students on their campuses. Gone are the days of surreptitious slights against Christians; now it is open season on faith. Blatant, in-your-face anti-Christian discrimination is the new norm.
Correction: not “an open season on faith,” but specifically on Christian faith.
Also, Islamic indoctrination in public schools is in full swing, with eager collaboration and help from the Hamas-linked group CAIR.
“Saudi Cleric Demands FIFA Ban Players From Making Sign Of The Cross”, by Ali Waked, Breitbart, May 9, 2017:
TEL AVIV – Muhammad Alarefe, a prominent Saudi religious leader, has demanded that FIFA, the international soccer governing body, instruct players to stop making the Christian sign of the cross.
Alarefe wrote on his Twitter account, “I’ve seen video clips of athletes, soccer players running, shooting and when they win they make the symbol of the cross on their chests and my question is if FIFA’s rules forbid this.”Follow
د. محمد #العريفي ✔ @MohamadAlarefe
رأيت مقاطع لرياضيين ” كرة قدم، سباق جري، رمي سهام، .. ”
إذا فاز أحدهم أشار لصدره إشارة الصليب!
سؤالي:
أليس نظام فيفا يمنع الإشارات الدينية؟
9:46 AM – 5 May 2017
993 993 Retweets 2,015 2,015 likes
Social media users were divided on the question, with some supporting Alarefe’s comment and others laughing and saying they wondered why he has taken no stance against Muslim soccer players who kneel to pray when they win or score a goal.Sultan Alhusni wrote, “I can’t lie. Mohamed Salah (an Egyptian soccer player who plays in Europe) and others kneel to pray when they score a goal and no one punishes them. Leave the sport to those who deal with it.”
5 May
حصه العون بنت الوطن ✔ @hesshalown
@MohamadAlarefeنعم شيخنا الجليل لكن انظمتهم لا تطبق الا على المسلمين فقط وللاسف لم نجد من يحتج على هذا التمييز والكل صامت صمت القبور
Follow
سلطان الحسني @dremer_88
@hesshalown @MohamadAlarefe ما يجوز الكذب .. محمد صلاح وغيره من المسلمين في الملاعب الاروبية يحتفلون بالسجود بعد تسجيلهم الاهداف ولم يعاقبوا .. اقول خلوا الرياضه لاهلها
10:39 AM – 5 May 2017
21 21 Retweets 42 42 likes
Sam, another social media user, wrote, “The cross is one of the symbols of the vehicles we travel in, so what’s the problem if it appears on the pitch, or is what’s allowed in one place forbidden in another? Weird.”5 May
صحيفة تواصل ✔ @twasulnews
? «العريفي»: لماذا لا يمنع «فيفا» إشارات التصليب في الملاعب؟http://twasul.info/793102 #محمد_العريفي #العريفي #الملاعب #السعودية pic.twitter.com/657wwIIr6p
Follow
ɑ̷̜Lм̷̤̜̈ Al @sam147147
@twasulnews الصليب موجود بسيارات الي نركبها وش مشكله الملاعب ولا حلل وحرم بمكان ومكان لا عجيب
1:40 AM – 6 May 2017
Retweets likes
Fahd Alarawi wrote, “Great, Alarefe has become a sports commentator. When there’s free time, we get involved in things we don’t understand.”5 May
صحيفة تواصل ✔ @twasulnews
? «العريفي»: لماذا لا يمنع «فيفا» إشارات التصليب في الملاعب؟http://twasul.info/793102 #محمد_العريفي #العريفي #الملاعب #السعودية pic.twitter.com/657wwIIr6p
Follow
فهد العروي @tvip_f
@twasulnews احلى يالعريفي صاير محلل رياضي?
الفاضي يعمل قاضي?#محمد_العريفي
12:26 AM – 6 May 2017
Retweets likes
Another social media user wrote, “Respected Sheikh, unfortunately their rules are only applied to Muslims and unfortunately no one protests that – on the contrary, the go quieter than the grave.”5 May
د. محمد #العريفي ✔ @MohamadAlarefe
رأيت مقاطع لرياضيين ” كرة قدم، سباق جري، رمي سهام، .. ”
إذا فاز أحدهم أشار لصدره إشارة الصليب!
سؤالي:
أليس نظام فيفا يمنع الإشارات الدينية؟
Follow
حصه العون بنت الوطن ✔ @hesshalown
@MohamadAlarefeنعم شيخنا الجليل لكن انظمتهم لا تطبق الا على المسلمين فقط وللاسف لم نجد من يحتج على هذا التمييز والكل صامت صمت القبور
10:35 AM – 5 May 2017
5 5 Retweets 19 19 likes
Win Al Fahad wrote the sheikh that, “It’s like you’re now calling on FIFA to forbid Muslim players from bowing to Allah and raising their hands in prayer to the sky. FIFA prohibits the use of religion, politics and racism in sports.”5 May
ابراهيم العطوي @ibraheam202
@MohamadAlarefe حتى المسلمين لما يسجلو او يفوزو يسجدو شكر لله
Follow
فهد محمد العوين @alowinfahad
@ibraheam202 @MohamadAlarefe كأنك بهذا تدعو الفيفا لمنع اللاعبين المسلمين من السجود لله ورفع أيديهم لله شكرا
الفيفا يمنع توظيف الدين والعنصرية والسياسة في الرياضة.
1:01 PM – 5 May 2017
Retweets 2 2 likes
Ibrahim Alatwi responded to Al Fahad, saying, “And no one says a thing (to Muslim players who pray) so the Christians are allowed to mark the cross on their chests. FIFA doesn’t distinguish between one player and another.”6 May
ابراهيم العطوي @ibraheam202
@turki3nzi @alowinfahad @MohamadAlarefe انا احدثك على نظام عالمي اللي هو الفيفا
نظام لا يفرق بين مسلم وكافر من ناحية القوانين مثل ما احنا المسلمين نسجد عند الفرح
Follow
ابراهيم العطوي @ibraheam202
@turki3nzi @alowinfahad @MohamadAlarefe ولا يتكلم علينا احد فيحق للنصارى ايضا الشارة الى صدورهم باشارة الصليب
فالفيفا لا يفرق بين هذا وذاك
10:54 AM – 6 May 2017
Retweets 1 1 like
Abu Lil scolded the religious scholar, writing, “Get out of our sport that unites Christians, Sunni and Shia on one team with their hearts one on the other. Everyone should deal with his religion and let us be. May FIFA be blessed.”5 May
د. محمد #العريفي ✔ @MohamadAlarefe
رأيت مقاطع لرياضيين ” كرة قدم، سباق جري، رمي سهام، .. ”
إذا فاز أحدهم أشار لصدره إشارة الصليب!
سؤالي:
أليس نظام فيفا يمنع الإشارات الدينية؟
Follow
✍اٍّبّْوّ لَّيٌّلَّ☞ @M0503996767
@MohamadAlarefe @hesshalown انتم اطلعوا من رياضتنا الي تجمع المسيحي والسني والشيعي بفريق واحد على قلب واحد اتمنى كل واحد يهتم بدينه وفكونا الله يسعد نظام الفيفا✋️
10:42 AM – 5 May 2017
7 7 Retweets 15 15 likes
Another social media user, Capitano, responded to the sheikh with sarcasm, saying, “The ISIS regime forbids crossing oneself; when al-Baghdadi is elected president of FIFA, we’ll discuss the respected sheikh’s request.”5 May
د. محمد #العريفي ✔ @MohamadAlarefe…..
Keys says
Players in many sports wear crosses, even crucifixes.
Vampires, and all entities of evil, hate them.
Bob says
Would the Ms appreciate the two -finger salute?
Bob says
Would the Ms appreciate the two -finger salute? Knuckles forward, of course!
jim conch says
well, the muslims would qualify as evil. anyone who indoctrinates children to become suicide bombers or jihadists is evil, just pkain and simple.
Jeanette says
Anyone who follows a book that commands that the followers kill everyone outside their own cult is evil.
Indoctrinating children, suicide bombers, jihadis, beheadings, stonings, crucifixions – those are all just different ways of putting the commands of the Koran into practice.
Ed Lee says
Saudi Arabia is our “ally”, and we’re selling them highly sophisticated F-15 aircraft. This is going to come back to bite us in the butt.
Alien Republican says
The F-15 are worthless without crosshair.
Ciudadano says
Saudi clerics demanded that F-15 crosshair to be replaced by crescents. That’s why they always miss the target.
lisa says
Satan.demons and vampires are all frightened of crucifixes. Islam Is such a pathetic, insecure and immature ideology who résolve everything with violence and intimidation. All they deserve Is laughter and ridicule….sadly though how long before FIFA give in? After all they gave Qatar host status for 2022. Football players should rally together and boycott FIFA for supporting a terrorist nation where mamy migrants have already died in the process of building stadiums and infrastructure. FIFA Is a Joke!
Ciudadano says
If a Catholic clergy asked that Muslim players do not bow to Mecca, the media would be attacking him for Islamophobia.
That’s the thing. Those who criticize Islamic violence and intolerance immediately are called Islamophobes. Meanwhile Muslim clergy can preach hatred and violence towards non muslims and corrupt media and politicians bought with petrodollars keep silence.
Bill says
FIFA will cave. They always do. Soon enough FIFA will require referees to book players making such gestures under the rubric of “unsporting conduct”. Just wait. .
Donald R Laster Jr says
Islamics do everything they can to interfere with people expressing their faith. That is why they pretend Islam is older than it is. They don’t want Christians and Jews to express their faith since it will undermine the lies of Islam.
Truth hurts says
So true.
blitz2b says
Whenever we see and hear of Islamic hatred towards anything or anyone that bears Christ’s mark, we should rejoice, because He predicted such hatred to befall on those who are His faithful…
Rejoice! Our God is mighty, and vengeance is His alone, not like that of an imaginary weak impotent dessert deity that requires his minions to carry out desires of his jealous nature.
John 15:18-19
18 “..If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you…”
Jeanette says
I imagine that passage was written by someone whose small children were NOT raped and murdered by Muslims.
blitz2b says
@Jeanette, I guess ignorance is not exclusive or limited to Muslims alone.
If your highly contemptuous and presumptuous comment was meant for me then I must inform you that I did live in an Islamic country and under the persecuting hand of Islam…. Can you claim the same?
Anyhow I was commenting on Muslim objection to players crossing themselves at games, not children being rapped…. however I would not have said anything different.
BTW how are the reaction of western governments to Muslim rape of innocent western girls in Rotherham UK, Sweden and other parts of Europe working for you?
Obviously to make a ridiculous comment like you did, you must know absolutely nothing of the brutal torture and crucifixion of Christ nor the centuries of persecution of Christians that followed.
Grow one!
Dawn says
All I can say is buzz off and take a long walk off a short pier. People stand up for your rights don’t let them push you around. If they don’t like it then leave. They wear their burka, headscarves etc they do what they want in the name of their so called religion . Leave mine alone. Sorry for those who don’t agree with my comments to bad.
jayell says
I think most of the civilised world would agree with your comments, Dawn. There is no mention that the ‘offending’ video clips were shot anywhere near Saudi Arabia, so why this brainless bigotted old trout was shooting his oversized mouth off on the matter in the first place defeats me. And everyone’s getting fed up with FIFA, which has turned into a corrupt gravy train and isn’t fit to represent the sport, otherwise it would never have even considered running the World Cup in a pressure-cooker of a dump like Qatar. The trouble is that soccer is a quintessentially British game and reflects the British mindset, so it is totally out of place with these grotesque mohammedans who don’t have minds in the first place.
Frank Anderson says
An Imam giving orders, “When in Islamic countries obey Islamic teachings; When in Infidel countries obey Islamic teachings, whether you are Muslim or not.” There is no tolerance in Islam for Infidels. True or False? Islam, the religion of peace- – -as long as they define “peace”. More like “the peace of the grave”. The more Infidels who know the better chance to resist. There are few questions where middle ground, mutual tolerance, does not exist. This is one of them.
Ciudadano says
Next week news: “Fly Emirates asks for Cristiano Ronaldo name to be changed to Mohamed Ronaldo”
somehistory says
More demonic spouting in the moslim saga of ‘as the islamicstomach churns and turns and burns’ until the rest of the world is ready to puke.
John A. Marre says
Show them the Crusader symbol as often as you can.
mortimer says
THE SAUDI SHEIKH IS IMPOSING SHARIA LAW UPON THE WORLD SOCCER COMMUNITY WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT!
According to Sharia law and fatwas, DHIMMIS living among Muslims must NOT practice their religion in public, but privately and quietly so that Muslims neither see nor hear it, since it is ENTICING MUSLIMS AWAY FROM ISLAM… BLASPHEMY!!! Muraghi declares the following:
– Zimmis are not allowed to install the cross on their houses or churches since it is a symbol of infidelity.
– Zimmis are not permitted to broadcast or display their ceremonial religious rituals on radio or television or to use the media or to publish any picture of their religious ceremonies in newspaper and magazines.
– Zimmis are not allowed to congregate in the streets during their religious festivals; rather, each must quietly make his way to his church or temple. – (Muraghi, Abdullah Mustapha, Islamic Law Pertaining to Non-Muslims, Library of Letters. Egypt)
If Christians practice publicly, it becomes an enticement and exhortation of Muslims to apostasy.
THIS IS THE ROAD TO WESTERN RUIN. Muslims are UNABLE TO ACCEPT THE WESTERN WORLD AS IT IS.
Muslims will not be ready to live in the West until it is COMPLETELY ISLAMIZED. For that reason, Muslims should be given incentives to move to Muslim countries where Sharia applies and to remain their until they leave Islam.
Karen says
“Alarefe wrote on his Twitter account, “I’ve seen video clips of athletes, soccer players running, shooting and when they win they make the symbol of the cross on their chests and my question is if FIFA’s rules forbid this”
My goodness, what will those infidels do next? Yes, I believe Mr. Alarefe has tipped his hand here. He gives no reason for his question; the implication is that he simply dislikes the practice. Why? Why should he care if a player crosses himself? Is his world so narrow that he cannot abide the thought of other religions? That actually could very well be the case. He is from the most Sharia-compliant society in the world, where no tolerance of other religions exists. If he attended grade school in SA, he was likely exposed to extreme hatefulness of non-Muslims in his class material. I see he went to King Saud University, so he likely met few non-Muslims there. In fact, most of his home religious and social institutions have inculcated him with the supremacy of Islam as if it were the natural order of things in the world. In short, he apparently cannot bear to be confronted by the presence of non-Muslims acting as equals in his presence, and their symbols, all of which he may perceive as an insulting rejection of Islam.
mortimer says
Karen, It’s what discriminatory Sharia law demands… by pain of death!
Islam is a supremacist DEATH CULT.
Our counterjihad slogan: “It’s the ideology, stupid.’
Anne Smith says
What on earth did he learn at “King Saud University”?
Not tolerance, obviously.
Cretius says
Why on earth should we accommodate a supremacist belief system like Islam that makes NO ACCOMMODATION for non-believers? We should not change FIFA rules/culture to satisfy the intolerant among us.
Cretius says
FIFA should tell the Saudi that his rights end where they impinge the rights of others. If the Saudi is so offended then I suggest he not watch football that has infidel players.
Sarah says
Anyone who is a prominent religious figure in Saudi Arabia is simply a hardcore Wahhabist. The worst of the worst basically.
Frankly, I do not understand why ANY form of worship is necessary during a game of soccer, or any sports game. Praying to God isn’t going to help you win or your opponent’s lose. Just stop all of the ridiculousness. Its beyond silly to see a grown man who has trained for most of his life and is in peak condition, to throw himself down and make the sign of the cross, or pray or whatever, over a game.
How many people make the sign of the cross or throw themselves to the ground to pray at work, if they achieve something good? Yeah, bloody no-one, that’s who. So a professional sportsman shouldn’t be any different.
somehistory says
I have prayed and thanked my God many times at work and have, many times, seen people make the cross sign at work and have also, heard many people say, “Thank God,” at work. It may not happen every day, but it does happen.
Some people want to give God the credit for all things good. Others can just look the other way if they don’t like it.
Karen says
I have often thanked God at work, usually quietly, privately, but sometimes more openly, saying a quiet prayer at lunch, etc. No one has ever blinked, objected, or likely even noticed. That’s what grown ups do; they live and let live, and get on with things, as you point out above. They don’t pull out the rule book looking for loopholes, hoping to bind someone with legalities.
DJ says
Breaking news: Saudi Arabia has demanded the abolition of wing forwards as their only task is to provide crosses.
New tactics demand that footballers follow the straight path and only the straight path.
Nigel GFF says
FIBA changed it’s rules, so why not FIFA.
A new sport – Islamolimbo – how far can you bend before you break your back?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/basketball/39802099
Stan Lee says
Really! While we Americans sent troops into Saudi territory to defend that land against Saddam Hussein invasion forces, the Saudi government restricted U.S. troops from bringing their Christian bibles with them for their own use and no other. G.W. Bush, being the considerate President he was concerning Saudi Arabia, relayed the order for U.S. troops to omit carrying in their bibles. American troops were blocked from “highly religious Saudi landmarks’ because as “unbelievers” they would bring disgrace on those “holy places.” The Saudis have had things much their own way, even after most of the nineteen 9/11 terrorist/hijackers came out of Saudi Arabia. But, it would have been fine with Saudi Arabia for Americans to die defending it!
However, when Saudi aristocracy comes here (and there really are over 6,000 Saudi “princes”!), they are not limited in what they can do, which includes buying the attentions of paid women, drinking of alcoholic beverages( forbidden in Wahhabi Islam) booking entire hotels, and any or all indulgences in which they want to participate. What a deal, right?
mortimer says
The Green-Red alliance is trying to destroy the foundations of the West.
A tag team of EVIL.
Santa Voorhees says
Someone should tell him that he has the right to not watch soccer in the first place.
no_one says
This guy is simply a religion freak. He needs to get a life.
eur says
Like any muslim
Jessica Greenman says
The Koran mandates the murder of Jews and Christians. Any Muslim prayer is an act of aggression towards non-Muslims, and Christians and Jews in particular. So it’s rather good this imam has brought the matter of religious worship to the attention of Fifa, who can now take action to ban all Muslim prayer, and all signs of allegiance to Islam, within the sports arena, to protect its Christian participants, who naturally have no mandate to ‘kill unbelievers’ or ‘kill Muslims’ and are therefore free to worship as much as they like. I really feel this should be done, until the whole of the Koran and the Hadith are re-written, deleting all references to the oppression, subjugation, and murder of women, non-Muslims, Jews and Christians, and much else antagonistic to the values of liberty and love. Until then, one simply has to regard any devotee of the faith as a rapist and a murderer and someone who is at war with the West and take appropriate steps.
ibrahim itace muhammed says
Christians have been placing their pagan symbol of mithraism even where it affects Muslims who consider cross as blasphemy.we only tolerate Christians using it for peaceful co_existence.But they shall not force it on us.The wahhabi extremists who break cross and outlawed its usage by even christians in muslim land is wrong.The breaking of the cross is not now.it will be done by prophet Issa when he descends towards the end of this world..
balafama says
HAVE u ibrahim ever wondered why allah cant seem to do nothing about the crosses while muslims have high blood pressure over it . i feel so sorry for you ibrahim .i will pray for you .has it occurred to you that allah really has no power to do anything to christians thats why there are crosses all over the world . if i were u i would ask allah to send a mighty wind to destroy all crosses and not let muslims do all the work for him .why is allah so lazy ?
tpog says
Well, hello again, Ibrahim itace. Thank you for surfacing again. The rest of us posting on this site read your posts and once again get confirmation about the lack of education, dysfunctional thought processes, ETC all products of the death cult “religion” of islam and mo’s life being something to emulate. 1400 yrs of cousin marriage; 9 yr old little girls being subjected to pedophiliac abuse by men old enough to be their grandfathers. You disgusting people.
INBREEDING LEADS TO SEVERE DISABILITIES INCLUDING INSANITY!!! Can’t you morons see the consequences of this in your own families?
Today’s current imams confirming that this practice of pedophila is within the rules of islam is criminal. The medical profession has been speaking against this for yrs..
Your post, again, gives the rest of us a chance to have a good laugh and only goes to confirm Islam’s idiocy
Eur says
Allah is the bogeyman and muslims are the most unhappy people in the world, you do not have festivities, joy … you are the worst culture on the planet.
Laurah Joy Hannah says
Islam is blasphemy to God. Why do we have to be tolerant of their beliefs when they walk all over ours? I am no a Christian and don’t use a cross for religious reasons, but I allow others the right to their beliefs- that is until they threaten mine. Islam is out to kill Jews and infidels, need I say more? Islam is evil and a death cult out to destroy everyone and everything they don’t like. We need to stand up to them.
Kasey says
Will he also demand that the Islamic superiority sign of the right index finger being held up, be also banned for any Islamic players who display it? ….Not likely?
Kasey says
That’s like trying the banning of the + sign in mathematics!
Karen says
Good one! And the ISIS ‘one finger salute’ is a rotated – sign.
bleeps says
REAL MADRID FC as many other spanish football clubs have arab companies sponsors and logos but also arab owners. Beware, the clubs have some autonomy but when demands are made by owners, sponsors with a certain religious belief, one is always bothered.
Raymond says
OK so our athletes stop making the sign of the cross and you condemn a pervert who raped a 9 year old and said God aka Allah said it was oll right.
Don Foss says
Muslims in Islamic countries must watch European or North American sports for entertainment. Why are there no high level sports or athletes worthy of television or cable coverage in their own countries? Because of Islam itself. So F them. Deal with our symbols and signs or turn the tv off.
ibrahim itace muhammed says
Don Foss,i said even though we consider cross as blasphemy insulting The Almighty God that He became human mortal and was killed,we tolerate its usage by christians for the sake of peace ;and Allah says there is no compulsion in religion to force someone to denounce what he believes.The objective of jihad in the form of military confrontion is not to force non_muslims to convert to islam.that is why we have been saying Isis and other terrorist groups who force non_muslims they capture to convert to islam are not doing jihad
Karen says
“we tolerate its usage by christians for the sake of peace” Thanks for the tolerance; that’s real big of you. BTW, it’s polite to capitalize ‘Christian’. Common courtesy, like ‘Muslim’.
Jihad options given to the conquered: convert, die, or be 2nd class citizens. This is well known.
Lydia says
My cross will never be removed.
It goes with me in one form or another everywhere I go.
If they want to ban the symbol, they will be banning me too, so either I can’t go there or they can’t have me, but I will never compromise.
If someone is offended, my response is: TOO BAD. GO CRY TO YOUR MOMMY!
don rugdee says
The Christians should set a Fatwa on this ARAB religious figure.
Vishwas says
No wonder the world hates Muslims. So called liberal Muslims settled in US, UK etc. are no different. Some shoe hatred towards all non-Muslims openly and others hide it from public view waiting for the opportune time. Who asked to play or even see the game? Get lost. Your petroDollars are anyway coming to US to Americans to enjoy and for you to boost with empty head.