I came across this letter. Is it true that non-muslims cannot be buried in Saudi Arabia. A buddhist from Cambodia around the lab where I work, claimed that they cannot even be cremated in Saudi Arabia. The body has to be flown back and cremated there! Does anyone know more about this?
http://www.herald-review.com/rednews/2002/04/25/build/Editorials/letters.php
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The Wall Street Journal reported recently that non-Muslims cannot be buried in Saudi Arabia, so their corpses are stacked up for months until flights to their countries of origin can be paid for.
Will Muslim clerics speak out for Christians to have the same freedom in Muslim countries that they have in America? Will they condemn Saddam Hussein and Saudi Arabia for giving money to families of terrorists?
If a Christian in a Muslim country wrote a letter criticizing that country as this cleric did, he would be imprisoned. I’m glad that in America anyone has the freedom to criticize our country without fear of persecution.
The Rev. Gerald Thompson
Salem Baptist Church
Decatur
Saudi Arabian laws dont just treat people of other faiths badly but foriegners in general. e.g. fine for battery of a saudi is different than that of an american, a european, a pakistani, indian, filipino etc.
The whole concept of not having praryer centers of people of other faith is utter BS, and makes it seem like every other muslim majority country has the same going on.
Saudi Arabia needs to evolve and join the modern world.
the reverend is correct partially on his point abouyt burial, although there is a non muslim cemetery in Jeddah, it is not used extensively by people's own choice. as for cremation etc, i dont think that is done.
and plenty of christians write to papers and even rally openly in other muslim majority countries, using saudi Arabia as an example and extrapolating it to all other countries is pretty idiotic. so where I udnerstand the revenrend''s issue, i think he needs to be a little more informed.
Pir Sahib, you are absolutely correct that the Reverend only shows his bias and stupidity in extrapolating SA to all muslim countries. In the meantime I have read the original WSJ article and they are talking about workers who don't have resources and the home countries have to pay for them. And I have confirmed that there is no crematorium in SA and that option is just not available period. I just did not know a lot about SA apparently. The more I learn the more curious I am getting to find out more. When and how did these guy acquire the mentality they have? How were their relation with the Ottomans ( I know a little about that from reading about the Ottomans recently, but not enough apparently).
How many muslim cpuntries look up to SA as a model?
How many muslims look at SA as a model?
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Chaltahai: *
How many muslim cpuntries look up to SA as a model?
How many muslims look at SA as a model?
[/QUOTE]
I don't have a good handle on the answers to these questions. However, I was reading that in Nigeria atleast the Northern States that have imposed Sharia are heavily influenced by the SA model. It is opposed by the Govt. in Nigeria, but they are incapable of taking on the Religious crowd driving the Northern States. I am starting to suspect that a lot of the problems of Pakistan are because the mullha there started accepting SA money without fully realising they were going to be buying into SA brand and chucking out a lot of their own traditions. I might be wrong on that. I think Mahthir of Malaysia, and Waheed the ex-president of Indonesia separately have made statements regarding how the SA money is influencing the practice of Islam in their country. I think you are associated with India. Perhaps you can comment upon the effect of SA money on the muslims of India. I just read that SA has insisted with India that the Indian Ambassador to SA must be a muslim, and India has complied with that insistence since 1947.
[QUOTE]
Originally posted by OldLahori: *
Pir Sahib, you are absolutely correct that the Reverend only shows his bias and stupidity in extrapolating SA to all muslim countries. In the meantime I have read the original WSJ article and they are talking about workers who don't have resources and the home countries have to pay for them. And I have confirmed that there is no crematorium in SA and that option is just not available period. *
true, they only allow burial. You can see similar but not quiet such extreme examples in other countries e.g. in the UK i dont think you can bury a body in the kuffan, but you need a coffin or atleast a box to do that. The same holds true for most cemeteries in the US.
*I just did not know a lot about SA apparently. The more I learn the more curious I am getting to find out more. When and how did these guy acquire the mentality they have? *
Not sure, its kinda like the upstart who wins a lottery, may have all the money but still has no sense, that is what SA reminds me of.
*How were their relation with the Ottomans ( I know a little about that from reading about the Ottomans recently, but not enough apparently). *
Their terms with the Ottomans were bad..it was a mutual dislike. They felt they were not treated well, and their is some validity to it, but Ottomans were tired of the tribal mentality and all the constant bikcering that went on.
Saudi Mentality is very close to the Afghani or even teh Pakistani FATa (tribal areas) mentality where cultural norms parade as religion and the "its my way or teh high way" mentality applies. Their reasosn for not allowing places of worhsip for other faith and not allowing cremation etc seem very illogical, but ever looked at their immigration policy? even if you are born there and your parents dont have saudi citizenship..you have no status there, period.
[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Chaltahai: *
How many muslims look at SA as a model?
[/QUOTE]
countries I dont know, as far as people, if i look at my extended family, there are a few that do, but those that do and those that dont have a very diff mind set..those with limited exposure who have never seta foot outside pakistan and are from conservative households seem tot hink of it as a great place.
partially the reason is that when all is said and done, compared to Pakistan, saudi Arabia does offer one thing..security, personal security..significantly less crime etc. People look at that as a great thing and dont focus on lack of civil liberties or individual thought there.
I have lived in saudi Arabia, and in that aspect it is pretty good, law and order in general (or was back in early mid 80s) but the society needs to evolve in most other aspects.