"Saudis Won't Allow Churches on Its Land"

Society Religion & Philosophy
1

What would be our personal reaction, sitting in Canada or any other nonMuslim country, if we were informed that it was against Canadian (or American) federal laws to construct a mosque anywhere in the whole country. It would be a case of discrimination against religion, and rightly so. Why not just even allow construction of one church?

Saudis Won’t Allow Churches on Its Land, The Guardian, 10 March 2003

Saudi Arabia, as the birthplace of Islam, will not allow churches to be built on its land, according to Defense Minister Prince Sultan.

Islam is the only accepted religion in Saudi Arabia, home to the faith’s holiest shrines in Mecca and Medina.

"This country was the launch pad for the prophecy and the message, and nothing can contradict this, even if we lose our necks,‘’ Sultan told reporters Saturday. His comments were published by Saudi newspapers and confirmed by several journalists who attended the press conference.

Sultan said that foreigners have been allowed to worship freely in their homes since they began arriving in Saudi Arabia in 1951 but permitting a church in the country "would affect Islam and all Muslims.‘’

On Thursday, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent federal agency, complained that a new State Department list of countries that severely limit religious freedom omits several that deserve censure, including U.S. ally Saudi Arabia. The commission’s annual reports say that religious freedom "does not exist’’ in the Gulf Kingdom.

"Those who talked (about churches in Saudi Arabia) are church people and they are, unfortunately, fanatics,‘’ Sultan said, according to Monday’s Okaz daily newspaper. "We are not against religions at all … but there are no churches - not in the past, the present or future.‘’

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Well think of this as a soviet styled economy. Lack of competition means shoddy products.

3

Forget about Churches they have other weird laws too.. you cannot invest or start business. You cannot become a Saudi even if you are born there.

4

:)

saudis wont even allow shias to have majalis of Imam Hussain a.s. and here i went to the jaloos in manhatten yesterday...there is no freedom of religion in saudia

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"This country was the launch pad for the prophecy and the message, and nothing can contradict this, even if we lose our necks,''

It's sad that he doesn't realize that this is the same justification that the "Zionists" use for occupying Jurasalem. It's also interesting that KSA's Defense Minister is the one having a press conference on the subject and calling church people "fanatics"... this from the very heartland of wahabbism, what a joke.

6

this is really lame. They have no justification from any angle to not allow people of other faiths or other sects to establish their centers of worship.

But its that kind of thinking that is the problem. They really need to take a page from the book of pretty much every other country and let people practice their faith in their own religious center.

but then again these are saudis, dunno about now but they had no cinemas in the entire country back in the 70's to mid 80's.

7

ksa has some weird laws. maybe keep churches out of medina and makkah. but i dont see a reason why churches cant exist else where.

8

These idiots have tried to implement all rules and laws that are contradictory to Islamic basic teachings of tolerance and brotherhood and equality of mankind.. they try to portray arabs are better muslims than others.. have tried to force only their view point in religious faith and not allow others like shias of any liberty.. and now this church thing.. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) preached all his life for rights of minorities and allowed them to pray in their temples and churches..

9

i havent said any thing here for a long time, but this seems to be the most annoying issue i have ever come across here, so i broke my silence....the prophet salall la hu wa alahi wassalam forbade co existance of two religions on the arabian peninsula, now happy? it is a sahih hadith according to which he on his deathbed told that two religions can not co exist in the jazeera of arab....now thats the end of it, but i m sure liberals here will not be satisfied and will complain against the prophet's command, ...lakum den e kum walay ya deen....

10

When Mosques are allowed in the vatican, Churches may be allowed in Arabia-until then, its only equal footing to the decison to keep the Vatican, the heartland of kafiranity , completely mono faithed.

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Saudis practice their own version of Islam and laws too. Forget Christians or Jews they even treat Muslims from other countries badly. Islam grant rights to the followers of other faiths. In fact, Islam gives more privileges and rights to minorities than any other religion do. The life of our Prophet (PBUH) is a true example of benevolence towards minority people. For example, once came a Christian delegate to meet the Prophet (PBUH). They were assembled in a mosque as Holy Prophet (PBUH) would do most of his work in the mosque. The Christian delegate wanted to leave as they had to offer their prayers but Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) allowed them to say their prayers in one corner of the mosque. The Christian delegate was astounded by this courtesy. This incident shows how much respect Islam gives to people of other religions.

Muslims in Spain under Moorsih civilization and Islamic rule worshipped side by side with teh Christians under the same roof. There hundreds of examples throughout the history....

12

can india ban mosques or pakistan ban hindu temples?
they can do by law but it is not done.

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"When Mosques are allowed in the vatican, Churches may be allowed in Arabia-until then, its only equal footing to the decison to keep the Vatican, the heartland of kafiranity , completely mono faithed."

That's a poor analogy. There are mosques in Italy, including I'm sure in Rome. I don't thing anyone proposed erecting a church right next to that thing at Mecca that everybody does laps around.

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Stu: *
I don't thing anyone proposed erecting a church right next to that thing at Mecca that everybody does laps around.
[/QUOTE]

i don't agree with MoBest, particularly his "heartland of kafiranity".

Stu, with all due respect, that "thing" you are referring to has a name. It's called the Kabah.

Laps? No. i am afraid it is a bit more meaningful than that. There's a mutual amount of respect for other peoples' religions and religious rites that i personally always try to follow in this Forum. Would appreciate it if others would do the same.

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There are like tent churches in the areas where US troops are stuff are, I saw Video LInk of them Xmasing on CNN-there is no Xtians in KSA-why do they need churches?

Italy has muslims, not only immigrants, but native converts-there is an Italian Muslim Association, so there would be 1 mosque for the natives irrespective of other muslims there.

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"There's a mutual amount of respect for other peoples' religions and religious rites that i personally always try to follow in this Forum. Would appreciate it if others would do the same."

I would say you are in the minority, but correct nonetheless and I sincerely apologize. I meant no offense.

17

I would say you are in the minority, but correct nonetheless and I sincerely apologize. I meant no offense.

:flower1: It’s cool now. No hard feelings whatsoever :flower1: i am not certain how frustrating it must be to encounter what you probably feel like every day, on these Forums, day in and day out; i apologize for that. i sincerely appreciate that you take the time to visit this place - perhaps the more inter-faith interactions, the more prospects for constructive dialogue and understanding.

Regards and Take care,
nadia

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[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Stu: *
I don't thing anyone proposed erecting a church right next to that thing at Mecca that everybody does laps around.
[/QUOTE]

That THING is called the Kaa'ba and the LAPS are called Tawaaf or in English Circumambulations. Now, don't tell me GupShup doesn't add to your knowledge and education. Strange you shouldn't know that even after posting 420+ posts here. It would be good if next time you use proper etiquettes when addressing someone's faith or its objects thereof.

19

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by mo_best: *
There are like tent churches in the areas where US troops are stuff are, I saw Video LInk of them Xmasing on CNN-there is no Xtians in KSA-why do they need churches?
[/QUOTE]

If they are tent churhes in KSA then what is the problem with having a full fledge church?

20

[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by ThandyMazaq: *
....the prophet salall la hu wa alahi wassalam forbade co existance of two religions on the arabian peninsula, now happy? it is a sahih hadith according to which he on his deathbed told that two religions can not co exist in the jazeera of arab....now thats the end of it, but i m sure liberals here will not be satisfied and will complain against the prophet's command, ...lakum den e kum walay ya deen....
[/QUOTE]

Don't think anyone read this. BUt if that's true then ... they must b right in what they are doing.
What you guys have bneen saying here are your personal opinions think of it the other way. I mean, put yourself in their shoes and think. Maybe they've got some logical explanations .. who knows !