Pakistani Christians in Saudi Arabia

Hey friends,

This piece of news article shocked me so much. I don't know if the Saudi Press covered it or not, but I was certainly upset about it. I mean, as a Pakistani, I am ashamed to say that this is how Saudi Arabia treats it guests. I still don't understand why Saudi Arabia doesn't allow for freedom of religion in people's own homes. I mean, how many is too many people? Is there a certain of number of people that are allowed to meet? What is the cut off point? How can Saudi Arabia even think of not allowing its guests to practice their own faith? And then these very people/ government talk about how Islam is a tolerant religion and talk about how Jews lived peacefully under the rule of Islam. I am sorry to say, I don't see any tolerance here.

I know some of the people will tell me: Mansur, Saudi Arabia has a policy of not allowing freedom of worship in a large gathering; People are free to do so individually, but not in groups. What I don't understand is how these very people(the Saudi government) can enjoy the freedom given to them to build mosques and Islamic art galleries in the Western world, and enjoy the freedom of worship in other countries, yet won't allow non-Muslims to practice their own faith.

As a Pakistani, I am sad for the Pakistani who were detained simply because they were practicing their own faith!

Region Saudi Arabia
Published: 24/4/2005, 06:39 (UAE)

40 Pakistani Christians held for holding prayers

Reuters

Riyadh:

Saudi Arabia has detained 40 Pakistani Christians for holding prayers at a house in the kingdom, where practicality any religion other than Islam is illegal, newspapers said yesterday.
A group of men, women and children were attending the service in the capital Riyadh when police raided the house, Al Jazeera newspaper said.

It said authorities also found Christian tapes and books.

Another Saudi daily, Al Yaum, said the raid took place on Friday while a Pakistani preacher was delivering a sermon. It was not clear what measures might be taken against the group.
Saudi authorities were not immediately available to comment.

There are around six million foreigners in the conservative kingdom, which has a population of 23 million, including many Christians from Europe, North America, Asia and other Arab states.

Mansur