Freedom of Christian worship in Saudi Arabia

Submitted by Gabriel Grosso (Italy), Jan 10, 2003 at 08:07

"Saudi Arabia knows only one religion, and it is Islam". In Saudi Arabia, Christians are not even suppoused to exist. Before some left-wingers defend Saudi Arabia's right to ban Christianity from its territory, let me make a few points. Religious tolerance should be reciprocal. Europe and America must respect Muslims and Islam. No question about that. Europe and America must be tolerant toward Islam. At the same time, they must pressurize Saudi Arabia (and similar countries) to tolerate Christianity and the Christians. It cannot be always one way only. European nations are obsessed with human rights. Well, maybe it is time to ask Saudi Arabia to develop a culture of human rights and religious tolerance. Or is it too much to ask? In Saudi Arabia, American citizens are discriminated on the grounds of their religion. In Europe and America, for less than that, we would get a very strong reaction from the Left. What is the Left saying about Saudi Arabia? Nothing. Having said that, I think that we need to respect ordinary Muslims in Europe and America. I respect open-minded Muslims. Ordinary non-totalitarian Muslims deserve all our respect and deserve to be accepted in France, Britain, Italy, Germany, America etc. Of course, the Left wouldn't have that and they would accuse me of Islamophobia. Nothing further from the truth. I respect Islam. But I also want Saudi Arabia (and similar countries) to accept Christianity and to tolerate Christians. No more double-standards. Freedom of Christian worship in Saudi Arabia.

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