Saudi Arabia, as the birthplace of Islam, will not allow churches to be built on its land, said the Defense Minister, Prince Sultan to reporters on March 8. According to a March 10 AP report, Sultan said that foreigners are allowed to worship freely in their homes, but churches would not be permitted, since it would affect Islam. Calling those who want churches "fanatics," Sultan told reporters, "We are not against religions at all ... but there are no churches - not in the past, the present or future."
Saudi Arabia is well known for forbidding any religion other than Islam. Despite assurances from Sultan, foreigners have been arrested and deported for worshipping in their homes and Christians face imprisonment, torture, and death.
Last week the P+P Alert reported that Saudi Arabia was to be left off the US State Department's list of "countries of particular concern" as religious rights violators. While he would not comment directly on Sultan's comments, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said that they are seeking opportunities to work with Saudi Arabia to improve the state of religious freedom. Other countries left off the list were India, Laos, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Vietnam, even though the US Commission on International Religious Freedom strongly recommended that they be labeled as "countries of particular concern."
Pray for Christians in Saudi Arabia, that they may stand firm in the face of constant danger. Pray that world leaders will see religious freedom as a fundamental human right that must be upheld by all countries regardless of political allegiances.
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