UN Watch reports:

Despite its reputation as one the world’s worst violators of religious freedom, Saudi Arabia is now hosting in Jeddah a UN human rights conference on combating intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief, attended by the president of the UN Human Rights Council and other top international representatives.

That’s a rather sick joke. I presume the intent of the conference is not to defend religious freedom, but to lobby to make it an offence to be critical of religions, especially Islam.

Here are the facts on religious freedom in Saudia Arabia:

non-Muslims are not allowed to hold Saudi citizenship

conversion from Islam to another religion is apostasy and punishable by death

If born to a Muslim father, you are deemed Muslim and hence face the death penalty if you choose not to be

It is illegal to publicly practice any non-Muslim religion

Sharia law applies to all residents, regardless of religion

The spreading of Muslim teachings not in conformity with the officially accepted interpretation of Islam is prohibited and people have been jailed for doing so

Non-Muslims are banned from Mecca

Non-Muslim clergy may not enter the country for the purpose of conducting religious services

Proselytizing by non-Muslims is illegal

Islamic religious education is mandatory in public schools at all levels

There are no Shi’ite army officers, ministers, governors, mayors and ambassadors in this kingdom despite being 15% of the population

Up until 2004 Jews were banned from entering Saudi Arabia

For such a country to host a UN conference on religious freedom is sickening.

Share this: Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

More

Reddit

Pinterest



Print

Tumblr



