Muhammad Alarefe, a prominent Saudi religious leader, has demanded that FIFA, the international soccer governing body, instruct players to stop making the Christian sign of the cross.

For many Christians, their deep, personal and peaceful faith is inextricable from every aspect of their life. Making the sign of the cross — or any other religious gesture — should not pose a problem or threat to anyone, but to the Islamic supremacist leader Muhammad Alarefe and his ilk, any religious expression outside of Islam represents a threat, especially since FIFA is so prestigious. Let’s hope FIFA honors the religious freedoms of their talented players and rejects the demands of Muhammad Alarefe. If FIFA bows to the demand of Alarefe, it should also ban Muslim prayer on the field and outskirts, too.

Back in February, Real Madrid soccer team removed the cross from its logo to avoid offending Muslims

Discriminating against Christian values and attempting to stifle Christianity — a foundational faith in the evolution of modern understandings of human rights and the formation of Western democratic principles — is nothing new. Most troubling is that discrimination against Christians while kowtowing to Muslims is being presented as the norm to the next generation.

The American Center for Law and Justice reported in 2015 that:

Public colleges and universities are taking the gloves off when it comes to Christian students on their campuses. Gone are the days of surreptitious slights against Christians; now it is open season on faith. Blatant, in-your-face anti-Christian discrimination is the new norm.

Correction: not “an open season on faith,” but specifically on Christian faith.

Also, Islamic indoctrination in public schools is in full swing, with eager collaboration and help from the Hamas-linked group CAIR.

“Saudi Cleric Demands FIFA Ban Players From Making Sign Of The Cross”, by Ali Waked, Breitbart, May 9, 2017: