Christianity in Saudi Arabia
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Saudi Arabia allows Christians to enter the country as temporary workers, but does not allow them to practice their faith. Foreign Christians generally only worship in secret within private homes. Items and articles belonging to religions other than Islam are prohibited. These may include Bibles, crucifixes, statues, carvings, items with religious symbols such as the Star of David, and others.
The Saudi Mutaween (Arabic: مطوعين), or Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (i.e., the religious police) prohibits practise of Christian religion. All citizens must be Muslims. There likely are more than 500,000 secret Catholics in Saudi Arabia. The percentage of Christians among the about 800,000 Filipinos in Saudi Arabia likely exceeds 90 %. Conversion by a Muslim to another religion is considered apostasy, a crime punishable by death if the accused does not recant. The Government does not permit non-Muslim clergy to enter the country for the purpose of conducting religious services. Bibles and other Christian material is prohibited.
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[edit] History
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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (August 2007) |
Some parts of what is called today Saudi Arabia (such as Najran) were Christians until the 7th to 10th century when most Christians converted to Islam. Also there were some Arabian tribes who followed Christianity such as Banu Taghlib and Banu Tamim, theses tribes either converted to Islam or left Arabia to Syria and Iraq where they remained Christians.
The old Christian community of Najran in southern Arabia went into conflict with the Jewish rulers of Yemen around 4th to 5th century. This conflict ended in the Christian community of Najran being massacred.
[edit] Churches
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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (August 2007) |
[edit] Demographics
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[edit] Assimilation
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[edit] Controversy
[edit] Persecutions of Christians
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Please help improve this article or section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (August 2007) |
[edit] See also
[edit] Sources
- Human rights in Saudi Arabia article
- Saudi Arabia article
- Roman Catholicism in Saudi Arabia article
- Status of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia article
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