Freedom in Saudi Arabia

Freedom in Saudi Arabia means you're free to do what the government tells you to do.

Some find that out the hard way. Fouad Al Farhan is/was a Saudi Internet blogger. At the top of his blog appeared these words: "Searching for freedom, dignity, justice and equality."

Al Farhan is now in jail. Al Farhan, 32, was arrested on December 10 of last year, charged with "violating nonsecurity regulations." The last I heard, he was being held for interrogation in Jeddah. So much for "freedom, dignity, justice and equality!"

Interestingly, his blog continues with posts by his friends. One of these posts says Al Farhan was picked up because he "wrote about political prisoners in Saudi Arabia" and would not apologize. But his writings also encompassed the desire for political freedom and he criticised government officials and government institutions.

According to Rasha Abdulla, an assistant professor at the American University in Cairo, the Internet has been available to the public in Saudi only since 1999. "Saudi Arabia is one of the strictest Arab countries," said Abdulla. The Saudi authorities want to "protect the Saudi citizens from the inappropriate material on the Internet."

Bullpoop! Like all dictatorships, they claim to be "protecting the people," in this case, by blocking pornography and violence. The reality is they block what they perceive as errant political views, and other news that would counter the reality existing within the country of Saudi Arabia!

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. Its legal system is beholden to Sharia (Islamic law.) Thus, all citizens must be Muslims. People of some other religions may live in Saudi, but they cannot be citizens of the country. If you are Jewish, you don't even want to try to move to Saudi! There is no freedom of religion. Islam is the only allowable religion.

Saudi Arabia is of the Sunni persuasion. Muslims that question the Sunni interpretation of things can find themselves in very serious trouble.

Saudi Arabia is strongly anti-Semitic and anti-Israel.

The laws are based upon an especially strict version of Sunni Islam, called the Hanbali school. This is a problem for the country's approximately 2 million Shi'a Muslims.

A Muslim cannot convert to another religion and one may not try to make a convert. Conversion is considered apostasy and is punishable by death if the person does not recant. A schoolteacher was tried for apostasy in 2004. The charge was reduced to blasphemy. He got three years in prison and 300 lashes!

Shi'a Muslims are subjected to various levels of discrimination. They have little political or religious freedom and are often harassed by government officials.

Mail and other shipments to Saudi are routinely opened and inspected.

Religious education in all schools is mandatory. Strict standards of social behavior are rigorously enforced. Businesses must close during the five daily prayer observances. The clothing a person wears must meet specific guidelines. Men and women not married to one another may not socialize. No Christmas gifts of New Year's gifts are allowed. Valentine's Day is considered a "pagan Christian holiday."

Rules are enforced by the official Mutawwa'in and by vigilantes. They have authority to detain a person for 24 hours for violation of proper dress and behavior standards.

It is not unusual for Muslim preachers, paid by the government to use violent anti-Jewish and anti-Christian language in the sermons. In a number of instances, Mosque speakers prayed for the death of Jews and Christians.

The law reads that all children of male citizens are Muslim, regardless of the country or the religious tradition in which they were raised. The government also applies this law to non-Muslim, non-citizen mothers and denies their children the right to choose their religion.

In light of all of the above, you will be glad to know that the rite of marriage is available in Saudi to very young children. According to the March 19 edition of the Sydney Morning Herald, "An 11-year old boy has married his 10-year old cousin in the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom of Saudi Arabia."

The boy, Mohammed al-Rashidi and his cousin will "seal" the marriage they contracted under sharia law and move in together after a ceremony this summer.

Mohammed, says "I am ready for this marriage. It will help me study better."

Well, of course it will. And why didn't we think of that? Maybe, from here on out, in the United States, we should require all 11-year old boys and 10-year old girls to be married. Children of that age often have a hard time studying. What a boon it would be to be married!


A final note. Iran is Shia. Iraq is under the control of the Shia Muslims. In the past, Iran and Iraq have been bitter enemies, their mutual rancor culminating in a 10-year long war. During that war, the U.S. armed and supported Saddam Hussein. Now, Iran is making overtures of friendship to Iraq. Iraq is responding in kind.

The Sunni insurgents are most unhappy with the way things are going and seem to be intent on blowing up the country. They have been armed by the United States!

Al-Qaeda is Sunni. Saudi Arabia is Sunni. Fifteen of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers came from Saudi Arabia. Bin Laden is from a huge Saudi Arabian family. Some say Bin Laden and his group have received funds and support from the Saudi poohbahs. The 9/11 hijackers were trained in Saudi.

But figure this one out: al-Qaeda is blamed for a number of terrorist attacks within Saudi Arabia.

Whatever. It would appear that one of the last countries to be a close ally of the United States would be Saudi Arabia.

Except for the fact that there is still a ton of oil buried beneath the Saudi Arabian sands!

It's all very confusing.

It's so confusing that only a total idiot would consider invading and trying to occupy one of these countries!