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, 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 practice of Christian religion. All citizens must be Muslims. There are probably more than 1 million Roman Catholics in Saudi Arabia. The percentage of Christians among the about 1.2 million Filipinos in Saudi Arabia likely exceeds 90%^[1]. 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 materials are prohibited.

History

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Some parts of what is called today Saudi Arabia (such as Najran) were Christian until the 7th to 10th century when most Christians were forced to convert to Islam. Also there were some Arabian tribes who followed Christianity such as Banu Taghlib. Because of their help to Muhammad in the conquest of Arabia the Taghlib were allowed to keep their Christian faith and their status as Arabs if they paid double the poor tax and promised not to baptize their children. However they convinced their overlords that the prohibition against baptizing was neither realistic nor necessary and continued to baptize them anyway. Later such 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.

Churches

Currently there are no official churches in Saudi Arabia. The small number Saudi Christians meet in internet chat rooms and private meetings. Foreign Christians may meet at church meetings held at one of several embassies after registering and showing their passport to prove foreign nationality, or by private assemblies in school gyms located in gated communities on Aramco grounds.

Demographics

Beside foreign workers in Saudi Arabia, the percentage of Saudi citizens as Christians tends towards zero, as Saudi Arabia forbids religious conversion from Islam. Some Saudi conversions to Christianity are known only through their being killed by a near relative for the crime of apostasy.^{[2][citation needed]}

Assimilation

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Beside foreign workers in Saudi Arabia, the percentage of Saudi citizens as Christians tends towards zero, as Saudi Arabia forbids religious conversion from Islam.

Islamic holy cities

• Christians, and other non-Muslims, are prohibited from entering the cities of Mecca and Medina, Islam's holiest cities.

See also

• Human rights in Saudi Arabia
• Saudi Arabia
• Status of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia

References