Overview
The Middle Eastern country of Saudi Arabia is known for its strong Muslim faith and strict laws against those that practice any other religion – with Sharia law concerning any behavior perceived as deviant from it. Freedom of religion is considered a crime, and Saudi Arabia is amongst the few countries that have rigid and unalterable laws when it comes to religious worship. Therefore, although Saudi Arabia has a small Christian population, they must exercise extreme caution and discretion with their faith. Consequently, there have been reports of Christians of being arrested or persecuted for activities thatdeviate from strict Islamic practices.
Saudi Arabia’s Religion
Saudi Arabia is a predominantly Muslim country, with more than 85% of its population identifying as Muslim, leaving little room for religious freedom. Even within the Muslim faith, Wahhabi Islam is orthodoxly followed, making any type of diversification considered a violation of Islam. Christians have been historically persecuted in the country for practicing their faith and exercising their further religious freedoms.
As an Islamic state, Saudi Arabia has a legal system based on Sharia Law, and any cases related to religion are decided through this system. Therefore, Christians who are accused of any offence related to their religion, will automatically be judged and try in accordance to Sharia law.
Persecution of Christians in Saudi Arabia
There are around 1 million Christians in Saudi Arabia, most of which are foreign workers. However, since the legal system of the country strictly prohibits any kind of religious freedom outside of Islamic faith, Christians are not allowed to openly practice their traditions, or even talk about them. They are an extremely vulnerable population and face charges of apostasy, which carries the risk of a death penalty. If found guilty of having a Bibles, displaying religious symbols or partaking in religious services, people who identify as Christians in Saudi Arabia are typically arrested or sent to prison.
Worse still, more troubling cases of persecution shut away in Saudi Arabian jails and prisons have accounted. In 2019, therewas a notable case involving a Christian Indian Citizen, Jami Larry, who was arrested for giving religious testimonies. He was held captive in AlMudhim prison, and was due to be held for a minimum of seven years before appearing before a court. These examples are symptoms of Saudis intolerant attitude towards those who do not practice Islam.
International Criticism
The United Nations Human Rights Council has consistently brought attention to the levels of persecution religious minorities in Saudi Arabia go through. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and other international organisations have raised concerns about the human rights situation in the country, pointing out the persecution of religious minorities and the lack of tolerance for religious freedom. Some experts argue that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia needs to recognise and respect human rights if it wishes to move towards a modern society.
More recently, the UK has called on Saudi Arabia to improve its human rights record. In his first address to the UN General Assembly, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab urged Saudi Arabia to deliver on its commitment to protect and promote human rights. He specifically mentioned the need for the Kingdom to “accelerate progress on freedom of expression and belief, and protecting human rights defenders, minorities, prisoners of conscience”.
The Current Situation
Although the persecution of Christians in Saudi Arabia is an ongoing reality, some organisations have named the country as a place of hope for minority religious groups. According to reports from Open Doors, the country has seen some progress in terms of religious freedom, with documented cases of officials releasing Christians from prison after being caught praying in their own homes. Furthermore, reports from organisations such as Barnabas Fund and International Christian Concern have highlighted a more tolerant attitude from the Saudi government towards the presence of Christian believers and a more liberal approach to religion from the Saudi people.
Nevertheless, authorities continue to make arrests due to religious affiliation, and existing laws that criminalize any behavior that strays from Islamic faith remain. Therefore, the situation of Christians in Saudi Arabia still remains nebulous with progress made on one hand and restrictions and punishments on the other.
The Causes
The lack of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia has been deeply rooted in its culture and history. Not only is Arabia the home to Islam – the faith that dominates the country – but since the 18th century the Saudi dynasty has traditionally held fundamentalist values similar to those enforced today. This religious and political attitude has been an unchanging feature of the country, and Sharia law is strictly practiced.
The Kingdom’s policy towards other religions also has its roots in its place in the international system. As a powerful country – both politically and economically – Saudi Arabia has been able to ignore international pressure to modify its religious policies, and has resisted any interference when it comes to its fundamental principles related to religion from any foreign powers.
The Impact
The lack of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia has consequences not only at a domestic level but also on a global scale. The government’s strict policies have had a detrimental effect on the inflow of investment, with smaller businesses scared away by tales of persecution. Further, Saudi Arabia’s reputation has suffered, with the country being associated with harsh repression and intolerance, and foreign visitors deterred due to the lack of liberty within the borders.
Moreover, Saudi Arabia’s discrimination towards religious minorities sets a dangerous precedent at an international level and fails to uphold the fundamental right to practice one’s faith – a right recognised by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Circumstances
The situation of Christians in Saudi Arabia rarely comes to the attention of the media, as the Saudi government has been able to suppress its citizen’s testimonials. Consequently, people throughout the world are largely unaware of this repressing environment in the country.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has often avoided external scrutiny by curtailing any kind of criticism against its policies towards religious minorities. It even retracted its candidacy to become a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2018, when the US government notified the King of Saudi Arabia that the US would oppose the election.
The Future
The future of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia is still very uncertain. While a few cases of acceptance have been reported, the government remains strongly committed to itsIslamic traditions and the risk of persecution remains. It has become more important than ever to clamp down on the country’s restrictions against those of other faiths.
That said, some outside voices have proposed ways to push for religious tolerance in Saudi Arabia. These include engaging with the Saudi authorities, focusing on our mutual values, and pressuring them for policy change. Additionally, citizens around the world can support organisations that are advocating for the rights of religious minorities in the country.
Conclusion
The persecution of Christians in Saudi Arabia is an ongoing issue that has been overshadowed by the government’s attempts to keep it under wraps. Nevertheless, organisations such as Amnesty International, the United Nations Human Rights Council and Human Rights Watch have recently brought it to light. Therefore, a greater effort needs to be made to help those suffering from human rights violations due to their religious identities in Saudi Arabia.