Mr. Somebody
Friend Of A Friend
Saudi Arabia labels atheists as terrorists in new anti-dissident law
King Abdullah is cracking down on people who disagree with the country’s established religion, Islam. According to new laws, people who don’t believe in God can be considered terrorists and may face jail time.
BY CAROL KURUVILLA
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 2:05 PM
STRINGER/EPASaudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud has labeled all atheists as terrorists and threats to the unity of the country.
Not believing in God is not an option in Saudi Arabia.
The Middle Eastern country has issued new legislation that labels all atheists as terrorists who are a threat to “public order.”
Article 1 of the new provisions define terrorism as “calling for atheist thought in any form, or calling into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based.”
The kingdom has never been a friendly place for atheists — lsam is written into its constitution as the established state religion. But these new laws reflect King Abdullah’s desire to clamp down on political dissent before it can become a movement.
A growing number of Saudis have reportedly been traveling to other parts of the Middle East, like Syria, to participate in demonstrations. According to The Independent, they’re coming back to their home country with new ideas about dethroning the monarchy—a prospect that is unsettling to the 89-year-old Abdullah, who is considered one of the world’s richest royals.
The king’s Royal Decree 44 criminalizes “participating in hostilities outside the kingdom” with a jail term that could last anywhere between three and 20 years, Human Rights Watch reports.
Under the new laws, a nonviolent act can be considered terrorism if it insults the country’s rulers through social media. Anyone who seeks to “shake the social fabric or national cohesion” by participating in sit-ins, protests or meetings is also in hot water.
On March 10, a Saudi man was sentenced to 10 years in jail and a $26,000 fine for retweeting information that criticized the country’s rulers and religious scholars.
Human Rights groups have spoken out against the laws.
“Saudi authorities have never tolerated criticism of their policies, but these recent laws and regulations turn almost any critical expression or independent association into crimes of terrorism,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “These regulations dash any hope that King Abdullah intends to open a space for peaceful dissent or independent groups.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wor...dissident-law-article-1.1743233#ixzz2xrIHfawm
You had a nice run.
King Abdullah is cracking down on people who disagree with the country’s established religion, Islam. According to new laws, people who don’t believe in God can be considered terrorists and may face jail time.
BY CAROL KURUVILLA
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 2:05 PM
Not believing in God is not an option in Saudi Arabia.
The Middle Eastern country has issued new legislation that labels all atheists as terrorists who are a threat to “public order.”
Article 1 of the new provisions define terrorism as “calling for atheist thought in any form, or calling into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based.”
The kingdom has never been a friendly place for atheists — lsam is written into its constitution as the established state religion. But these new laws reflect King Abdullah’s desire to clamp down on political dissent before it can become a movement.
A growing number of Saudis have reportedly been traveling to other parts of the Middle East, like Syria, to participate in demonstrations. According to The Independent, they’re coming back to their home country with new ideas about dethroning the monarchy—a prospect that is unsettling to the 89-year-old Abdullah, who is considered one of the world’s richest royals.
The king’s Royal Decree 44 criminalizes “participating in hostilities outside the kingdom” with a jail term that could last anywhere between three and 20 years, Human Rights Watch reports.
Under the new laws, a nonviolent act can be considered terrorism if it insults the country’s rulers through social media. Anyone who seeks to “shake the social fabric or national cohesion” by participating in sit-ins, protests or meetings is also in hot water.
On March 10, a Saudi man was sentenced to 10 years in jail and a $26,000 fine for retweeting information that criticized the country’s rulers and religious scholars.
Human Rights groups have spoken out against the laws.
“Saudi authorities have never tolerated criticism of their policies, but these recent laws and regulations turn almost any critical expression or independent association into crimes of terrorism,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “These regulations dash any hope that King Abdullah intends to open a space for peaceful dissent or independent groups.”
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wor...dissident-law-article-1.1743233#ixzz2xrIHfawm
You had a nice run.
Till then, stay blessed, friend. 
