How does this make you feel? Mecca is in Saudi Arabia. According to the sources in the links provided, in Saudi Arabia: 1. There are no churches. 2. Churches cannot be built. 3. Non-Muslims are allowed to enter the country as foreign workers [only] for temporary work, but are not allowed to practice their faith openly. 4. Christians generally only worship in secret within private homes. 5. Items and articles belonging to other religions are prohibited. These include Bibles, crucifixes, statues, carvings, items with religious symbols, and others. 6. The Saudi Arabian Mutaween (Arabic: مطوعين), or Committee for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice (i.e., the religious police) prohibits the [public] practice of any religion other than Islam. 7. The Government does not permit non-Muslim clergy to enter the country for the purpose of conducting religious services. 8. Christians and other non-Muslims are prohibited from entering the cities of Mecca and Medina. 9. Distribution of non-Muslim religious materials such as Bibles, is illegal. 10. It is reported that bibles are routinely confiscated at customs. 11. Proselytizing (evangelising) by non-Muslims is illegal. 12. Currently there are no official churches in Saudi Arabia of any Christian denomination. However there are reports that the Saudis have reached a deal with the Coptic pope to allow ONE to be built. Presently foreign Christians may meet at church meetings held at one of several embassies after registering and showing their passport to prove foreign nationality. Based on the little I know about Dubai, I found this approach, in general, to be consistent with Dubais socio-political outlook regarding foreigners and the practising of their culture. -state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/2009/127357.htm -expatarrivals/article/religion-and-worship-in-saudi-arabia -thetablet.co.uk/news/454/0/-first-church-in-saudi-arabia-after-reports-of-momentous-accord-with-egypt-s-coptic-pope -en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_Saudi_Arabia -en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianity_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates
Posted on: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 20:57:05 +0000
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