Saudi Cleric Calls for Destruction of All Churches in the Gulf

Christian Workers in Gulf Countries Warned About Saudi Cleric’s Call to ‘Destroy Churches’ [Excerpts]

A call by Saudi Arabia’s top religious authority for a demolition of all churches in the Arabian Peninsula has prompted an organization representing Filipino workers in the region to advise caution and discretion.Churches are outlawed in Saudi Arabia, but other Arab Gulf states do tolerate a limited number of non-Islamic places of worship, for mostly foreign Christians and small groups of local believers.

On March 12, the Saudi grand mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, told a visiting Kuwaiti delegation that all churches in the Arabian Peninsula should be destroyed. He cited Mohammed as having said on his deathbed – according to a hadith – “There are not to be two religions in the [Arabian] Peninsula.”

Monterona [regional coordinator of the Migrante-Middle East organization] said in a statement that the Saudi government and religious officials “are well aware that there are religious activities being held discreetly in homes and apartments by non-Muslims.”

(Goodenough, "Christian Workers in Gulf Countries Warned About Saudi Cleric’s Call to ‘Destroy Churches’," CNS News.com, March 27, 2012).