Saudis arrest 40 Christians in raid on secret church

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-saudi29.html

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Forty foreign Christians, children included, were arrested for proselytizing when police raided a clandestine church in suburban Riyadh. Convictions could result in harsh prison sentences, followed by deportation.

Lt. Col. Saad al-Rashud, who heads a wide-ranging security campaign in the capital, said the believers' meeting place, which displayed crosses, was run by a Pakistani who led prayers, heard confessions, distributed Communion and claimed to heal the sick.

Although the Prophet Muhammad tolerated Christian churches in his realm, modern Saudi Arabia has made it illegal to promote any religion other than Islam and outlaws churches.

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[slor]

1. And so soon after holding hands with the chimp...

how will the "fristians" spin this?

[Jacobin]

10. I was thinking the same thing!

And a big wet kiss, too!!

My my my, since necking doesn't calm the beast, I think we ALL know what smirky has to do next!

[KareBear]

2. So does this mean that Bush would be arrested when he visits?

Being a devout warrior of the divine who speaks with him on a first name basis and all...

Surely he wouldn't put aside his deeply held convictions if he were in Saudi Arabia on a Sabbath!

[StaggerLee]

9. Book 'em Khalid!

Mecca Five-O

[Dhalgren]

3. Dueling fundies.

I imagine Falwell and Robertson, et al, would see the Saudies as a good model for how to run a religion, er, country, er, religion...

[JHB]

4. That wouldn't be THIS GUY's country, would it?

http://us.news3.yimg.com/img.news.yahoo.com/util/anysize/272,http%3A%2F%2Fus.news1.yimg.com%2Fus.yimg.com%2Fp%2Frids%2F20050425%2Fi%2Fr1920222244.jpg

[aquart]

12. This picture. That headline.

Gosh. With Bush, opposition ads just write themselves.

[sniffa]

5. ooooh - i expect an emaiL soon

asking for money to heLp save these christians.

[KareBear]

6. Won't somebody think of the CHILDREN!?! (sarcasm)

[StaggerLee]

7. I thought it was the kittens

Oh gosh somebody please help me get my priorities/talking points straight.

[Disturbed]

8. Will the Bush Junta comment on this?

Will any RW Xtians?

[Solly Mack]

11. I bet the right wing theocrats envy SA

To be able just limit religion that way.

Keep blurring the lines, America...keep pushing for the marriage of religion and state...

and this will be your future..

Right wing theocrats banning all religion but their own...forcing you to hide in your homes to be anything other than the state religion....subject to arrest at any time.

And don't kid yourself into thinking the theocrats will spare all Christians... To the right wing theocrats: All Christians are not created equal..some are more equal than others.

so just keep pushing...you will reap what you sow.

The separation of church and state protects religion. It doesn't just protect me as a non-believer.

[fishwax]

23. definitely. folks should be wary ... (n/t)

[rocktivity]

13. And it seemed like only a few days ago when Bush and the Saudi prince

were holding hands.

:headbang:
rocknation

[The Backlash Cometh]

14. Maybe they've seen what Christians are doing to this country and they've

figured they're a national security problem?

[DS1]

15. Found the FR thread, they're mostly in agreement, except for this gem

"Swift and overwhelming force worked wonders for the romans right up until they stopped doing it. "

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1303515/posts

[Ganja Ninja]

16. In view of this I nominate Franklin Graham as our new ..

ambassador to Saudi Arabia. It make as much sense as sending John Bolton to the UN.

[cprise]

17. Cuba is Freedomland compared to this!

At least the Saudi Religious Police (their actual title) did not see any crimes that called amptutations this time.

America's fascist friends are so cute and cuddly, aren't they?

[bobthedrummer]

18. 15 of the 19 9/11 flight crews were Saudis.

But that has nothing to do with The Crusade/jihad/holy war of the end times, initiated by God's own US War President.

[madrchsod]

19. the prophet muhammad revered mary the mother of jesus

and wrote about her in the book. saudi version of the teachings are a corruption of his word. he also believed christ was a prophet. i wonder how the fundies are raionizing their boy king and the saudi prince holding hands and kissing while their fellow christians are jailed...

[mutus_frutex]

20. How fucked up are both sides?

I mean, on the one hand you have the Saudis that don't respect freedom of religion, on the other you have the christians that don't respect freedom of religion EITHER.

[Jack Rabbit]

21. Democracy is on the march, is it?

That's what the Frat Boy said, so it must be true.

[daleo]

22. If Iran did this (or when, as the case may be)

It would be fertile propaganda for the war party. When it is the Saudis, it is OK, though.

[progressivebydesign]

24. So.. Bush coddles anti-Christian nations?

Wow... does ANY real christian still believe that Bush is a born-again, or any type of christian? Or have they figured out that it was all Rove's invention?

They have freakin' religious police in SA. They travel around and make sure people are being moral, and can arrest people for not adhering to their official religion, which is apparently NOT Christianity.

Shit.. if they had happened in Iran or any other country in which Bush wanted oil or position, we'd be sending troops there.