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bananas

(27,509 posts)
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 07:34 AM Apr 2014

Atheists Classified As Terrorists Under New Saudi Arabian Laws

Source: Huffington Post UK

Atheists are being defined as terrorists under a raft of new Saudi Arabian laws, a report from Human Rights Watch states.

The new laws are accompanied by a series of related royal decrees which appear to criminalise virtually all dissident thought or expression as terrorism.

<snip>

Regulations from the Interior Ministry cite “terrorism” provisions to include: “Calling for atheist thought in any form, or calling into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based.”

Those who swear allegiance to any party, organisation, current of thought, group or individual inside or outside the kingdom are also included in the provisions. The Muslim Brotherhood and various Al Qaeda factions are also among those on the list.

The new laws have largely been brought in to combat the growing number of citizens travelling to Syria to take part in the civil war, the Independent writes.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/02/atheists-classified-terrorists-new-saudi-arabian-laws_n_5075129.html

29 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Atheists Classified As Terrorists Under New Saudi Arabian Laws (Original Post) bananas Apr 2014 OP
ain't theocracy grand? hobbit709 Apr 2014 #1
Religious Ass Clowns on the Loose warrant46 Apr 2014 #28
Saudi royal decree: Atheism is terrorism bananas Apr 2014 #2
They're trying to suppress the fact that people are getting sick of being ruled by dogma ck4829 Apr 2014 #3
Most of the Saudis I have met nilesobek Apr 2014 #4
LOL Just the Saudis? n/t VWolf Apr 2014 #6
I lived in Switzerland for several months during 1983-84... KansDem Apr 2014 #26
alot like what the teahadists want to do here Doctor_J Apr 2014 #5
As I was reading the post I wondered just how long is it going to take for the Thinkingabout Apr 2014 #7
Ackkk We must start an Underground Rail Road in Texas Heather MC Apr 2014 #18
Perhaps protect them by allowing choices. RW thinks everyone is a terrorist Thinkingabout Apr 2014 #21
So we have made the word "terrorist" completely meaningless. bemildred Apr 2014 #8
Not that I was ever going to visit that crazy ass country anyway. nt Javaman Apr 2014 #9
Saudi Arabia vs The Vatican seveneyes Apr 2014 #10
Deflection from their own financial sponsorship of terrorism? KittyWampus Apr 2014 #13
Saudis charge three over allegedly seditious tweets -paper bananas Apr 2014 #11
I love the smell of irony in the morning. bunnies Apr 2014 #12
I have long held carla Apr 2014 #14
Truth and logic can be terrifying to some people, I suppose. n/t Gore1FL Apr 2014 #15
Disgusting attitude LeftishBrit Apr 2014 #16
well that's just stupid warrior1 Apr 2014 #17
Aw, shit, Saudi Arabia! Stop giving the American Taliban ideas! Aristus Apr 2014 #19
LOL. Where do you think Saudi Arabia got the idea? SunSeeker Apr 2014 #22
k&r for exposure. n/t Laelth Apr 2014 #20
Well, they also think Allah doesn't want women to drive cars. Nye Bevan Apr 2014 #23
Thank God they're not involved in our political process: grahamhgreen Apr 2014 #24
A Chimp with an Ass Clown warrant46 Apr 2014 #29
Does this mean...... DeSwiss Apr 2014 #25
Well, you know guys, atheism has caused people to slaughter and pillage and murder Arugula Latte Apr 2014 #27

warrant46

(2,205 posts)
28. Religious Ass Clowns on the Loose
Thu Apr 3, 2014, 11:41 AM
Apr 2014

It's getting harder to see which Lunatics are in Charge of the Asylum

bananas

(27,509 posts)
2. Saudi royal decree: Atheism is terrorism
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 07:38 AM
Apr 2014
http://www.timesofisrael.com/saudi-royal-decree-atheismterrorism/

Saudi royal decree: Atheism is terrorism

New law, said by rights group to silence peaceful critics, targets both Islamists and unbelievers

By Yifa Yaakov April 1, 2014, 11:35 pm

Saudi Arabia has criminalized atheism as terrorism in a new law and a series of royal decrees turning “almost any critical expression or independent association into crimes of terrorism,” according to Human Rights Watch.

The campaign, which the rights group says is intended to “silence peaceful activists,” creates a legal framework criminalizing “virtually all dissident thought or expression” as terrorism.

<snip>

The January 31 Penal Law for Crimes of Terrorism and its Financing, known as the “terrorism law,” stipulates that an act committed within Saudi Arabia does not have to be violent to be considered an act of terrorism. Instead, any act intended to “insult the reputation of the state,” “harm public order,” or “shake the security of society” can be considered a terrorist act.

<snip>

Anyone who aids, contacts, corresponds with or shows sympathy for “terrorist” organizations and associations – including, apparently, atheists – on social media, websites or any other platform is considered a terrorist.

Commenting on Article 6 of the decree, one activist told Human Rights Watch, “Just talking to you now is considered terrorism – I could be prosecuted as a terrorist for this conversation.”

ck4829

(34,974 posts)
3. They're trying to suppress the fact that people are getting sick of being ruled by dogma
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 07:52 AM
Apr 2014

From the same article, nearly a quarter of Saudis are non-religious and five percent are atheist.

Both of those numbers are going to keep growing and it is going to get to the point where the fundamentalist version of Islam that Saudi Arabia's social policy is based on is going to have very little legitimacy.

nilesobek

(1,423 posts)
4. Most of the Saudis I have met
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 08:13 AM
Apr 2014

at the local university just want weed and chicks, not primitive skygod madness.

KansDem

(28,498 posts)
26. I lived in Switzerland for several months during 1983-84...
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 02:41 PM
Apr 2014

I befriended one family who introduced me to a fellow from Saudi Arabia. He was traveling through Europe as a student.

After he left their house, the family told me that young men from the Mideast like to come to Europe to "have fun." They can't get laid at home due to the religiosity so they come to Europe.

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
7. As I was reading the post I wondered just how long is it going to take for the
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 08:36 AM
Apr 2014

Red states to start passing their laws, to name those who may not look the same as terrorists, those of certain religions or atheist groups as terrorist. RW groups call our President a Muslim so they will include anyone they think they can bully.

 

Heather MC

(8,084 posts)
18. Ackkk We must start an Underground Rail Road in Texas
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 09:54 AM
Apr 2014

We have to protect Matt Dillahunty and all the Members of the Atheist Community of Austin

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
21. Perhaps protect them by allowing choices. RW thinks everyone is a terrorist
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 10:47 AM
Apr 2014

Except Republican Tealibans.

bemildred

(90,061 posts)
8. So we have made the word "terrorist" completely meaningless.
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 08:37 AM
Apr 2014

I have to say this sounds downright Russian, too, or the Russians sound downright Saudi, or whatever. Having blasphemy be a crime is so medieval.

 

seveneyes

(4,631 posts)
10. Saudi Arabia vs The Vatican
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 09:02 AM
Apr 2014

I don't recently recall the Vatican declaring non-believers to be terrorists. What gives with Saudi Arabia?

bananas

(27,509 posts)
11. Saudis charge three over allegedly seditious tweets -paper
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 09:19 AM
Apr 2014
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/01/saudi-dissent-idUSL5N0MT3J920140401

Saudis charge three over allegedly seditious tweets -paper

RIYADH, April 1 Tue Apr 1, 2014 11:11am EDT

(Reuters) - Three Saudi Arabian men have been charged over comments they made on Twitter, the first such cases since a decree imposed long jail terms for supporting extremist groups, a local newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The three have been accused of sedition, incitement and breaching obedience to the king, the newspaper al-Eqtisadiah reported on its website.

It said the men were the first to be charged under the terms of a February royal decree, which set out prison sentences for anybody who went abroad to fight, incited others to do so, or gave material or moral support to extremist groups.

<snip>

Three young men were detained in recent days for posting online films complaining about living standards and attacking the ruling family, said an activist who spoke with members of their families.

<snip>

carla

(553 posts)
14. I have long held
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 09:24 AM
Apr 2014

the belief that ALL Saudi Royals are terrorists. Atheists will win this fight because reason triumphs over bullshit and such laws are meant to paper over the fact that disobedience against such a corrupt regime is moral and just. Fuck the House of Saud! Don't forget, they are just the Bush Clan in white robes/without the pointy hoods.

Nye Bevan

(25,406 posts)
23. Well, they also think Allah doesn't want women to drive cars.
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 11:41 AM
Apr 2014

What a stupid, backward country they are.

 

DeSwiss

(27,137 posts)
25. Does this mean......
Wed Apr 2, 2014, 01:56 PM
Apr 2014

...that they'll be severing diplomatic relations with all ''Christian'' countries now? I mean since they're saying that anyone is a terrorist for espousing beliefs that calls the ''fundamentals of Islam'' into question. Christianity certainly does that.

- I'm sure they'll make an exception for non-believers that sell them their weapons though......

K&R

 

Arugula Latte

(50,566 posts)
27. Well, you know guys, atheism has caused people to slaughter and pillage and murder
Thu Apr 3, 2014, 11:27 AM
Apr 2014

in the name of non-belief for centuries, so maybe these Saudis are on to something.

Oh, wait. That was religion. I'm thinking of religion.

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