Dynamic Country Profile – SAUDI ARABIA
Keys to Understanding Saudi Arabia
HARDLY A SAUDI ARAB SPRING: Saudi Arabia was not that much affected by the Arab uprisings. There were some
calls for political reform and small scale protests in several cities, especially in Eastern Province, where Shiites called for the
release of political prisoners. The government banned all marches and protests and raised public sector salaries and
provided some benefits: religious authorities received additional funding and extra housing units for low-paid workers were
financed. Also a few minor reforms were promised or implemented, relatively easing restrictions on women (granting them
the right to vote in municipal elections in 2015). It is expected that this will prevent further major uprisings. On an
international level, Saudi troops helped crushing pro-democracy demonstrations by Shiites in neighbouring Bahrain in
March 2011. Also behind the scene, Saudi Arabia played a guiding role in the revolts, for example by offering refuge to the
leaders of Tunisia and Yemen and financially supporting Islamist parties in the region.
SUCCESSION OF THE MONARCH: The country is an absolute monarchy and its royal and ruling family – the House of
Saud – counts approximately 7,000 members, of whom about 200 have political influence. Appointed by King Abdullah to
key positions, they generally hold these for many years. Political parties are not allowed. The relation between the religious
establishment and the Sauds is uneasy and determined by conflicting and complying interests. The royal leaders are ageing –
King Abdullah is 88 - and succession can lead to challenges. Two crown princes died within one year (September 2011 and
June 2012) and the more liberal, but ailing, 76-year-old Defence Minister Prince Salman was named as successor. In 2006
the King founded the Allegiance Council, a committee of 35 senior princes who have the long term task to choose the crown
prince. However, as long as debilitating King Abdullah is alive, they are not expected to become active as such.
SAUDI ARABIA IS THE CUSTODIAN OF ISLAM AND ITS HOLIEST SITES: The desert kingdom controls the
Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina (birth and resting place of the prophet of Islam) and is defined by Wahhabism, a
purist and strict interpretation of Islam. Other religions are not allowed to be practiced openly. Saudi Arabia finances huge
missionary efforts beyond their own borders through the Islamic missionary organisation Muslim World League in Mecca.
Islamic proselytising literature and missionaries are being sent abroad and the construction of Wahhabist mosques is being
financed by oil dollars. Also, academic institutions are being sponsored on the condition that centres for Islamic Studies are
built. Apart from Qur’ans, literature that promotes hatred against non-Muslims is shipped abroad every year as well.
SHIITE SUPPRESSION: Shiites comprise eight per cent of the total population and most of them live in the oil rich
eastern province. Being portrayed as heretics by Saudi rulers during large parts of history and also today, they are
subordinated in the justice system, education, obtaining government jobs, religious activities, etc. On the Shiite wish lists
are: greater political participation and more religious tolerance. Under King Abdullah their situation seemed to improve for
some time as he appeared sincerely interested in ending the systematic discrimination. However, following sectarian
tensions in the region, the Shiites’ hope for tolerance and pluralism is fading away.
COMBATTING AND SUPPORTING TERRORISM: In the aftermath of the attacks of 11 September 2001 and the
subsequent terror campaign by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Saudi government has started to focus on combatting
terrorism since 2003. Throughout the past years, several terrorist cells have been disrupted and/or Islamist militants
arrested. Extremist breeding ground is widely present in the Kingdom: widespread unemployment and discontent of the
younger generation, including a growing gap between rich and poor. However, major incidents have not occurred in recent
years. Whereas the Saudi government is combatting terrorism internally – where it can be a threat to the royal family, the
funding of terrorism outside of the Kingdom is not seriously being dealt with and forms the largest source funding Sunni
terrorists worldwide.
ECONOMY OVER-RELYING ON OIL EXPORTS AND FOREIGN LABOUR: Saudi Arabia holds 25 per cent of the
world’s known oil reserves and the oil industry accounts for the majority of export earnings and government revenues (both
90 per cent). The lack of economic diversity combined with a large number of foreign migrants working in the public sector
(90 per cent) has led to mounting youth unemployment, discontent and a growing difference between rich and poor (at least
22 per cent - three million - are under the poverty line). The government has started a broadening of the Saudisation process
to create more jobs acceptable to Saudis. This includes job quotas for Saudi nationals and raising the salaries of Saudis. Also,
companies that adhere to the quotas are granted benefits in applying for visas; others are limited in this respect – rendering
it hard to hire foreign migrants. Moreover, the Saudi economy has survived global recession relatively well, mostly thanks to
large state spending.
World Watch List
Persecution Dynamics
Centuries ago, Saudi Arabia had a large Christian population and
there were even churches with clergy and synagogues. During the
conquest of Islam, from the 7th to the 10th century, Jews and
Christians were expelled or forcibly converted to Islam. Today,
public Christian worship is forbidden in Saudi Arabia and its citizens
are only allowed to adhere to Islam.
PEW Research Forum labels Saudi Arabia as one of the 18 countries
(9.1 per cent) with “very high” government restrictions on religion,
based on the fact it does not include any provisions for religious
freedom in its constitution and basic laws. Saudi Arabia – one of the
West’s most significant allies in the Middle East - also ranks as “very
high” in PEW Forum’s Social Hostilities Index, which means it is
part of the 15 of the countries (7.6 per cent) where anti-religious
sentiments are very strong in all parts of society.
The Kingdom’s legal system is based on Islamic law (Sharia).
Apostasy – conversion to another religion – is punishable by death if
the accused does not recant. Though there are no recent reports of
Saudi citizens being officially convicted and sentenced to capital
punishment for apostasy, the risk of extra-juridical killings cannot be
excluded. Although the government recognises the right of nonMuslims to worship in private, the religious police, ‘the Muttawa’,
often do not respect this right. As the law is not formally codified, the
situation of private religious practise remains vague and practice is
rather based on official announcements in the media.
Freedom of assembly is also seriously restricted by the strict gender
segregation, prohibiting men and women from different families to
intermingle. Worshippers who engage in such activities risk arrest,
imprisonment, lashing, deportation, and sometimes torture.
Evangelising Muslims and the distribution of Christian and other
non-Muslim literature, e.g. Bibles, is illegal. Muslim Background
Believers (MBBs) also run the great risk of honour killing if their
family or community discover their faith and some have fled the
country because of this.
Most Christians in Saudi Arabia are expatriates who live and work
temporarily in the country. The majority of them are from the
Philippines and India, others are from Africa and the West. Asian
and African workers, besides being exploited and poorly paid, are
regularly exposed to verbal and physical violence because of their
Christian faith. Whereas slavery has been illegal in Saudi Arabia
since 1962, the Saudi employer or ‘sponsor’ has a tremendous
amount of power over foreign workers, showing that there is still a
mentality of ‘owning foreign workers’. Migrant domestic workers are
even threatened with rape unless they convert to Islam. Instead,
there are repeatedly reports that migrant workers convert to
Christianity. Often, migrant workers come from their home country
as Catholics or Muslims or Hindus, but during their stay on the
Arabian Peninsula they make a firm decision to follow Jesus. As a
result, the number of migrant communities of believers is growing.
In December 2011 a group of 35 Ethiopian Christians were arrested
after their fellowship meeting in Jeddah was raided.
They were accused of ‘mixing of genders outside of family’ but
Rank
Score
Rank
Score
2013*
2012
2011
2010
3
4
3
67.8
65.5
63.5
* The methodology of the World Watch List was
integrally revised in 2012. For this reason, ranks
and scores on the WWL 2013 cannot be scored
compared with previous years. See the
methodological document for more information
on the new WWL methodology.
In the WWL 2012, the points for Saudi
Arabia increased somewhat amongst
others due to reports on Christians
sentenced to jail for faith related reasons,
which we did not receive during the past
few years.
according to the prisoners they were arrested for practicing
Christianity. Several of them were abused in prison. They were
eventually deported during the months of July and August.
There are a number of converts from Islam who live their faith in
deepest secret. Many of them responded to Christian programmes
via satellite TV or became Christians after God revealed Himself in a
vision or a dream. MBBs have testified to being on Hajj - the Islamic
pilgrimage to Mecca – with a sincere desire to obey God and
receiving a divine vision showing them that they need Jesus. Internet
access also plays a role as this enables locals to get access to
Christian materials. However, the use of the Internet is quite
controlled and regulated in Saudi Arabia.
The small number of Saudi MBB’s has been increasing recently and
they are also becoming more expressive about their faith, sharing it
with others on the Internet and Christian satellite TV channels.
Nevertheless, this has not been without repercussions. In July 2012
the media reported the story of a young Saudi woman who allegedly
converted to Christianity after her Lebanese employer shared the
Gospel with her. With his and a Saudi colleague’s aid, she fled
abroad. The lady’s family filed charges against the employer.
According to the Saudi Gazette, a major local newspaper, he has
been detained and will face court in September. Later reports,
amongst others from her family, suggested that the lady was still a
Muslim and may be ‘a victim of an international organisation
trafficking in people’. Saudi media were also eager to give the
impression that the woman was an emotionally unbalanced ‘girl’.
These reactions clearly reflect the utter shame a conversion to
Christianity represents in the Wahhabist Kingdom. The Saudi
government is reportedly cooperating with Interpol and local
Western authorities to return the lady to her homeland. In August, it
was reported that the Saudi authorities had started to block several
Christian websites, presumably in a reaction to this situation.
Moreover, this ‘Khobar girl’ story was confused in many media
reports with the situation of a female Saudi MBB (‘Maryam’) whose
interview on Christian satellite TV spread rapidly via You Tube in
early August. Veiled for security reasons, she shared how she was
brought up to hate Judaism and Christianity. Tired of the
compulsory prayers and fasting in Islam, she had been converted
through a dream and testified of the peace she found in Christianity.
It is hard to predict how the situation of Christians in Saudi Arabia
will develop. As the political and economic situation is not expected
to change in the short run, the situation for Christians is not
expected to improve. However, the number of Christian converts
from Islam is increasing, along with their boldness in sharing their
new faith, and therefore Christians face the risk of more persecution
and oppression in Saudi Arabia in the near future.
Church Facts
The total number of Christians in Saudi
Arabia was estimated at 1,250,000 in
2011.
Most are foreign workers from Asian,
African or Western descent. The majority
of Christian migrant workers are from the
Philippines and India and of Catholic
extractions.
A recent development is the emerging and
growing group of local MBBs, after years
of ‘sowing’ without any visible harvest.
Concrete figures are not available.
Expat Christians meet discretely in small
groups in most major cities, which is often
allowed, but some have been arrested.
Non-Muslim public worship is not allowed
(outside of expat compounds) and
therefore churches do not exist in Saudi
Arabia.
What’s Happening?
YOUNG POPULATION VS AGEING LEADERSHIP: There is a growing
gap between Saudi’s large youth bulb and the Kingdom’s ageing monarchs.
While many senior royal leaders are in their 70s or 80s, almost 70 per cent of
the population is under 30. The youth culture has changed radically under the
influence of satellite TV and the internet. They long for more freedom,
especially for women, and do not want to be restricted by the religious police.
They are also being confronted with the wealth of small groups of the elite and
the poverty of many. In addition, there is considerable youth unemployment
which leads to wide spread social discontent. In the short term, no major
instability is expected as a result of these trends, but this could well be very
different in two decades time if the population continues to grow at the
current pace.
FATWAH ON GULF CHURCHES: In mid-March 2012, the Grand Mufti
of Saudi Arabia called for the destruction of all Christian churches in the
Arabian Peninsula - obviously in a reaction to the situation in Kuwait where a
member of parliament announced a bill to force the elimination of all nonMuslim places of worship from Kuwait. Remarkably, the Saudi royal family
that wishes to represent itself as fostering interfaith respect and dialogue has
not officially reacted to this fatwa. However, the fatwa is not reported to have
much effect on daily life in the Kingdom where churches are not allowed
anyway. This could be different elsewhere in the Gulf. In Kuwait for instance,
a bill was introduced in April to implement stricter penalties on blasphemy
(i.e. death penalty for Muslims). After being approved by the Assembly, it was
rejected by the Emir. However, the Assembly can still re-approve it in the
future by a two-thirds majority and overrule the Emir’s rejection. In the once
relatively tolerant Bahrain tensions rose in August over the government
granting land for the building of a new church. Though it can be debated as to
what extent these developments were instigated by the expression of this most
influential religious leader in the Islamic world (or vice versa) and which other
(political) factors play a role, it is obvious that they are likely to have
implications and are certainly not encouraging an atmosphere of religious
tolerance in the region.
A PRO-DEMOCRACY SALAFIST CLERIC? In July, prominent Salafi
cleric Sheikh Salman al-Awdah more or less embraced democracy on his
Facebook page and via Twitter, by calling it ‘not an ideal system, but the least
harmful, and it can be developed and adapted to respond to local needs and
circumstances’. This seems to represent a shift that fast growing Salafist
Parties are making across the Middle East as a result of the Arab Spring and
an acceptation of the changing Middle Eastern political landscape. What
implications could this remark have? Could it stimulate further reforms and
even lead to the fall of the House of Saud? The first seems more plausible than
the latter in the short term as the royal family is still firmly seated. On a
regional level, it could open the way for Salafist parties to become the main
political players in the Middle East in the near future.
Hard facts internet
search
Persecution Category
Killings
Physical Aggression
Threats
Destruction of churches or other
Christian buildings (burnings)
Attempts to destroy churches or
Christian buildings
Closed or hindered churches or
Christian buildings
House expulsion or destruction
(displacements)
Kidnap for ransom or intimidation
(abduction)
Sexual assault (rape, forced
marriages, etc.)
Arrests
Force to leave the country or
displaced
Others
#
Link to database
Additional Resources
-WWL Unit Country Report
- RLPB 175 | Saudi Arabia: Convert Flees;
Helpers to Face Court(?)(5/9/12)
- BBC country profile
- 2012 Bertelsmann Transformation Index
Saudi Arabia Country Report
- The Economist, 3/3/12: ‘Saudi Arabia: Out
of the comfort zone’
- National Review, 4/1/11: ´Is Saudi Arabia
Opening Up?´
- Foreign Affairs 13/10/11: ´Saudi Arabia´s
invisible hand in the Arab Spring´
- The Economist, 23/6/12, ‘Saudi Arabia: Time
for the Old Men to Give Way’
- Following protests against the low budget
anti Islam film, King Abdullah insisted on a
UN resolution to condemn insults on
monotheistic religions:
AFP, 27/10/12: ‘Saudi king urges UN action
against religious insults’:
http://www.france24.com/en/20121027-saudiking-urges-un-action-against-religious-insults
- In a groundbreaking move, King Abdullah
has appointed a relatively ‘young’ new
minister of Interior. Prince Mohammed bin
Nayef is in his 50s whereas most other Saudi
leaders are in their 70s or 80s. He is said to
be reform minded.
BBC, 5/11/12: ‘Saudi Arabia's king appoints new
interior minister’
http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/em/fr/-/news/worldmiddle-east-20209276