Saudi Arabia
Why Muslim countries are quick at condemning defamation – but often ignore rights violations against Muslim minorities
By Ahmet T. Kuru — June 16, 2022
(The Conversation) — A scholar of Islam writes about how widespread authoritarianism in the Muslim world shapes governments’ foreign policy toward Muslim minorities abroad.
Saudi Arabia again leads interfaith understanding — this time on its own soil
By David Rosen — May 24, 2022
(RNS) — A forum in Riyadh for Christian, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist leaders reflects remarkable changes.
As COVID-19 shutdown lifts, Mecca’s pilgrims bring Islam’s holiest city back to life
By Rabiya Jaffery — April 19, 2022
MECCA, Saudi Arabia (RNS) — Pandemic closures played havoc with the livelihoods of traders who depended on the pilgrims.
Report: Iran suspends talks with Saudi after mass execution
By Amir Vahdat — March 14, 2022
(AP) — Some activists believe the killings included more than three dozen Shiites, the majority sect of Islam in Iran.
Five tech innovations used as weapons against people of faith
By David Curry — November 12, 2021
(RNS) — We are witnessing the rampant criminalization of faith, enabled by the smartphones in our pockets.
How VP Kamala Harris blew it
By Jeffrey Salkin — September 30, 2021
(RNS) — VP Harris gave a nod to intellectual relativism. This helps no one and hurts us all.
Saudi man executed in Shiite-populated east for rebellion
By Associated Press — August 4, 2021
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia announced the execution Tuesday of a man it said had been found guilty of armed rebellion in the Shiite populated eastern region of Qatif.
The Pegasus Project surfaces a new era of oppression for people of faith. Here’s what should be done.
By David Curry — August 3, 2021
(Open Doors) — Of the 10 governments that reportedly purchased the tool, all have known histories of human rights violations and have repeatedly demonstrated their desire to suppress dissent.
Like many hajj traditions in a pandemic year, Zamzam water gets a reboot
By Joseph Hammond — July 21, 2021
(RNS) — In an effort to keep COVID-19 transmission to a minimum, Saudi authorities have deployed 20 robots to serve bottles of Islam's holiest water to often bemused pilgrims.
KAICIID quits Vienna, unable to shake off negative Saudi image
By Tom Heneghan — March 10, 2021
(RNS) — The glaring divide between KAICIID’s ideals and Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations increasingly bothered its Austrian hosts.
President Biden just made a serious human rights blunder
By Jeffrey Salkin — March 1, 2021
(RNS) — This will not be the last time that President Biden disappoints us. Because that's what rulers do.
Malcolm X assassin’s deathbed letter the latest in new look at Muslim leader
By Joseph Hammond — February 26, 2021
(RNS) — New leads in Malcolm X's assassination appear just as popular culture and Muslims themselves assess his impact.
Pilgrims arrive in Mecca for downsized hajj amid pandemic
By Aya Batrawy — July 28, 2020
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Muslim pilgrims have started arriving in Mecca for a drastically scaled-down hajj, as Saudi authorities balance the kingdom’s oversight of one of Islam’s key pillars and the safety of visitors.
Saudi Arabia to hold ‘very limited’ hajj due to virus
By Associated Press — June 22, 2020
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The kingdom said that only people of various nationalities already residing in the country would be allowed to perform the hajj.
Muslims try to keep Ramadan spirit amid virus restrictions
By Samy Magdy and Lee Keath — April 21, 2020
BAHTIM, Egypt (AP) — As Ramadan begins later this week, Muslims around the world are trying to maintain the cherished rituals of Islam's holiest month without further spreading the outbreak.
