RUSSIAN ROULETTE...
Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 09:39AM I
thought this was a fascinating story..
"The king of Saudi Arabia has announced that he is ready to support the construction of a mosque and Islamic cultural center in Moscow, a city with only four mosques for its more than two million Muslims. In response and probably to block this, Orthodox Christians in Russia have called for opening a church in Saudi Arabia. These two proposals have sparked an often intriguing discussion by Russia’s Muslims and Christians over the role religion plays in defining the two societies and about the role of law in regulating that, a discussion that could either enrich or complicate the Kremlin’s relations with Muslims inside Russia and Muslim states abroad it is currently trying to court."
I cannot see that the Saudis would EVER accept the construction of a Christian Church so I think this is a great response from the Russians. How about Britain follows this example and puts a hold on any NEW Mosques opening in the UK until Saudi Arabia - our dear "ally" in the war on terror and the sponsor of global Wahhabism - allows equal numbers of Christian Churches in Riyadh!
Islam 
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Reader Comments (19)
'How about Britain follows this example and puts a hold on any NEW Mosques opening in the UK until Saudi Arabia ...'
David not all Mosques are linked with Saudi Arabia, but for those that are, it seems like a good idea.
RS,
True enough but you get my point.
RS, do you think that there should be reciprocity in that mosques may be built in Russia and the west if churches may be built in Saudi Arabia?
Allan, (funny I almost typed your name as Allah. I'm sure you would have loved that) Saudi Arabia does not represent the entire Islamic Faith. As RS said, I can understand Christian or Secular states baning Saudi mosques until their is reciprocation, but not all mosques.
I think it is more important that Western countries take action against the Saudi govts' huge funding and promotion of Wahabbism in our countries.
I agree with what others have already said, ban Saudi Arabia from funding mosques. If Russian Muslims had any sense they'd be working hard to keep the Saudis out:
http://www.bu.edu/partisanreview/archive/2000/3/schwartz.html
Allan as David alluded to in his post and Colm in his comment, it is Wahhabism which is the problem, not just for us in the west, but for many muslims living under it too. Reciprocity is a perfect idea, but we live in an imperfect world. It would be unfair to ban all mosques. Indeed it nwould be quite 'Wahhabist' to do so. But certainly those linked to that branch may be fair game.
Saudi Arabia is an enemy, whether we have relationshops with them or not. We sleep with a viper
If there is to be a reciprocity, there wouldn't be too many mosques built in the free world.
In Shia Iran, for example, there is active persecution of other religions. The Bahai faith, which has its origins in Iran, is actually banned.
Christian churches are actively monitored by the Ministry of Islamic Guidance (MIG). especially those whose services are in the Persian language.
Circulation of Christian literature, including scripture in the Persian language, is banned.
There are no equivalent restrictions in any Western country.
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What about Sunni Egypt? Surely they're tolerant right?
Well, no.
If you want to build a new mosque you will have an easy time.
If you want to build a new Christian church, you have to ask special permission. And you will not get it.
If you want to do a significant repair on a Christian church, you need special permission or will undergo grief from the police or local authorities.
There's evidence of this all over the internet, but its not so often repeated on the BBC or NY Times or similar sources. It's just understood. Islamic countries oppress religions other than Islam and have done so for most of history.
If you count Iran as being part of the Middle East, then the two largest Middle Eastern countries ( Iran and Egypt ) oppress Christians, and the country that is the home of the shrines of Mecca and Medina ( Saudi Arabia ) bans Christianity ( and other religions ) entirely.
So, think hard about allowing mosques to be built. If you're tolerant to intolerance, the net winner is intolerance.
*Still waiting for an apology*
So... if some of these countries are intolerant then we should follow their lead and be intolerant too.
Yet another example of flawed logic there from The Ghost.
Anyone been to Syria? Christian churches all over the place. Some of the biggest buildings in Damascus are Christian churches.
Petr
Yeah Syria is a bit different in this regard. It seems a truly secular country. Lots of different faiths there, and probably helps that the Presidency is held by a minority faith (Allawi).
Not praising this brutal dictatorship, but its certainly sound on separation of religion and state.
You could probably say the same for Jordan
Recepiprocity is a great idea. No tolerance for intolerance ! - also you never know, unless the Saudi's have pressure put upon them, they wont feel the incentive to change.
We shouldn't impose an international reciprocity on our own citizens of any faith for domestic building, but we certainly can and should impose an international reciprocity on the Saudis if they want to build something.
Petr
Good day to you. Fishing around for an apology forever is rather demeaning. I'm unhappy that you're unhappy and do not think that you are a bad guy, but that's as far as it goes. We shall save apologies for when they're truly called for. The issue is closed.
Don't embarrass yourself further.
--
The majority of the Muslim world is intolerant and Islam is by its nature intolerant. History shows this. So, Russia, do what you like, but do so with your eyes wide open.
The Saudis can easily evade any restrictions based on "Saudi mosques" by putting another front on it.
And if there is to be reciprocity based on countries that actively engage in persecution, then there should be restrictions on anything with an Iranian or Egyptian ( or perhaps Pakistani ) connection.
Western countries simply must stay true to genuine respect for the freedom of the individual. Worship how you want to but don't impose your morals on others. If there is a call for Mosques and private individuals can support such buildings govt. should not restrict them. If and when the attendees at those mosques start calling for restrictions on the liberal freedoms that our countries enjoy that's when we tell them and keep telling them NO
@ Andy
Yeah Syria is a bit different in this regard. It seems a truly secular country. Lots of different faiths there, and probably helps that the Presidency is held by a minority faith (Allawi).
Alawite.
@ Colm
If and when the attendees at those mosques start calling for restrictions on the liberal freedoms that our countries enjoy that's when we tell them and keep telling them NO
That sounds fair.
i'm probably a bit late on this but Allawi is to Allawite what Shia is to Shi'ite.
ie they're exactly the freakin' same.
Sort of like Marmite and Bovril eh ?
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