Saudi Arabia’s new terrorism law and a series of related royal decrees create a legal framework that appears to criminalize virtually all dissident thought or expression as terrorism. The sweeping provisions in the measures, all issued since January 2014, threaten to close down altogether Saudi Arabia’s already extremely restricted space for free expression.
“Saudi authorities have never tolerated criticism of their policies, but these recent laws and regulations turn almost any critical expression or independent association into crimes of terrorism,” said Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “These regulations dash any hope that King Abdullah intends to open a space for peaceful dissent or independent groups.”
And just how sweeping are these provisions?
This sweeping:
Article 1: “Calling for atheist thought in any form, or calling into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based.”
That's right. Simply believing that there is no God, and mentioning that, is now considered an offense and is dealt with in the same way as a guy who opens fire on a busload of school children.
And we buy our oil from these people!
Should I even mention that there are religious fundamentalists in this country who would gladly impose similar laws if they thought there was a chance they might be able to get it?
Because there are.
Sure Christians and Muslims THINK they are a persecuted group, but we Atheists know who are the real victims of discrimination.
My, aren't they in a snit now.
ReplyDeletePrepare yourself for similar here...........starting in Texas........
ReplyDeleteSadly, that's not far from the truth.
Delete(It even says in the Bible that "Demands for religious freedom almost always mask a powerful impulse to restrict the religious freedoms of others". Ok, it doesn't actually say that. But that don't mean it ain't true.)
Congratulations. I would wear it like a badge of honor! What idiots!
ReplyDelete"there are religious fundamentalists in this country who would gladly impose similar laws"
ReplyDeleteYes, they do. One of them recently called for Bill Maher to be whipped for his blasphemy.
http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/bill-maher-should-be-publicly-whipped-his-blasphemy
Rick Joyner (New Apostolic Reformation) explained how the theocracy will work: '“At first it may seem like totalitarianism.” But it will be for our own good, of course, because we'll need to be trained in righteousness.
http://tinyurl.com/ljghex
It is amazing to me how any intelligent human being of a mature age (when is that exactly?) doesn't see thru the smoke & mirrors of organized religion. It is used to cause fear & paranoia to control and extract money..as if a person needs these rules to be moral. I am a spiritual person embracing the wonder around me...that doesn't translate into a "god" by any other name. If you ignore history going back to the beginning of time, religion is the root of all evil causing unimaginable death & destruction. Even for our so called bible thumper Christians...they distort everything they say he stood for and cherry pick the entire book, zero tolerance for the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteThis is the Saudi dude that GW strolled hand in hand with through the gardens & lovingly kissed on the mouth on more than one occasion. Not even to mention the fact that his family was swiftly flown out the Country even though all air traffic had been stopped after 9/11.
ReplyDeleteThey both embrace equal policies of religious terrorism, loss of freedom, citizen rights, hate for the "other, and so much more."
Don't kiss him, Gryphen! Ew, ick, ew!
DeleteI (we) love you just the way you are. Thank you for all that you do, and for being a kind person to those who read here. xoxo
"And we buy our oil from these people!"
ReplyDeleteYes, guess where they got their degrees in economics/business-Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Wharton.
We also send them financial aid and supply them with military hardware.
His father was their friend, in oil. CIA, we don't know.
ReplyDelete