Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Russia to Saudis, Respect is a Two way Street


The Christian oppressing Saudi Royal Family has asked Russia if they can build a Mosque in Russia. Russia has done what no other country has done and has answered yes, but only if they can build a Church in Saudi Arabia. Do any of the politicians of the US or the UK have guts to take this stand?


A Russian church for a Saudi mosque?
Belief Blog
POSTED December 03 2008 BY Julia Duin
This delightful story just came in thanks to getreligion.org: The Saudis have recently asked permission to build a mosque in Moscow, a city where there are only four mosques and 2 million Muslims. The Russians, however, are saying they want, in return, an Orthodox church in Saudi Arabia.

As we all know, the Saudis have a habit of constructing mosques in dozens of world capitals while forbidding houses of worship for any religion whatsoever outside its Wahabist brand of Islam. They've gotten some bad PR locally for some of the hate language in textbooks at the Saudi Academy in northern Virginia. Not only are hapless Christians terrorized and jailed for daring to hold private prayer services in Saudi Arabia, but God help them should they try to convert someone to their religion. And that's for a fellow People of the Book: One can only guess at what the treatment of Buddhists and Hindus must be like.

Wouldn't it be so ironic if the Russians were the first Christian body to win acceptance of the right to build a church in, say, Riyadh? (Some of the Russians are calling for a church in Mecca, but the chances of any other religion getting a foothold within walking distance of the world center of Islam is less than zero.) Of course we all know the Saudis aren't about ready to let Bibles or other religious literature, let alone a church, anywhere near their homeland, but all the same, it's amusing to see the Russians give the Saudis a taste of their own medicine.

-Julia Duin, religion editor


Link to Article

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm pretty sure that the penalty for entering the city of Mecca whilst not being Muslim is death by beheading. Islamic tolerance at its finest. How would one attend Sunday service without one's head?

Christopher Logan said...

Lol!! But....but....they keep saying Islam is so tolerant.

Anonymous said...

Clever response by the Russians, but they have it wrong.

The Russians should tell the Saudis "not only NO, but H3LL NO!"

"Further, we are going to destroy every mosque in Russia."

"If you don't like it, tough shitzky, Abdul!"

Swedish Steel

moderationist said...

Bloodless cultural warfare. Brilliant move, should be repeated across the non muslim world.

http://bloodlesslinchpinsofislamicterrorism.blogspot.com/

Tonto said...

The Russians certainly have their own attitude on this one, perhaps seasoned by their problems with the Chechnians. They also had a very amusing resolution of a small problem in Beruit years ago. When 2 "businessmen/spies" of Soviet origin were kidnapped for ransom there, the spetznatz kidnapped the son of the leader of the "gang" that kidnapped the Russians. They sent the gang one testicle of the kid, and said the rest would be returned when the Russians were released. The Russians were returned immediately. Effectice...and no Russians were ever targeted again.

Anonymous said...

Do you have a credible source for this? It'd be really interesting if it was true, but so far it looks like something that'll turn up on Snopes.com. That Washington Times editorial only links to a blog article, and I can't find any mention of it on any Orthodox news sites-- you'd think they at least would have it.

-Cordie

Tonto said...

The story was written in Time (I thinkthat's where I saw it) back in the 70s when the palestinians were IDed as the usual perps in Lebanon and especially, in Beruit. I did hear further comments from guys I worked with back then that were natives of south Lebanon, that had more detail since their relatives were involved.

Christopher Logan said...

Cordie,
I have this and if you want another one, please let me know.

http://politicom.moldova.org/stiri/eng/168260/

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the link. It seems to be the same as what's posted on Paul Goble's Blogspot page. So every mention of this traces back to a single source. That's not encouraging. And if Mr. Goble is correct, then the whole thing was just an open letter written by some politically-minded Russian Orthodox groups, not an actual suggestion made by someone with clout (i.e. someone who could actually say "no" to a mosque in Moscow) like the Russian government or the Russian Orthodox church. Oh, well. If you have any sources that don't originate with Paul Goble, I'd still be interested.

--Cordie

Christopher Logan said...

Cordie,
I will look around. The worst case scenario is that the idea is out there.

Anonymous said...

I read that same Spetznatz story, or at least something very similar, years before anyone even heard of the Internet.

I would not be the least bit surprised if it were true.

That should be what the Mossad of Israel should do to the families of Hezbollah and Hamas leaders every time they kidnap an Israeli soldier.

Swedish Steel

Christopher Logan said...

Thanks Steel,
Maybe that is why there are so few Mosques there. Good for them!!

Thorum said...

This is a credible, authentic story dating from late-November 2008. Here are a few more links to support the story:

http://www.spc.rs/eng/russian_orthodox_figures_ask_saudi_king%E2%80%99s_permission_build_christian_church_arabia

http://coptreal.com/ShowSubject.aspx?SID=13464

http://georgiandaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=8609&Itemid=72

http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/blog/2008/12/07/orthodox-church-in-saudi-arabia-for-mosque-in-moscow/

Hope this helps,
Thorum

Christopher Logan said...

Good work Thorum!!

Anonymous said...

finally some people with guts. I am an Indian and I fucking hate Islam. I am sick of people who keep saying that 'Islam is a religion of peace'. That is all bullshit. The idiots who keep parroting this statement are themselves naive idiots who should be put to sleep at the earliest. I have 'moderate' Muslim friends who swear the destruction of Israel and the Jewish race. This despite the fact that they have not even been to Israel or met a jew. I call upon all Christians, Jews, Buddhists, Atheists, Hindus and others to unite to defeat this scourge of Islam. The events of Mumbai have reinforced my determination that Muslims must be finished off. Fucking little bitches. Long Live Israel. Long Live India. Long Live USA. Jai Hind.

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