Saudi Warns Non-Muslims: Respect Ramadan or Else

Saudi authorities are warning non-Muslim expatriates against eating, drinking or smoking in public during Ramadan, the monthlong sunrise-to-sunset fast – or face expulsion.

The Interior Ministry of the oil-rich kingdom is calling on non-Muslims to "show consideration for feelings of Muslims" and "preserve the sacred Islamic rituals."

Otherwise, a statement says, Saudi authorities will cancel violators' work contracts and expel them.

The warning came on Friday, the first day of the Ramadan observance.

Continue reading at seattletimes.com

« Previous Article

Posting Policy

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse. Read more.

Evermyrtle

This is forcing the people there, to respect their religion whether they believe in it or not. Is this coming to America?? How long will we as Christian, as the children of GOD be able to stand against what is going on here. The WORD OF GOD tells us these things would occur in the "end days" We must stand strong.

Isaiah 43 1-3
1. But now thus says the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he for I have redeemed thee, I have called you by your name; you are mine.
2. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon you.
3. For I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD, THE HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL, YOUR SAVIOR: I………….
ChrisN

This the result of having a mandantory national religion that is vicious and rabid against anyone else. Would/should we insist that they honor Easter or the Passover or be escorted to the border?? or worse??
aceituna

They won't have respect for our Christian festivals. No religion should be mandatory, witnessing should be permitted. In that way God can gather his followers. I agree with Evermyrtle's warning.
Wordman

I was actually in the Amman, Jordan during Ramadan in 1978. I distinctly remember walking down the street eating a lamb's tongue falafel (yuck!) and being amused with the Muslims who were shaking their fingers at me and yelling "Ramadan!" I was all too happy to throw the thing in the trash, but only because it was disgusting. It wasn't very sensitive of me and I don't think I'd play it that way again. The Apostle Paul tells us not to go out of our way to offend people over stuff that doesn't matter. What I found even more amusing was how, back in the privacy of the "lobby" of the flea-bag "hotel" where I slept on the roof with assorted, trans-Arab workers, the Muslim boys were ordering "Great Coffee" and snacks like there was no tomorrow. What a hoot.
Jim

Coming to a community near Detroit soon.
rikker5700

how can anyone respect a holiday of a religion that is also a form of government, and wants to kill all Christians. that would include me, so I disrespect ramadan(m).
- KatieOh
  
  Respecting another person's belief is simple: you don't do things that are dishonorable to their belief. There is no harm in not eating or not bothering people on their special days. It doesn't change how you believe it only shows that you can be kind to others and hopefully in love and kindness open their hearts to Jesus. Jesus wins over hearts with his LOVE and grace and that is what we are called to extend to others. It's not hard if you're not afraid to open your hearts to others.
  - David
    
    While I do tacitly agree that courtesy and manners are the "lubricants of society," and that a Christian worthy of the name should be humble, the issues that I have with a nation that imposes, in this case through coercion, "RE-spect" for their faith whilst not being willing to afford the same to those of other faiths at any time of the year, troubles me.
    
    Also, Jesus calls on us to look inwardly toward Him in our faith, and let not the exterior trappings of adherence to it confuse the viewer. Another poster stated the hypocrisy of those pointing at his eating during Ramadan, yet seeing others professing this same faith happily engorging themselves.
    
    In this you are correct and it is appreciated, yet once again, if CO-mmunication and CO-operation are what they are asking, I might opine that it would be better for all involved if there was some reciprocity.
    
    Sadly, I do not see it forthcoming anytime soon. I would conduct myself in the manner in which you state, and do so willingly, if I found myself in their environs, but the Western tenets ingrained in my soul would see the dichotomy of it.
- Public_Citizen
  
  In reply to rikker5700;
  In my NSHO you have this backwards. You are seeing the religious veneer over an aggressive and repressive political philosophy that has used the tool of religion as a means for a small cabal to control a large group of people and the corresponding geographical territory.
  The "teachings" of Mohamed are a manual for political conquest using words where possible and force where necessary to impose a political will on others. My studies have convinced me that Islam is a construct of the original Fallen Angel used to beguile and seduce mankind away from the teachings of true religion. It uses twisted forms of Judaic and Christian teachings and principles in order to lure mankind away from the true paths to salvation.
msjallen

We need to be thanking God that we still have the freedom to worship God and attend church where we worship together. Every new mosque being built in this country is a threat to our culture and our Christian beliefs. Where our churches are having to close their doors because people are no longer interested in the Lord Jesus Christ there are mosques opening up for throngs of people who are interested in the Koran.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by MY name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
HOW?
II Peter 3:8… but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.
- UF Gator
  
  msjallen,
  We need to be thanking God that our children's children's children's etc etc still have the freedom to worship God. Our Founders were planning for us, we need to plan for the Americans of next 250 years or so. : )
pcsrocky

THIS is the situation which prompted "separation of Church and State" by the Founders of the United States!

Separation of Church and State NEVER meant that God was not to be in schools or state or federal buildings. It ALWAYS meant that the Government was not to specifiy which church edicts you must follow or automatically tithe for you. You can pray or not as you choose and where you choose and to whom you chose; ie. FREEDOM to worship or not.
Ken

From having spent a fair amount of time there, I can think of worse things than being dis-invited to "the Kingdom."

Seriously, though, if they want to call the shots on their home turf, I don't have a prob.lem with that.

But it should work both ways–this is the U.S., our house our rules.
mesaman

"Honor our religious holidays or we kill you!!" Achmed the dead Arab.
- UF Gator
  
  Bumper sticker seen: "You can't COEXIST with people who want to kill you"
mesaman

"Don't honor our religious holidays and we kill you anyway!!" Achmed the dead Arab.!
Lee Anne

I lived in Riyadh for a few years and I and everyone I knew respected the Rahmadan fast and did not eat or drink in public.
SeaDragon

I say we take a page from the Saudis. America is OUR country, they can respect Christianity or leave. Leaving is one of the freedoms everyone (legal or illegal) has in America.
Evermnytle

I guess this person tearing up the New Testament is not a Christian, or he would never tear JESUS CHRIST main section out of the bible. Ov course He is mentioned , but not by name in the Old Testament, also.
gertie

No tolerance. That is my interpretation of these people.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Berenice-Bauer/100000969003176 Berenice Bauer

You mean the way they show consideration of other religions and help preserve those rituals? OK, fair is fair. I'll treat you the same way you treat people of other faiths.
- UF Gator
  
  Not quite Berenice. I asked for clarification.
  - UF Gator
    
    Never got it, no surprise there
http://www.facebook.com/kamaut.longbabilon Kamaut Longbabilon

God gave this message for ALL religions that profess to belong to God: Obey My Commandments, Be humble, Be not aggressive towards a stranger or family, Follow My Laws from your heart, Be compassionate, Compassion is more worthy than the mere letter of the Law, Listen to what I tell you in warnings, do your works of faith, You may only go as far as to take "an eye for an eye, tooth for an tooth" and no further, or blood-guilt will be on your hands, and mercy is paramount. I will send a comforter to you who believe and obey. I will send a redeemer for those who believe and obey….. It has been done already….. so why are some religions fighting each other falsely in God's Name? – A: because they don't belong to God, but only make sounds from their mouths to pretend that are mine, but NOT!
- UF Gator
  
  Hi Kamaut: I got your message in my email, but I never posted here lol, and here you are, and here is the message. I just wanted to ask that you clarify your meaning for me. I did not want to misinterpret anything you are trying to tell me. For example. "Compassion is more worthy than the mere letter of the Law." Since we are a nation of law (U. S. Constitution), can you tell me how our "mere… law" coheres with your description of "more worthy" … "compassion." I sort of understand that part but beyond that not so much. Can you be more explicit starting there? Thank you for your Comment.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Emily-Brobst/100000752358499 Emily Brobst
  
  Right! Right, and right!
  - UF Gator
    
    Right? Even though compassion that is "more
    worthy" is above "mere" law, Emily? Who decides what is
    worthy compassion, and what does "mere letter of the law" mean, so,
    when examined side by side this demeans the law of our USA? This is more than a
    religious holiday request. This is a statement of control over the USA.
    Because since compassion becomes the priority of the land, then
    I ask you, whose compassion will be the rule of thumb? This concept is
    diametrically opposed to the United States of America. The Founders were
    explicit that we would be ruled by law in order to protect everyone's right to
    life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, including these interlopers. Let
    them have their sacred holiday in peace, yes, but know that peace is secured as
    ours is secured, by the blessing of liberty in the land of the free, and not
    under threats of reprisal from a foreign adversary
    
    … where the latter is clearly made in your parent statement
UF Gator

PRESIDENT MITT ROMNEY 2012-2020
Personal Information: His full Name is: Willard Mitt Romney. He was Born: March 12, 1947 and is 65 years old.His Father: George W. Romney, former Governor of the State of Michigan & President of American Motors. (Jeep & Ramble during the 50's & 60's). He was raised in Bloomfield Hills , Michigan. He is Married to Ann Romney since 1969; they five children.
Education: B.A. from Brigham Young University , J.D. and M.B.A. from Harvard University' Religion: Mormon – The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints; Working Background: After high school, he spent 30 months in France as a Mormon missionary. After going to both Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School simultaneously, he passed the Michigan bar exam, but never worked as an attorney. In 1984, he co-founded Bain Capital a private equity investment firm, one of the largest such firms in the United States .In 1994, he ran for Senator of Massachusetts and lost to Ted Kennedy. He was President and CEO of the 2002 Winter Olympic Games. In 2002, he was elected Governor of the State of Massachusetts where he eliminated a 1.5 billion deficit. Some Interesting Facts about Romney: Bain Capital, starting with one small office supply store in Massachusetts , turned it into Staples; now over 2,000 stores employing 90,000 people. Bain Capital also worked to perform the same kinds of business miracles again and again, with companies like Domino's, Sealy, Brookstone, Weather Channel, Burger King, Warner Music Group, Dollarama, Home Depot Supply, and many others.
He was an unpaid volunteer campaign worker for his dad's gubernatorial campaign 1 year.
He was an unpaid intern in his dad's governor's office for eight years.
He was an unpaid bishop and stake president of his church for ten years.
He was an unpaid President of the Salt Lake Olympic Committee for three years.
He took no salary and was the unpaid Governor of Massachusetts for four years.
He gave his entire inheritance from his father to charity.
Mitt Romney is one of the wealthiest self-made men in our country but has given more back to its citizens in terms of money, service and time than most men. And in 2011 Mitt Romney gave over $4 million to charity, almost 19% of his income. Mitt Romney is Trustworthy:
He will show us his birth certificate
He will show us his high school and college transcripts.
He will show us his social security card.
He will show us his law degree.
He will show us his draft notice.
He will show us his medical records.
He will show us his income tax records.
He will show us he has nothing to hide.
Mitt Romney's background, experience and trustworthiness show him to be a great leader and an excellent citizen for President of the United States. You may think that Romney may not be the best representative the Republicans could have selected. At least I know what religion he is, and that he won't desecrate the flag, bow down to foreign powers, or practice fiscal irresponsibility. I know he has the ability to turn this financial debacle. We won't like all the things necessary to recover from this debt, but someone with Romney's background can do it. But, on the minus side, He never was a "Community Organizer", never took drugs or smoked pot, never got drunk, did not associate with communists or terrorists, nor did he attend a church whose pastor called for God to damn the US.
- Bighoss
  
  If he is so impeccably clean, why does he resist making his tax returns public? ANSWER: because disclosing them will be more damaging to his campaign than withholding them.
  Those tax returns undoubtedly have some very damaging information in them or he would not be holding out against the advice of even many influential Republicans urging him to bring them forth.
  
  Romney's tax return = the third rail of his campaign! This RINO is an endangered species!
  - UF Gator
    
    The money you are so concerned about is a minor issue of the list of issues here in my post, which coincidentally, I received in another forum. Considering, we know his religion, we know "that he won't desecrate the flag, bow down to foreign powers" and we know, "He never was a "Community Organizer", never took drugs or smoked pot, never got drunk, did not associate with communists or terrorists, nor did he attend a church whose pastor called for God to damn the US." In light of the topic of interest in this forum this IS the major point. See the concerns of the Americans here in this forum and then tell me who is your "endangered species."
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Emily-Brobst/100000752358499 Emily Brobst
    
    Why aren't you equally critical of The One, who contemptuously refuses to release anything out of HIS record? Because to do so would reveal more clearly WHO OWNS HIM. We were STUPID to vote this guy in because he was a handsome, smooth-talking black, about whom many of us knew nothing. Well, I was suspicious, looked for any qualifications, didn't find any, was forced to vote for our weak candidate, and this is what we got. If he isn't the anti-Christ, he sure acts like it. If he isn't a Muslim, I'll eat my hat.
UF Gator

Mitt Romney for President: He is married to Ann Romney since 1969; they five children. He never was a "Community Organizer", never took drugs or smoked pot, never got drunk, did not associate with communists or terrorists, nor did he attend a church whose pastor called for God to damn the US.
BigDog1702

Do as they say or what will happen ?? You can go to the pig farm were you'll be right at home .
- UF Gator
  
  thanks, I think
UF Gator

We Americans are a nation of citizens' "worthiness" in law, with the arrest of citizens' "mere" compassion; this is a case for Ms Marple, oh, I mean Ms Evermyrtle, can she solve this dilemma?
shosh7154

no tolerance islam, truth and reality are the enemies of islam, how long with this evil march around the world leaving blood and body parts and collapsed buildings in its wake while everyone crows how peaceful this religion of horrors and outright LIES
http://www.facebook.com/tom.townsendii Tom Townsend II

I have a serious question for all Saudis and islamic people everywhere.
It is a known fact that muslims as a whole, generally seem to show no respect, tolerance or even any semblence of a kind thought or act for any other faith, religious institution or shrine, the beliefs or practices of others, their burial sites, historic sites and markers, the holidays of others, or even the sanctity of the lives of others who do not adhere or submit obediently to islam or the teachings of Muhammad.
So why in the world should ANY non-muslim care one way or another about showing respect for Ramadan, caring one wit about the Saudi wishes or the desires of any other opressive murdering scumbag islamic nation, group, peoples or their leadership?
You must give respect to earn respect.
In most dealings with the islamic/muslim people, a thorough respect has been shown for mosques (even in war while terrorists and weapons are known to be hidden in them and terrorist recruits and suicide bombers train in them), ramadan and other muslim sites and traditions. In return, Christians and Jews are murdered, terrorists attack us and destroy our churches and hebrew temples in other nations, work to subvert and take over non-muslim nations, seek out and destroy non-muslim historic sites, relics, artifacts, and graves, they work to undermine and destroy non-muslim faiths, practices and traditions and yet they seek our tolerance and respect of islam, muslim traditions and practices and ramadan.
Utter stupidity. The Saudis and all muslims need to understand that the harm and wrongs inflicted on others by them, only serve to breed resentments, hate and a strong determination to stand against them as a whole. Murders that they commit breeds martyrs, further hate for Muhammad and Islam and stronger determinaton for opposition to the same.
Ultimately, it is the survivors of those murdered by muslims who will oversee the utter destruction of islam, the total demise of its murderous, lying, conniving, underhanded, deceitful, destructive, vermin adherants and the total overthrow of their leadership and eradication of the muslim nations and all memory of them and islam from the face of the earth.
Now don't get me wrong. I am not in any way advocating such things, but as a former college history major with emphasis in study in political, ancient and modern military history and the history of political propaganda, I am only stating the obvious outcomes as taught by the lessons of history regarding such evils and the typical fates of mass murders and evil leaders such as those of the various islamic and otherwise muslim empires. May God (aka Allah) forgive them their stupidity and the blood of their evils and that of islam that so heavily soaks their hands.