Saudi Arabia declares all atheists are terrorists....

[Youssuf Ramadan]

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-declares-all-atheists-are-terrorists-in-new-law-to-crack-down-on-political-dissidents-9228389.html

Saudi Arabia declares all atheists are terrorists in new law to crack down on political dissidents


Saudi Arabia has introduced a series of new laws which define atheists as terrorists, according to a report from Human Rights Watch.
In a string of royal decrees and an overarching new piece of legislation to deal with terrorism generally, the Saudi King Abdullah has clamped down on all forms of political dissent and protests that could "harm public order".
The new laws have largely been brought in to combat the growing number of Saudis travelling to take part in the civil war in Syria, who have previously returned with newfound training and ideas about overthrowing the monarchy.
To that end, King Abdullah issued Royal Decree 44, which criminalises "participating in hostilities outside the kingdom" with prison sentences of between three and 20 years, Human Rights Watch said.
Yet last month further regulations were issued by the Saudi interior ministry, identifying a broad list of groups which the government considers to be terrorist organisations - including the Muslim Brotherhood.
Article one of the new provisions defines terrorism as "calling for atheist thought in any form, or calling into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based".
Joe Stork, deputy Middle East and North Africa director of Human Rights Watch, said: "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.
"These regulations dash any hope that King Abdullah intends to open a space for peaceful dissent or independent groups," Mr Stork said.
Human Rights Watch said the new regulations were also a setback to campaigns for the protection and release of a number of prominent human rights activists currently jailed in Saudi Arabia. It said Waleed Abu al-Khair and Mikhlif al-Shammari recently lost appeals and will soon begin three-month and five-year respective sentences for criticizing Saudi authorities.
The organisation said the new "terrorism" provisions contain language that prosecutors and judges are already using to prosecute and convict independent activists and peaceful dissidents.

Life is set to continue in the dark ages indefinitely then.... 

[Munch]

oh Saudi Arabia.. you so funny!

[_Xenu_]

I swear, Saudi Arabia is gonna take over the world if they keep this up.

[AllPurposeAtheist]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV0tCphFMr8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Well you have to know these things when you're a king you know...

[GrinningYMIR]

Ooh, I'm sad because I always wanted to visit the land of Muslims, they're reqlly very kind you know, always willing to give you a stone or two

[SGOS]

Ooh, I'm sad because I always wanted to visit the land of Muslims, they're reqlly very kind you know, always willing to give you a stone or two

I'd like to see the pyramids, although it's not a high priority.  But it's not even a consideration now.  Back before Egypt's Arab Spring, some friends of mine went with an alumni sponsored tour from their university.  They had armed guards everywhere the bus went.  They thought it was a bit overly cautious, but I wondered.  Somebody in Egypt organizing tours must have known something about unrest that the rest of us didn't know about.

The recent journalist beheadings are disturbing and all, but I divert some of my horror by thinking people that go to these places understand they are risking their lives.  So while they are innocents, they have made that choice themselves.  I'm sorry it didn't work out for them, however. 

[the_antithesis]

What they should do is declare all terrorists atheists. Those fucks won't kill anybody no more for fear of not getting their virgins.

[The Skeletal Atheist]

I declare everyone who doesn't like what I like big mean stinkyheads! Not like I wanted to visit Saudi Arabia anyways. I think I'm already banned from entry just because I'm a homosexual, so I guess I'm now double banned from going? Who the hell wants to go to a place with no beer anyways?

[Solitary]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cV0tCphFMr8&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Well you have to know these things when you're a king you know...

Thanks again for making my day! Solitary