Atheists Are Now Terrorists Under Saudi Arabian Law

Saudi Arabia has unleashed a spate of new laws redefining terrorism that states any atheist (or anyone who spreads atheist ideas) is now classified as a terrorist on par with traitors, insurrectionists, and those attempting to incite enemies of the state.

It began with King Abdullah issuing a royal decree criminalizing the participation of “hostilities outside the kingdom,” and that decree was followed up by new regulations issued by the Interior Ministry defining exactly what constitutes a terrorist in Saudi Arabia. Human Rights Watch reported on the new laws last month, and the very first article of the law lumps in atheists.

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.”

Here are some of the other articles of what constitutes a terrorist.

Article 6: “Contact or correspondence with any groups, currents [of thought], or individuals hostile to the kingdom.”

Article 8: “Seeking to shake the social fabric or national cohesion, or calling, participating, promoting, or inciting sit-ins, protests, meetings, or group statements in any form, or anyone who harms the unity or stability of the kingdom by any means.”

Article 11: “Inciting or making countries, committees, or international organizations antagonistic to the kingdom.”

Again, atheism is now on par with these things.

[h/t Salon]
[photo via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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