According to a police statement, the religious police in Saudi Arabia raided a house in Al Jawf Province on Wednesday, arresting 41 people, who were "plotting to celebrate Christmas."
The Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar
reports that the police said the detainees were the Christian guests of
an Asian diplomat. There were apparently also a Saudi Arabian and an
Egyptian (both Muslims) present at the gathering.
According to the police report, the host and the two Muslim guests were “severely intoxicated.”
In Saudi Arabia, only religious practices in line with strict Sunni
Islam, the state religion in Saudi Arabia, are allowed. All other
religious activities are banned.
Reportedly
authorities do usually turn a blind eye to private ceremonies, but this
policy is not "set in stone" and raids such as this can occur. The
"virtue and vice" police regularly enforce the religious norms in the
country, including crackdowns on Christians and Hindus living in the
country.
Religious leaders encourage this attitude and Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti
Sheikh Abdel Aziz bin Abdullah had previously condemned “invitations to
Christmas or wedding celebrations.”
The Grand Mufti also recently caused controversy by authorizing Muslim men to marry girls as young as 10-years-old.
It is not known, at present, whether the people detained in the raid were released or if they will face further prosecution.
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