Saudi Jails Lebanese Man for Helping Woman to Convert
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
A Saudi court jailed a Lebanese man for six years and sentenced him to 300 lashes after convicting him of encouraging a Saudi woman to convert to Christianity, local dailies reported Sunday.
The same court sentenced a Saudi man convicted in the same case to two years in prison and 200 lashes for having helped the young woman flee the ultra-conservative Muslim kingdom, local daily Al-Watan said.
A court delivered the verdict in Khobar in the kingdom's east, where the woman and the two accused worked for an insurance company.
The July 2012 case caused a stir in Saudi Arabia, which applies a strict version of Islamic Sharia law that stipulates Muslims who convert to another religion must be sentenced to death.
The woman, known only as "the girl of Khobar", was granted refuge in Sweden where she lives under the protection of unspecified NGOs, according to local press reports.
She had appeared in a YouTube video last year in which she announced that she had chosen to convert to Christianity.
Her family's lawyer Hmood al-Khalidi said he was "satisfied with the verdict," according to the press.
Both men, who could also be prosecuted over other charges including corruption and forging official documents that allowed the woman to leave the country without her family's agreement, will appeal.
Saudi women are banned from traveling without their guardians' permission.
12 May 2013, 13:08
01
Saudi Arabia is such a backward country. If it wasn't for their oil they will still be living in tents and riding camels.
12 May 2013, 13:50
511
funny ft
there hundreds of Christians jailed in iran for nearly the same reasons :)
when your live in a house of glass,....
12 May 2013, 15:28
17
this is a bad and scary reminder for christians in most countries of the middle east and specially in saudi arabia, iran, syria, egypt that they are treated as second class citizens and being discriminated against because of their religious beliefs.
luckily, lebanon is almost the only country left in the middle east where till today christians feel relatively safe and respected by their muslim counterparts and vice versa despite all the political problems facing them.
12 May 2013, 13:58
42
If the Christian leaders don't say anything about this........
Btw, FT... Have u seen dandoun?
12 May 2013, 14:05
01
Where is the UN? Where are the proponents of human rights? Where is the Catholic Church and the Pope to denounce our interfaith brothers? Where is the mainstream media exposing & highlighting this injustice against humanity? Where is Obama and Clinton to call out the deplorable actions of their Saudi allies? Why arent the Christians around the world marching in the streets denouncing the crimes against their fellow Christians? Where is the outrage?
12 May 2013, 15:14
02
I was under the impression that one of the fundamental truths established by the sacred Islamic texts was that no one can be compelled to accept Islam. Quran 2:256. Supposedly the duty of Muslims is to establish the proof of Islam to the people so that the Islamic truth can be made clear from falsehood. Whoever wishes to accept Islam may do so but if they dont then they may continue not to believe & should not be threatened or harmed in any way if they do not wish to accept Islam. Either the Saudis havent heard of that verse or that verse was abbrogated.
12 May 2013, 15:34
54
How sad that Lebanon is so influenced by countries like KSA and Iran, 2 backward christian hating societies, to the girl that converted I say " you go girl" may the LORD be with you.
12 May 2013, 16:02
04
Wat happened to people that shouldn't judge one another. Leave this job for God and God alone.
12 May 2013, 17:37
01
Ew ya sousse ya FT.Khale sawtak wateh mitle akhle2ak.
Do you have any proof that Geagea is getting money from Saoudis?or as you yourself say " you just like to take your assumptions for facts?".
I hope you do not come up with a story based on enhanced photoshop images (you GUYS have a long experience using photoshop).in it
12 May 2013, 18:10
25
"These are just some examples that I am aware off."
so i suggest you to go and read some websites that point out the persecution of religious minorities in iran, iranian NGO websites, UK parliamentary report.... as far as saudi is concerned it is a known fact but do not think iran is more open...
12 May 2013, 18:54
25
only are blind those who do not want to see... keep on believing that iran is a model of democracy and protecting religious minorities when there are facts telling the contrary lol!
of course you would say ALL the websites that denounce iran are funded by zionists, very easy argument to give when you can find dozens of them all reporting the same things! and iranian expatriates i guess they are the voice of israel too? and iranian film makers persecuted because they film the truth of iran and oblige to exile are zionists too? LOL
lol don t make me laugh... your arguments are too weak, try and find better!
13 May 2013, 01:04
11
yes sure FT.... no need to discuss furthermore with an idiot like you... you have seen everything in iran even went with the revolution guards to check what they were doing...sure speeches of iranian cheikhs on official iranian websites close to the gvt demonizing christianity are an invention from the west...
you are a farce....
12 May 2013, 18:24
33
Everyone has the right to chose his religion, Muslim can convert to Christian and versus,,, And cannot be prosecuted and order 6 years jail and 300 lash, where are the world? this has to stop, and the whole world has to punish them for such kind of treatment. it has to end.
12 May 2013, 19:06
56
Dont blame Saudi Arabia for this the're merely applying whats written in their Koran.
"Apostasy is punishable by death."
Apparently its a Holy Book written by a so called Prophet that married a 6 year old.
12 May 2013, 20:59
12
Could you give me the verse number in the quran where it says that apostasy ks punishable by death?
14 May 2013, 03:28
11
Mancunian, you liar. It is not written in the quran. The prophet muhammad was indeed a prophet and his coming was foretold in the bible. There are historical facts showing Aisha (ra) was actually 17 or 19 at the time of the marriage and not 6 as reported in some sources. Either way, she was considered a woman, not a child at the time of their consumtion as at that time, womenhood came when menstruation came and not like today, it was like that in europe as well. Now, can you please tell me how old virgin mary (as) was at the time she gave birth to christ (as) according to christianity? The answer is 12. Going by todays standards, both 9 and 12 is way to young for such activities so may the hate you carry in for islam continue to be a thorn in your hypocrite eye.
14 May 2013, 03:28
10
Whether you like it or not, God has no son and no partner, christ is a prophet, not a son of god, and muhammad is a prophet (peace be upon them both), believe it or not, your opinion does not matter and God is enough of a witness.
12 May 2013, 23:43
01
Flamethrower- well if you care about humanity, then you should condemn Saudi Arabia and Iran; otherwise, you are complicit in these hideous actions taken by these barbaric regimes. A human being should have the right to choose the religion that they elect to follow! No one should dictate to you which faith you wish to live by! It is just common sense and it is the right thing to do!!! SA and Iran ought to be condemened and isolated. They are the most oppressive regimes. For the life of me, I don't understand how they commit these atrocities and the world remains silent! I expect Hezbollah and the islamic countries to support these actions, but what about the rest of the world?
12 May 2013, 23:51
00
this is such a horrible atrocity that is committed by Saudi Arabia. Iran has also been doing this as well. I cannot believe that anyone can tell you what faith you should abide by. It is a personal choice! Of course, sitting on the sidelines and 'staying out of it' means that are complicit in these atrocious actions! I suspect all Islamic countries have no problems with these actions, but where is the rest of the world? Where is the United Nations? Where are all the Human Rights groups? These barbaric actions ought to be condemed and these countries should be punished for it!
12 May 2013, 23:51
03
despicable, but at the same time, I hate missionaries; nothing worse than a salesman for religion. Religions share equal values, if she is distraught by the religion, that's because of those who have twisted it to such extremes that the faith's beauty disappears.
13 May 2013, 00:44
00
Everyone is allowed to chose any religion he or she wants. I have seen many Christians convert as I have seen many Muslims convert. After all, Christians and Muslims have the same God. they also believe in Gesus as the son of God and as a major profit. Muslims believe that Gesus would be the one who would come to judge the world at doomsdays. So, where are the differences. They both are one religion in different forms. Let's not make this issue a reason for us to clash on something which is trifle and meaningless. After all, religion is a message of peace, mercy and love.
13 May 2013, 10:57
10
the land of pedophiles and terrorism has violated the red line. i now openly support hezbollah kidnapping these terrorists. khomenei is not a man i admire, but when it comes to iran vs saudi arabia there is no greater evil, the kingdom and the ideology spewed from within must be absolutely destroyed. go iran
14 May 2013, 17:09
00
islam is not just medieval, it was born in the desert... imagine how retarded. i see no animals and no zoo apart from afghanistan saudi and iran and pakistan. Open the news randomly on any day and tell me if u dont read about a suicide bomber.
maybe in a million years you will become as civilized as the christians are today
13 May 2013, 09:38
00
it's pure hypocrisy to thing you should oblige anyone to go to the paradise. (even if you thing it does exist and that you now the way to go there)
13 May 2013, 09:39
10
did someone evaluate if religion did more war or develoment for humanity?? i think we should thing about it.
13 May 2013, 10:05
00
Saudia Arabia supporting democracy in Syria and then you read this...
13 May 2013, 10:05
00
Saudia Arabia supporting democracy in Syria and then you read this...
13 May 2013, 10:46
20
if they didn't have this law, their religion would have no followers...well, except the rapist wahabi men and pedophiles for obvious reasons.
14 May 2013, 03:43
00
Really smart guy? Nobody? So why did people from all over the world choose islam then? And why aren't muslims in the west denouncing islam? Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world and nothing you can do will stop it, thats why you lie to yourself trying to make it seem muslims keep growing because we are too afraid to leave islam lol. I live in a country where i can leave islam yet i choose not to. I accepted islam as my religion even though i didn't have to. And millions and millions are like me so there goes your theory.... down the toilet.
The rapist catholic men and pedophiles need to stop pouring their frustration out on islam and children. Stop raping children you filthy cultists.
16 May 2013, 04:43
00
Actually Christianity is faster growing now. Look at Africa and Asia. Plus a lot of Muslims are now converting to Christianity when they realize the peace loving religion of Christ and not the barbaric, violent religion named Islam.
13 May 2013, 11:02
20
so true Phoenix, an American pastor told me that the US is forming the New Gulf, which is going to be Christian. Even members of Kuwait's royal family have left Islam. They can never stop Christianity. Jesus will win.
13 May 2013, 11:43
00
Animal Rights Watch put you in jail if you even dare to mistreat a DOG... We live in the 21st century, people are invading planets and discovering new galaxies.
Enough is Enough! When we in the middle East will ever wake up...
13 May 2013, 12:03
20
"we?" pls leave lebanon out of the land of these primitve savages.
13 May 2013, 12:18
00
@kanaandian I know what you mean but to be honest, lately I don't think we are doing any better... We sadly lost that privilege that cost us blood & sacrifices long history. We can't keep living 3ala amjed el madeh metel ma bi2oulo...
13 May 2013, 14:53
10
And the only country in the Middle East where the Christians are increasing in numbers, and are not threatened because of their religion is.....................Israel.
13 May 2013, 19:33
01
are you sure about that? i heard in towns like jerusalem betlehem and nazareth, christians became almost like endangered species.
13 May 2013, 23:34
01
@adonis
You're wrong, it's not an Islam thing. Many Muslim empires in the past have shown the utmost respect for minorities, and the Quran is clear in advising that religion is non-compulsory and for the protection of minorities.
It is simply a fundamentalist thing.
14 May 2013, 03:17
00
Islam needs muslims to return to islam, that is all it needs. Yes christians changed christianity with the help of martin luther, popes and other liars but islam can not be changed.
14 May 2013, 03:29
00
You are wrong, nothing in the quran states that apostasy is punishable by death.
14 May 2013, 03:31
00
the1phoenix the racist fake christian. Don't exaggerate, some are converting to christianity, but even more christians are converting to islam. And you think al saud family cares if a muslim converts to christianity? They themselves are christians according to the quran which states that those who take christians as allies becomes one of them, so those clowns dont want to do anything about it.
And likewise, there is nothing you can do about the christians converting to islam in their thousands. Especially among catholics.
14 May 2013, 03:36
00
Christianity has given us so many examples of it's violence yet you hypocrites still have the nerve to pretend to be a peaceful religion?
14 May 2013, 03:47
10
Where are all the lebanese muslims i wonder? You guys show up to comment on everything you will get backed up on by your maronite "brothers" but when they are insulting islam openly, you guys go in to hiding. Why aren't you defending your religion??
Most lebanese are indeed hypocrites, that is why you take the maronites as your masters and don't even defend your religion against the false accusations being thrown against it. Don't pretend like you didn't see what they wrote, you saw and you chose not to respond in order to not anger these pagan followers of satan.
14 May 2013, 14:33
00
Message to christians from God:
Those who disbelieve (in islam), among the People of the Book and among the Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein forever. They are the worst of creatures - 98:6
14 May 2013, 17:03
00
so islam is now peaceful? what about el sin bel sin? christians have committed atrocities but it is not in their book. if they follow their bible they wouldn't. you on the other hand, have violence in your book.
Your BIGGEST insecurity is your religion because you know damn well it belongs in the middle ages.
15 May 2013, 21:29
00
"christians have committed atrocities but it is not in their book."
islamm - Did you seriously just suggest that the Bible doesn't have atrocities? I'd strongly suggest you try reading the Old Testament again.
Both the Bible and the Quran tell of Gods who command atrocities - the only difference is that Islam has been much slower to moderate itself (though there are plenty of moderate Muslims who do NOT support violence or murder.)
16 May 2013, 04:39
00
I think there's a very simple solution. All European and North American countries (Christian countries) should send all the Muslims back to Muslim countries and shut down all the mosques. Why should we allow Muslims to practice their religion in our countries when they don't reciprocate in theirs. Double standard.
