Allaah says in the Qur'aan:
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Here is yet another proof that confirms the ayah:
I apologize to Admin. for cutting and pasting, but some people are not able to view AOL links
Taken from AOL News September 15, 2004
U.S. Criticizes Saudi Arabia for Lack of Religious Freedom
WASHINGTON (Sept. 15) - The State Department said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia has engaged in "particularly severe violations" of religious freedom and for the first time included the kingdom, a key U.S. ally, on a list of countries that could be subject to sanctions.
A department report assessing the state of religious freedom worldwide said that in Saudi Arabia, freedom of religion does not exist and is not recognized or protected under the country's laws.
The report also said that those who do not adhere to the officially sanctioned strain of Islam practiced in Saudi Arabia can face "severe repercussions" at the hands of the religious police.
Wednesday's announcement was a departure from the Bush administration's practice of avoiding direct criticism of Saudi Arabia - a key ally in the war on terrorism, a strong backer of U.S. policies in Iraq and a major oil supplier.
Under U.S. law, nations that engage in violations of religious freedom deemed "particularly severe" are designated by the State Department as "countries of particular concern."
Joining Saudi Arabia for the first time on the so-called "CPC list" were Eritrea and Vietnam. Countries redesignated as CPC countries were Burma, China, Iran, North Korea and Sudan.
Since the State Department first began making evaluations on religious freedom, sanctions have not been applied against any country on the CPC list.
Ambassador John V. Hanford, head of the State Department's religious freedom office, told a news conference that Saudi Arabia was designated a CPC country despite forward movement over the past year. He cited statements by Saudi ruler Crown Prince Abdullah in support of tolerance and moderation and said numerous Saudi text books have been revised to delete inflammatory references to religious beliefs outside those officially approved.
"But problems exist that push them over the line," Hanford said.
The U.S. Commission on International Freedom, an independent group that receives government funding and offers advice to the State Department, recommended last February that Saudi Arabia be declared a CPC country.
Such a designation does not necessarily require punitive measures but does mandate that the secretary of state engage the offending country on what steps it may take to increase religious tolerance.
Preeta D. Bansal, the commission chair, said in an interview that she welcomed the addition of Saudi Arabia to the U.S. government's "list of the world most egregious violators of religious freedom."
She said the commission has been advocating the inclusion of Saudi Arabia on the CPC list since legislation was approved in 1999 to evaluate the state of religious freedom around the world.
Bansal said the commission's stand was based not only on violations of religious freedom within Saudi Arabia's own borders "but also its propagation and export of an ideology of religious hate and intolerance throughout the world."
The Saudi Arabian Embassy said it had no comment on the State Department report.
إبراهيم البخاري
Ibraheem Bukharee (Son of Abdullaah)
Saleh al-Fawzan, senior Sunni preacher and member of Saudi Arabia's appointed top religious body -- the Supreme Association of Ulema -- condemned the United States as an "infidel" country.
He also defended restrictions against non-Muslim religions in Saudi Arabia. "The prophet Mohammad [sallallaahu 'alayhe wa sallam] said there should not be two religions in the Arabian peninsula," Fawzan said.
Saudi Arabia was the birthplace of Islam 14 centuries ago and is home to its two holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.
Relations between Saudi Arabia and the United States, the world's biggest oil exporter and its biggest consumer, have been strained since the September 11 attacks in 2001 which were carried out by mainly Saudi hijackers.
Washington's ties with Riyadh have become a presidential election issue, leading some Saudis to question the timing of Wednesday's rare rebuke.
Reuters
Moosaa ibn John Richardson
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سبحانك اللهم وبحمدك
أشهد أن لا إله إلا أنت
أستغفرك وأتوب إليك
AMEEN
This message was edited by ibrahim.bukhari on 9-20-04 @ 9:19 PM