INTRODUCTION
“Saudi Arabia…(is) the heart of the Arab and Islamic worlds, the investment powerhouse, and the hub connecting three continents.”
~ Vision 2030
(Saudi Arabia)
Saudi Arabia being a flag-bearer of Islam, serves as a home for more than 30 million inhabitants in which the majority (about 85 to 90 percent) includes adherents of the Sunni sect of Islam. Other sects include Shias that account as minority population and face severe persecution along with other religions like Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, etc. Saudi Arabia is known as the birthplace of Islam as it acts as a custodian for two holy cities of Islam – Mecca and Medina – that is why it has a major say and political legitimacy among other Muslim nations of the world. We can infer the same from a recent instance where under the chairmanship of Saudi Arabia, the OIC supported Gambia that referred genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Moreover, even the issue was referred by the Gambia to ICJ under the already provided implicit support of Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia in various instances in United Nations (UN) stated that it is committed in order to ensure the preservation of stability and the conservation of International peace and security as well as acted as a crucial partner of the US on counterterrorism. However, the progress remained slow and steady in nature, which is why various times Saudi Arabia faced international criticism stating that it supports the Islamic radicalization that leads to terrorism and impedes International stability. After the new ruler of Saudi Arabia set the stage, the country is becoming more and more liberal in nature. Recently, Saudi Arabia banned flogging as a punishment and said that convicts to be handed jail sentences and fines instead.
In another major step, recently, Saudi Arabia will introduce a new education curriculum, including textbooks of other religions, including ‘Ramayana’ and ‘Mahabharata’ of Hinduism, to expand the cultural knowledge and exposure of Saudi youth and prevent them from going on the path of radicalization. The article elucidating the importance of Saudi in the International arena, attempts to delve into the fact why this step is a crucial one that would increase tolerance among Saudi youth and encourage other orthodox Islamic nations in the world in becoming liberal. Further, it also talks about what still needs to be done so that it might not hamper international peace and stability in the future.
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN SAUDI ARABIA
The policies and laws of Saudi restrict religious freedom and prohibit any other religious practice in public except Islam. ‘Sunni Islam’ is the official religion, and the constitution of the country is the Quran and Sunnah (traditions and sayings of Prophet). Moreover, the Saudi government does not respect religious freedom. However, it allows Shia religious gatherings and other non-Muslim private religious practices sometimes.
Furthermore, the reports state that the Muslims that are liberal in their mindset and do not comply with the conservative rules of the Saudi government face significant political, social, legal, economic, and religious discrimination. Conservative vigilantes sometimes even harass and assault citizens and foreigners who follow other religions. Several times various human rights groups, activists, including the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) have raised concerns about the same. The USCIRF has even included Saudi Arabia in the list of ‘countries of particular concern.’
Several human rights watchdogs have already severely criticized Saudi Arabia concerning the education imparted to Saudi children and youth. As per the Human Rights Watch, the [Saudi Arabia religious] texts disparage Sufi and Shia religious practices and label Jews and Christians as ‘unbelievers’ with whom Muslims should not associate themselves. Thus, in alleviating such aggravating situation, this step will play a major role not only in liberalizing the mindset of the citizens of the country but would also lead to the unleashing of the restrictions that residents of other religions as well as Islamic religions face. However, this plan is still, in theory, we have to see in the future how Saudi Arabia implements it or whether it implements the same or retracts it.
WHY THIS STEP IS CRUCIAL
As a part of Vision 2030, the introduction of significant elements of Indian cultures such as Yoga, Dharma, Karma, Ayurveda, Ramayana, Mahabharata, along with elements of Buddhism and other religions in the school curriculum, is a first step from the side of Saudi Arabia’s government to increase tolerance for other religions. Various other Islamic nations, such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have a few Hindu Temples allowing Hindus to profess their religion freely within the country, and further, a new Hindu temple is also constructing in Abu Dhabi. Similarly, Oman also has a few Hindu temples allowing Hindus to profess their religion. However, Saudi Arabia since time immemorial remained parochial towards other sects of Islam as well as other religions. After this step, the tolerance for other sects of Islam and religions will increase in Saudi Arabia. This step would also give a message to other nations that restrict the freedom of religion and might pave a way for them to liberalize in their mindset as well.
Moreover, this step might help Saudi Arabia in the future in enjoying more closed ties with India. Saudi Arabia is the fourth-largest partner of India in terms of economic relations. The ties with other nations such as EU countries would also get strengthened as Human Rights NGOs and watchdogs would enhance the ranking of Saudi Arabia in Religious tolerance. It will also help in boosting the tourism sector of Saudi Arabia as the individual following other religions will not fear traveling to Saudi Arabia. Foreign investment might also get increased as companies might get a conducive work environment. Further, it might also be possible that Saudi Arabia request Indian professors having good knowledge in the field of customs and traditions to train the Saudi teachers, or it might also recruit Indian professors to teach in Saudi schools. Thus, it shows that not only Saudi Arabia but various other nations of the world also get benefitted from this step.
WAY FORWARD AND CONCLUSION
Since September 11 attacks, Saudi Arabia has faced pressure from the side of the US and other western nations to reform its education curriculum after it was found that 15 out of 19 hijackers were Saudi citizens in the attacks. Thus, the major plans laid down in ‘Vision 2030’ of Saudi Arabia, including education reforms, might play an important role in transforming the country and making it to lead a new path of development. The document primarily aims to culturally as well as economically alter the problems intrinsic in the political, economic, and social system of Saudi Arabia. This step will also act as a beacon of hope for ostracized and persecuted minorities living in Saudi Arabia.
However, only this step will not uproot all the problems prevalent in Saudi Arabia, still, it has a lot to do in the realm of religious freedom. Saudi Arabia should allow the citizens of other religions residing as minorities to profess their religion publicly without any discrimination. Article 18 of the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) states that “everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This right shall include the freedom to have or adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or in private, to manifest his religion or relief in worship, observance, practice, and teaching.” Saudi Arabia being a signatory of this covenant, should adhere to its principles and provide the freedoms.
Thus, this is a much appreciated and welcome step, which will help in maintaining peace and stability in international atmosphere in the near future, but there is still more to do on the part of Saudi Arabia as well as other Islamic nations. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates being two major powers of the Islamic sphere, would play a crucial role in leading this movement.