From: mmdh@cbnewsf.cb.att.com (Mazen Mokhtar)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: Saudi-Arabia ?
Date: 2 Sep 92 20:30:32 GMT
Organization: AT&T


  It is not my intent to exonerate Saudi Arabia from any wrongdoing, but one
must be fair and accurate. Saudi Arabis can be criticized, but not at the
expense of truth.

In article <2019.2AA50570@catpe.alt.za> Steve.Hayes@p5.f22.n7101.z5.fidonet.org (Steve Hayes) writes:

>The Saudi-Arabian government has been establishing Islamic banks and companies 
>which don't hire Christians, or conduct any transaction with them.

  False. The term 'Islamic bank' is a reference to the method used to conduct
business, not to the religion of bank officials or its customers. The term is
similar to 'Kosher food.' Any Christian can open an account.

>It also 
>asks the Egyptian government not to hire or promote the Copts to leadership 
>positions using its financial aid to Egypt to force the Copts to Islam by 
>unemployment and hunger. 

  The Copts are well off and hold many important positions in Egypt, but thank
you for your concern. Saudi Arabia is least bothered by Copts.

>The Saudi-Arabian government has established an Islamic university and secular 
>colleges and elementary and secondary education systems all over Egypt. Such 
>institutions do not accept Christian students or hire Christians among their 
>employees.

  What is the source of this claim?

>The Suadi-Arabian government has constructed districts around Cairo and 
>Alexandria with luxurious apartment buildings and facilities. No Christian has 
>been allowed to live in these Islamic towns. They are exclusively for the 
>Muslim from Egypt or from any other part of the world. It is a policy of 
>apartheid against the ethnic-religious Coptic people. 

  This is becoming too ridiculous. Have you ever been to Egypt? This is like
claiming that Britain is building cities that don't admit Catholics in the US.

>The Saudi-Arabian government has been supporting all the fanatic Muslim 
>fundamentalist groups who are conducting a holy war (jihad) against the Copts 
>in Egypt.

  First, Saudi Arabia is a well known opponent of Egypt's Islamic movements,
and the Islamic movements of any country for that matter.

  Second, there is no jihad waged against Copts. There have been incidents
of violence from Muslims and from Christians, but that has nothing to do with
jihad. This is like saying that the murder of an african american in Brooklin
is evidence to a crusade against them.

  The word jihad is mistranslated often. Jihad means struggle for the sake of
God. Defending your house qualifies. Working hard to support your family
qualifies. Fighting to save your country from invading Serbs qualifies. Killing
innocent people of any religion does not qualify.

>Saudi-Arabia the fief of the Saudi family, has supported the Islamic 
>government of Sudan in a genocidal war against the Southern Sudan to impose 
>Islamic law on its Christian and animist population. 

  How ridiculous! Saudi Arabia is a strong foe of the sudanese government,
haven't you been reading the news during the Gulf war? Whoever wrote the
article is not aware of the basic facts concerning Middle Eastern politics.

  The article is obviously completely made up by someone who is totally
uninformed. The writer is a liar and were he familiar with the Middle East
he would have realized how obvious his lies are.

  Don't believe everyting you read.

Mazen Mokhtar