Freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia

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Freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is an Islamic absolute monarchy. The official religion is Sunni Islam, and the country follows Sharia (Islamic law) as its basis for government and daily life. Non-Muslims live in the country, but their religious freedom is severely limited. Public, organized worship of non-Muslim faiths is prohibited, and even though the government says private worship should be possible, in practice it is not clearly protected by law and can be risky.

Apostasy and proselytizing are illegal. Converting from Islam to another faith can be punished by death under strict interpretations of the law. The state also bans openly spreading non-Muslim beliefs or distributing non-Muslim religious materials. Non-Muslim foreigners cannot become Saudi citizens unless they convert to Islam.

Mecca is forbidden to non-Muslims, and for many years Medina was also off-limits. In 2023, entry to Medina was opened to non-Muslims, but access to the Prophet’s Mosque remains restricted. Public symbols of religions other than Islam can lead to confrontations with authorities.

The government maintains a strong hold on religious life. The Ministry of Islamic Affairs oversees and funds most mosques and pays imams, while a government body known as the CPVPV or “religious police” used to enforce public morality; its powers were significantly reduced in 2016, though some presence and activity remain. In practice, the state controls what is taught and how religion is presented in society, and it strongly promotes a particular interpretation of Islam known as Wahhabism. Non-Muslim religious activities outside private homes are not allowed, and worship outside approved spaces can lead to arrest, detention, or deportation.

Religious minorities face discrimination in employment, education, and the justice system. The Shi’a community, which makes up a minority, has faced long-standing disadvantages and restrictions on places of worship, and Shi’a celebrations such as Ashura are limited to certain areas. Some non-Muslim groups have reported difficulties bringing religious materials into the country, and private religious gatherings have sometimes been disrupted.

There are few, if any, public places of worship for non-Muslims in Saudi Arabia. The government requests residents to carry identification (an Iqama) which designates whether they are Muslim or non-Muslim. The Ahmadiyya Muslim community has faced restrictions and has been banned from entering the country at times, though reports vary on status in different years.

International observers view Saudi Arabia as one of the least free countries for religious practice. In recent years, groups such as the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom and Freedom House have criticized the country for its religious freedom record. By law and in practice, religious life in Saudi Arabia centers on Islam, with limited space for other beliefs and strict controls on private and public worship.