Amy Mek
During the Arab Champions League semi-finals, Cristiano Ronaldo played a pivotal role by successfully converting a penalty kick, propelling Saudi Arabia’s team to the final stage of the competition. Nonetheless, Ronaldo’s exuberant celebration following his goal might lead to potential Islamic disciplinary repercussions. During his celebration, Ronaldo made the sign of the cross—a gesture closely tied to his Catholic faith, which is not allowed in the Islamic Middle East. This action, though meaningful within his own religious context, falls under the category of public displays of Christianity, which are outlawed in Islamic Saudi Arabia, where his team is based.
Although Ronaldo’s family is known for their Catholic beliefs, openly exhibiting Christian practices is against the law in Saudi Arabia. Post the match, Muslim fans expressed their discontent with Ronaldo’s gesture, and there exists a likelihood that he could face a fine or attacks due to the incident.
It’s worth noting that Ronaldo has secured the distinction of being the highest-paid athlete globally in 2023, courtesy of his transfer to Al-Nassr, a Saudi Arabian football club. His earnings for the year totaled a staggering $136 million, comprising $46 million from his on-field performances and an additional $90 million from various off-field endeavors. This remarkable financial success transpired after his transition from Manchester United to Al-Nassr in 2022, a deal that extends until 2025.
The context of religion in Saudi Arabia is important to understand in this situation. In this nation, only Islam is legally permitted to be practiced openly. Other religions, including Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, are primarily followed by the expatriate community of nearly a million individuals. However, due to Sharia restrictions, these non-Muslim faiths are not allowed to have dedicated places of worship, such as churches or temples. Christians are forced to resort to holding services in private settings, like house churches, which, unfortunately, are subject to periodic interference by authorities. The consequences for openly practicing these faiths can range from arrest and imprisonment to even deportation, underscoring the stringent religious environment in Saudi Arabia.
Off with his head. – Or not?
Christian’s is not banned in the “Mideast” or even the Arab world. Just in Saudi Arabia, in public. They want their Filipino guest workers happy, some of whom are Catholic. Also the Indian workers, some are Hindu.
They just have to keep it private like here. But in adjacent Arabian emirates there are Christian churches and newly built ones, too. They want visitors and workers to feel welcomed.
I understand why you would think so, but according to popular news (of which I don’t frequent often) and that we are praying at my church for the persecuted Christians in these regions, there is great persecution in the middle east including in Syria, Iraq, and Egypt. I have never been to the middle east, and so I only know of the persecution of Christians from our prayers at church each week and these couple recent news articles I just pulled up from a google search.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/23/world/middleeast/syria-christians-idlib.html#:~:text=The%20past%20decade%20has%20been,out%20for%20death%20at%20times.
and also:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/10/christians-egypt-unprecedented-persecution-report
It seems that legally, you are right. Christianity is not “banned”. But there seems to be, nonetheless, great persecution which includes social castes, job denials/rejections, and even kidnappings and executions.
Aloha Snackbar.
Sam Shamoun on youtube points out that muslims don’t even know their own book which clearly points out that:
1. Jesus is much greater than mohammed
2. mohammed was a pedophile
fake news, fake religion, fake science (axiom to fake religion), fake god (lucifer) who employs fake jews (synagogue of satan) with control of fake money (fake jew rothschilds)
vs
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life !
Say it ain’t so! I thought Islam was a tolerant and accepting religion.
https://thereligionofpeace.com
“Hillary Clinton breaks out into laughter before Trump indictment: ‘Oh, I can’t believe this’ ”
MEANWHILE THE UGLY AS AN ASS HILLARY IS LAUGHING, BUT NOT FOR LONG.
SOON TRUMP IS THE PRESIDENT OF AMERICA!
GOAAAAAALLL!
Keep political identity politics and shariahaha out of sports. He’s a stud —so leave him alone you big dummies!
Show how mudslimes roll. Can’t come up with their own talent so they hire an infidel, who doesn’t share their faith, as a RINGER. Then they get upset when reminded of the fact.
maybe we should not be having any events in places that are openly hostile to other religions and ethnicities? who have abhorrent human rights abuses?
When you beliefs cant stand up to scrutiny and you oppress and attack/censor anyone with other beliefs, its time to look whether what you believe in may actually be a false faith.
Flood AliBaba and the forty theives’ country with exhibitions of Christian faith. Overwhelm them with their hypocrisy of only allowing open expression of their false religion.
The right answer would have been not to take the job to represent demonic Saudi Arabia in the first place. Seriously, you don’t escape the “moon god’s” dhimmitude just because the price of your soul was 136 million dollars. Ah well, maybe the international broadcast of that vain Roman Catholic repetition sowed a seed of the Gospel of the Son of God nonetheless.
However, due to Sharia restrictions, these non-Muslim faiths are not allowed to have dedicated places of worship, such as churches or temples.
What a joke. Yet, these hairy rugbeaters will finance mosques all over the world to spread their pedosatanist death cult and civilization jihad. GTFO!
Why would these racist Muslims hire a Christian anyway?