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沙地阿拉伯


然而「是否遵守教規」看似簡單易懂,卻不易定義與操作,故時常成為欲加之罪何患無辭的莫須有。綜觀中東近代政治史,不乏受希斯巴迫害的知識份子,其中最有名的便是埃及的古蘭經學者納斯勒·阿布·宰德(Nasr Abu Zayd,阿拉伯語:نصر حامد أبو زيد,1943-2010)。其為開羅大學的伊斯蘭法學教授,主張現代穆斯林應以人文主義、詮釋學的角度來理解《古蘭經》,即古蘭經雖有其神聖性,但其本質就是誕生於七世紀阿拉伯人文背景的文化產品,當代穆斯林應「多次閱讀經典」,以獲取「解釋的多樣性」(al-ta 'addud alta 'wili,阿拉伯語:التعدد التأويلي),而非單純聽取宗教人員的一面之詞,沒想到此番主張會在日後引起軒然大波。


納斯勒·阿布·宰德(取自Qantara.de)


納斯勒·阿布·宰德(取自Qantara.de)


1992年,納斯勒向開羅大學提交了13部阿語及其他語言的著作,申請晉升為正教授,結果受到阿卜杜拉·薩布爾·沙辛(Abdel Al-Sabour Shahin)為首的保守派學者抵制,抨擊納斯勒「污辱伊斯蘭」,最後納斯勒無緣正教授之位。然而沙辛仍窮追不捨,其不僅在各大場合稱納斯勒為「叛教者」(murtadd,阿拉伯語:مرتد),更動員其他學者向法院提起訴訟,指控納斯勒的學術著作擾亂人心,有叛教之事實,應受希斯巴管轄。而由於伊斯蘭法規定穆斯林婦女不得與叛教者通婚,故這些學者進而要求法院應強制讓定納斯勒與妻子離婚。原本一場學界內鬥最終演變成叛教鬧劇。


1995年,法院裁定納斯勒叛教,並宣告其婚姻無效。接下來幾週內,納斯勒收到無數死亡威脅,其著作也被開羅大學圖書館下架,在無路可走的情況下,納斯勒只好與妻子流亡馬德里,最後於荷蘭的萊頓大學(Leiden University)落腳,成為阿拉伯與伊斯蘭研究的客座教授,同時擔任博士生導師。此後納斯勒與妻子曾多次返國探望家人,但往往只能稍作停留。2010年,其於返國期間一病不起,最後病逝於開羅醫院,享年66歲。納斯勒提出的批判性方法成為現代伊斯蘭思想的重要遺產,埃及也於1998年修法,禁止個人向法院提出「叛教」的控訴,並將其保留為檢察機關的權力。


放眼20世紀80到90年代的埃及,無數希斯巴鬧劇在法院與社會輪番上演,對象從自由派學者、記者、導演再到作家-艾哈邁德·薩布希·曼蘇爾(Ahmed Subhy Mansour,阿拉伯語:أحمد صبحي منصور‎,1949-)被愛資哈爾大學解雇,最後流亡美國;諾貝爾文學獎得主納吉布·馬哈福茲(Naguib Mahfouz,阿拉伯語:نجيب محفوظ,1911-2006)遇刺,造成右上肢神經的永久損害,失去了書寫能力;女性主義作家納瓦勒·薩達維(Nawal al-Saadawi,阿拉伯語:نوال السعداوي,1931-)先是被解職,最後鋃鐺入獄。至今,埃及政府仍常以希斯巴之名管制出版品、限制宗教論述。


艾哈邁德·薩布希·曼蘇爾(取自Mark Taylor)


艾哈邁德·薩布希·曼蘇爾(取自Mark Taylor)




納吉布·馬哈福茲(取自Qantara.de)


納吉布·馬哈福茲(取自Qantara.de)     



沙烏地宗教警察的歷史脈絡


沙烏地的宗教警察始於穆罕默德·本·沙特(Muhammad bin Saud,1726-1765)與穆罕默德·阿卜杜·瓦哈卜(Muhammad Abd Wahhab,1703-1792)的合作,兩人以政治結盟及家族聯姻的方式,建立了德拉伊耶酋長國(Emirate of Diriyah,1744-1818),政治、外交與軍事事務由沙烏地家族負責,瓦哈卜家族及其門徒則負責對內的宗教治理,大力推行伊斯蘭法與瓦哈比主義,成了當代沙烏地的雛型。1811年,埃及軍隊代表奧斯曼帝國出兵阿拉伯半島,史稱奧斯曼-沙烏地戰爭(1811-1818,又名瓦哈比戰爭),最後埃及軍隊奪下漢志(Hejaz),德拉伊耶酋長國宣告滅亡,剩餘殘部遂退至內志(Nejd)谷地,成立內志酋長國,沙烏地與瓦哈卜家族自此陷入孤立無援的境地。





德拉伊耶酋長國疆域變遷圖(取自維基百科)



正是在此風雨飄搖之際,宗教警察誕生了。首先,沙特家族為凝聚人心,對內嚴格實行伊斯蘭法,讓宗教警察四處查緝、鞭打不守教規的穆斯林,肅殺之風儼然成形;另外由於沙烏地家族本身出自農業部落,故其與游牧的貝都因人結盟,欲藉其軍事力量重返麥加。然而貝都因人遊牧慣了,不僅鮮少奉行伊斯蘭法規範,更有偶像崇拜的習俗,沙烏地於是展開馴化計畫,強制將其安置在綠洲的村莊內,並派出宗教警察教導他們「如何做一個好的穆斯林」,最終將這些貝都因人由沙漠劫匪轉化為懷抱宗教理想的伊斯蘭士兵,名為伊赫瓦尼(Ikhwan,阿拉伯語:الإخوان)。


伊赫瓦尼的旗幟(取自維基百科)


伊赫瓦尼的旗幟(取自維基百科)



伊赫瓦尼在沙烏地統一阿拉伯半島的進程(1902-1932)中發揮了極大的貢獻,其主要依賴長矛、劍等傳統武器,並維持貝都因人的出征習慣,騎馬或駱駝偷襲對方陣營,用割喉的方式殺死所有老弱婦孺,有時連投降的俘虜也不放過。他們通常不戴繩頭(kufiya,阿拉伯語:كوفية),而是改以白色頭巾覆頭,故一望便知。




頭戴Kufiya的貝都因男性(取自維基百科)



然而請神容易送神難,伊赫瓦尼的思想日漸極端,認為自己真正要效忠的對象應是真主,而非沙特家族,並在沙烏地開始現代化建設後與其爆發了極大的衝突。首先,伊赫瓦尼以超高的宗教標準譴責沙烏地家族"不夠伊斯蘭",認為引入電話、電報、汽車這種"悖離信仰的產物"形同叛教,更抨擊沙烏地與英國(異教徒)同流合汙。長此以往,分歧深化,伊赫瓦尼最終成了半島上的伊斯蘭自走砲,完全不受沙烏地指揮與控制,不僅襲擊英國控制下的外約旦酋長國(Emirate of Transjordan,1921-1946),更入侵沙烏地-伊拉克中立區(Saudi Arabian–Iraqi neutral zone),導致英國轟炸內志作為報復,最後更舉兵造反,意欲推翻沙烏地家族。

這場叛亂結束在一陣屠殺中,伊赫瓦尼以傳統的駱駝部隊力抗持有機槍、裝甲部隊的沙烏地,結果當然是慘敗收場,領導人多數戰死、少數則流亡至其他部落,史稱薩比拉戰役(Battle of Sabilla,1929)。然而由於沙烏地仍需借重其武裝力量,故除懲處幾位高層外,多數的伊赫瓦尼都被收編至沙烏地國民警衛隊(Saudi Arabian National Guard Forces,SANG)中;而為避免類似暴亂再次發生,沙烏地也於1940年成立了勸善戒惡委員會(Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice,CPVPV),管理所有宗教警察,並由國王直接指揮;領導運動的歐泰比家族(al-Otaybi,阿拉伯語:العتيبي)也未被趕盡殺絕,從而種下了50年後的禍根。

1979年11月20日,歐泰比後人、前國民警衛隊成員朱海曼·歐泰比(Juhayman al-Otaybi,1936-1980)帶領近600名武裝份子封鎖麥加大清真寺,(Al-Masjid al-Ḥarām,阿拉伯語:المسجد الحرام‎,又名禁寺),殺死警衛,挾持人質,呼籲全世界穆林共同起事,推翻沙烏地家族。早在暴亂前,歐泰比便與國民警衛隊有所勾結,將許多精良的裝備運至禁寺內藏匿,並運用自身的軍事專業,於寺內各處配置狙擊手與武裝部隊,令前來攻打的沙烏地部隊傷亡慘重。

後在沙烏地的求援下,法國、約旦、巴基斯坦皆派兵協助,加上負責維修大清真寺的賓拉登集團(Saudi Binladin Group,阿拉伯語:مجموعة بن لادن السعودية‎)提供的內部結構圖,這場持續了兩週的叛亂終於畫下尾聲,但雙方都付出了慘痛的代價,大清真寺多處損毀,軍方共127名人員戰死,人質死亡200多人;叛亂方共117人戰死,沙烏地此次不再心軟,將歐泰比在內的68名領導人斬首示眾。

然而此次暴亂後,沙烏地在未來十年的處置令人跌破眼鏡,其非但沒有壓制宗教保守勢力,反而更加重用保守派,認為要解決宗教動盪的唯一途徑,就是加強人們的信仰,此舉或許與暴亂期間,許多教法學者皆支持歐泰比有關,讓沙烏地家族決定以權力收買宗教勢力的忠誠。故暴亂之後宗教警察的勢力日漸龐大,整個勸善戒惡委員會也開始不受國王控制,而是與保守教士們沆瀣一氣;此外大清真寺挾持事件也給22歲的賓拉登(1957-2011)留下極為深刻的印象,成為其日後創立蓋達組織(al-Qaeda,阿拉伯語:القاعدة)的靈感來源之一。

沙烏地宗教警察的執法爭議與政爭


1979年後,沙烏地的宗教警察權力擴大數倍,但也引發了無數爭議,例如其曾介入政府的都更工程,要求改變已建好的汙水管線設計,以免其流向聖城麥加,經工程師再三保證地球曲率不會讓此事發生後才作罷;以及發起黑魔法(巫術)掃蕩行動,在證據不足的情況下逮捕多名算命師與信仰治療師,甚至處以死刑等。然其工作內容只要還是禁絕西方精神汙染,與嚴格執行伊斯蘭法規範下的性別禁令等。

在禁絕西方精神汙染上,沙烏地的宗教警察有過無數令人匪夷所思的「創舉」:

禁止神奇寶貝的遊戲、動畫、布偶出現在沙烏地境內,認為"進化"的概念觸犯伊斯蘭教義;

禁止芭比娃娃的販售,理由是芭比娃娃以暴露的衣著與可恥的姿勢入侵沙烏地,是變態西方的頹廢代表;

禁止沙烏地人民慶祝西方情人節這種「異教節日」,並取締於當日出售紅玫瑰、紅毛絨動物、紅色賀卡和其他紅色禮品的飯店與商家;

禁止麥加與吉達兩座城市的市民買賣貓狗作為寵物,更禁止這兩地的人民上街溜貓遛狗,理由是"這是西方異教徒才會有的習慣"。

然而上述禁令看似嚴厲,其實全國各區執法程度不一,人民只要夠大膽,賭賭運氣,往往不會受什麼懲罰。但在性別議題上,便少有灰色地帶,沙烏地的宗教警察向來嚴格執行性別隔離制(Ikhtilat,阿拉伯語:اختلاط),進而鬧出了2002年的麥加女校事件。2002年3月11日,麥加一所女校發生火災,許多學生好不容易逃至建築物門口,卻被宗教警察擋了回去,理由是「沒有男性親屬陪同,不得自行外出」、「逃難之際沒有遵守教義遮掩羞體,致使頭髮與手臂裸露在外,必須先把自己包好再出來",前來救火的消防人員也被宗教警察阻擋在外,因為"女學生們還沒把自己包好」。結果最後共有15名女學生喪生,沙烏地各大媒體皆罕見地批評了宗教警察的錯誤執法,國王因而取消宗教部門對國內所有女校的管轄權,改由教育部取而代之。

2011年阿拉伯之春爆發,阿卜杜拉國王為顯改革決心,於是下令所有女性用品店-包括內衣、化粧品、黑袍、婚紗等,必須在一年內以女性員工取代所有男性,既能提升婦女就業率,也可塑造沙烏地重視女權的國際形象。然而此令受到宗教警察的強烈抵制,因其在過去常關閉雇用女性的店家衝業績,故國王此舉等於打臉自己。在保守勢力的反對下,此令不僅無法徹底執行,2013年更有200名宗教警察聯合上書,稱「讓女性就業後,男女混合的情況急遽增加,宗教警察執法困難」。

類似此番掣肘事件,沙烏地政壇屢見不鮮。沙烏地看似舉國保守,其實王室與宗教系統內互有改革與保守派系的對峙,國王的所有改革措施,背後都涉及政治版圖與權力鬥爭,倘若不顧保守勢力反對,下了過於激進的改革令,便難以維繫統治正當性,一但宗教勢力與其政敵結合,下場可能就是政變或暗殺。故沙烏地建國以來所有現代化改革法律,基本上都是與保守勢力做出利益交換,使其暗中默許的結果;反之亦然。例如國王往往會在彈壓保守勢力後,放鬆對於宗教警察的管制,以安撫保守勢力的不滿。故有時沙烏地滿街都是宗教警察,原因就是國王剛開除了某位高級宗教學者委員會裡的成員。

2016年,沙烏地國王裹挾民意與政治靠山,下令改革勸善戒惡委員會,宗教警察的勢力因而衰弱不少,其後更伴隨一連串女權改革:允許女性駕駛、廢除女性需有男性監護人陪伴才能出國的法令,改革派看似鋒頭正盛,但王室同時也大舉逮捕許多沙烏地的女性主義異議份子,打壓民間自發的女權社團,這並不是因為統治者人格分裂,而是沙烏地政壇的持續已久的政治慣例,於改革派而言,所謂勝利,向來都要付出點代價。

從勸善戒惡到希斯巴,從阿巴斯到奧斯曼,從德拉伊耶酋長國到當代沙烏地,宗教警察的角色有其偶然性,卻也不出歷史的必然性。在沙烏地這種伊斯蘭政治化的國家中,其本是鞏固政權的產物,卻在歷史推移下,與國王發展出亦敵亦友的微妙關係。現其雖暫時失勢,但只要沙烏地保守勢力不倒,宗教警察便永遠有東山再起的機會,正如國王若要坐穩王座,便永遠離不開保守教士們的支持。(相關報導:劉君祖專欄:神魔之戰,舉世共業險惡至極!更多文章

*作者為《中東研究通訊》專欄主筆。本文由《中東研究通訊》公眾號授權轉載。


一百年前,有一件事令沙地阿拉伯一下子變成富國。在一九零一年,這國家的國土下發現了「黑黃金」!今天,世上每生產四桶石油,就有一桶來自沙地阿拉伯。標準石油公司的利潤,自動成為沙地人的收入。按國王所定的政策,每個國民都可以分享到石油帶來的財富。由於錢多,十一年前的波斯灣戰爭中,沙地政府不在乎承擔五百億美元的軍費。

      不過,財富會造成一個問題:使人驕傲。沙地的婦人雖然可以享受高水平的物質生活,但男人仍然視婦女為附屬品。例如,沒有男監護人准許,婦女不可以出外,不可受教育,不可工作。相比之下,聖經沒有貶低女性的地位,在神眼中男女平等,由於沙地是回教教律最嚴的國家,所以人民沒有機會接觸福音。

願沙地的人民願意收聽福音廣播,看到「耶穌傳」,明白聖經說的是真理。

劉燕婷觀點:從瓦哈比到大清真寺陷落,沙烏地的宗教警察從何而來?



宗教警察是伊斯蘭政治化的產物,圖為身著傳統服裝的沙特宗教警察。(資料照,取自澎派新聞)


Quoted from: http://www.zenit.org/article-32222?l=english

ROME, APRIL 4, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Saudi Arabia is considered holy ground by the Muslim majority who live there. Hence, Christians and even Muslims of other sects, face severe restrictions.

Christians make up only about 3% of the population, but they have no churches and never display their faith in public.

Professor Camille Eid, a journalist, author, professor at the University of Milan and expert on the Churches of the Middle East, spoke about the Saudi Arabia situation with the television program "Where God Weeps" of the Catholic Radio and Television Network (CRTN) in cooperation with Aid to the Church in Need.

Q: Saudi Arabia is a hereditary monarchy based on the foundation of Wahhabi Islam. What is this branch of Islam?

Eid: Wahhabism is a new doctrine of Islam. Its founder is Abd-al Wahhab, who was a religious scholar of Hanafi Islam, which is the strictest doctrine of Islam. He decided that all innovations -- "Bida" is the term in Arabic -- in Islam should be eliminated. A visit to a cemetery for instance is considered a bida-innovation and is prohibited. You cannot do anything that the Prophet Mohammed and his companions did not do. So the alliance between the followers of Wahhabi and the prince of Najd in central Arabia created the birth of this Saudi Arabian kingdom. Saudi Arabia takes its name from the Saud family. This house of Saud alliance with the Wahhabi sect is still true today and the successors of the kingdom follow this strict instruction and doctrine of Wahhabism; the laws of the kingdom follow the strict guidelines of Wahhabism. 

Q: What about the Shia? 

Eid: The Shia make up almost 10% of the population and they face much discrimination. They are concentrated mainly in the eastern part of the kingdom. There is another sect of the Shia, the Ismaili, and they are very near the Yemeni border. The kingdom and its leadership subscribe to Wahhabism. 

Q: The Quran is Saudi Arabia ’s constitution. What position does the Quran or this constitution take toward non-Muslims? 

Eid: The Quran distinguishes between Christians and Jews, and other unbelievers. Christians and Jews are called the “People of the Book,” or the books if you want -- the Gospel and the Torah. Sometimes in the Quran, Christians are described in a very positive way. The Christian monarch and priests pray. But, during the second period in the Prophet’s revelation, Christians are described as unbelievers and [it's said they] should pay the "Jizya," the tax necessary to be protected in an Islamic society. There seems to be a contradiction in the book itself. That is why we have a liberal and a violent Islam. The violent Islam is a result of the second revelation that occurred during the last reign of Mohammed and as a result the current Islamic societies state that the events of the second revelation should be followed and not the previous revelations, which are more tolerant. 

Q: The government is built on the principles of Sharia. What is Sharia? 

Eid: Sharia is the summa of the Quran, the Hadith, which are the statements of Mohammed, and other sources such as the Ishma, which is the consensus of all Islamic scholars (Ulema). Sharia Law is taken from all these. 

Q: All residents who live in Saudi Arabia are subjected to the law of Sharia? 

Eid: All residents are subjected to this law and you cannot object because it is tantamount to objecting to Islam. Upon arrival at the airport you are informed immediately that you are to abide by the strict Islamic laws. I as a Christian, for instance, had a Pepsi in my hand during Ramadan. I noticed that everybody was looking at me in a certain way and they could have beaten me. You cannot eat outside or in public during the fast. You can only eat in secret. So you have to observe the fast even if you are not Muslim because that is the law. 

Q: Christians constitute the biggest non-Muslim group in Saudi Arabia . How do Christians live their faith in Saudi Arabia ? 

Eid: In secret. It is forbidden to have Bibles, religious images and rosaries; if they are detected at the airport they are immediately confiscated. There was an instance when I was at the Jeddah Airport with a videocassette and they asked to view this cassette. The video was about Spartacus. I was suddenly fearful that they would see the image of the crucifixion. The guard eventually allowed it because it was a soldier being crucified and not Jesus Christ. ... It is hard. They say that Christians can pray privately but what does private mean? Does it mean alone or with your family? When more than two, or a group of families, are praying together in the privacy of their home the religious police can come in and intervene and arrest them. 

Q: What happens to the Christian that is caught with a rosary in their pocket or wearing a cross? 

Eid: If it is in a pocket nobody can see it. If, however you are seen wearing a cross, any Muslim -- and not just the police -- can take it away. You will be arrested and risk expulsion from the kingdom. They will haul you to prison and after a few days you will be issued an exit visa. It will be over for you.

Q: What other kind of Christian activities are punishable by law? 

Eid: All public manifestation of any faith other than Islam is punishable. They do know that the Americans, French and Italians celebrate the Mass for Christmas and Easter inside the embassies but because the embassy is extra-territorial, the law does not apply. The police, however, are around to monitor. There are no churches, synagogues or temples in the kingdom. All manifestations of other faiths are prohibited. 

Q: Who enforces the law? 

Eid: You have 5,000 religious police divided among 100 districts, but any Muslim can enforce the law by denouncing the individual. I spent two and half years in Jeddah; I was afraid to extend the Easter and Christmas greetings even via phone because I was afraid that someone might be listening. The religious police control everything including the bookshops because it is prohibited to sell any card with non-Muslim themes. Some years ago in the American school, a Santa Claus was almost arrested but he managed to escape through a window. It is prohibited. 

Q: Are Christians a particular target of persecution or discrimination? 

Eid: Not just Christians but the non-Wahhabi versions of Islam such as the Shia or Ismaili. Not all Christian communities suffer equally. American, Italian, French and British -- in fact most Europeans and other First World countries -- suffer less because they know that these countries are powerful and will intervene immediately to protect their citizens. So they target the Christians of the Third World like Eritrea , India and the Philippines . These countries fear the loss of revenue from their citizens living in the kingdom. So they target the Christians of these weaker Third World countries. 

Q: It has been said that Filipino maids have been accused of communicating the faith to the children of the wealthy Saudis that employ them. Do you know anything about this? 

Eid: The Islamic catechism talks about the risk of communicating faith. The Saudi version states: “When you go abroad you should not develop a relationship or friendship with your professors because you should remember that they are infidels." This criterion also applies to the Filipino women in Saudi Arabia . Any communication can only occur by testimony not by words. 

Q: Only through witness?

Eid: Only through witness and that is why they have suggested substituting Filipinos, or Christian women in general, with Egyptian, Moroccan or Algerian women so that they cannot communicate the faith to the children.

Q: We have talked about discrimination. We have talked about persecution. How far can this persecution go? 

Eid: To death. We have a case of the martyrdom of a Saudi girl who converted to Christianity. Her brother discovered her. She wrote a poem to Christ and she had her tongue cut, she disappeared and was later found dead. Her name was Fatima Al-Mutairi and this happened in August of 2008. In 2008 two cases of raids by the religious police saw men, women and children less than 3 years old arrested. We have many reports of torture; before they are deported to their country these Filipinos, Indians and Eritreans are tortured by the police in the prisons. 

Q: You mentioned the case of Fatima who converted to Christianity. What is the number of Muslims converting? Do you have any information or is it impossible to know? 

Eid: It is not possible. Saudi society is difficult to penetrate because the regime monitors every activity. Sometimes you notice this from the women’s perspective. When these Saudi women go abroad, even upon entry in the airplane, they remove the hijab. In Lebanon and other countries they drink alcohol. When they return to their country they know that that have to abide by the laws. 

Q: … and converts?

Eid: Christian converts do exist. I follow the Arabic media channels, which broadcast to Saudi Arabia and the whole Arab world, and during the transmission many calls originate from Saudi Arabia . Those converts who travel to Morocco and Egypt talk about their experience but do not mention their names and request only that the Christian community pray for them because they desire to see the day when they will be allowed to go to a church, to be able to have access to the Gospels and to be able to share their new faith with their own family. If a convert informs his/her brother or father of his/her new faith, he or she faces the danger of being charged with treason by the family; a treason not only of one’s family but also to the nation and society in general. Apostasy is a question of honor and as such it is considered treason. 

Q: Professor Samir Khalil Samir, an Egyptian Quran scholar, stated that within the Quran, there is no obligation to kill an apostate. Where does this expression of violence come from? 

Eid: Exactly. In the 14th [book] of the Quran there is talk about apostasy but there is no talk of a penalty in this life but rather in the second life. This change comes from the Hadith of Mohammed in which he said that whomever changes religion should be killed. But a problem again arises from this, because with the thousands of Hadith, there is no proof that Mohammed actually said this. Many Islamic countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan under the Taliban, Iran and Yemen, and so on, apply the death penalty based on a Hadith that can't be a hundred percent proven that it is from Mohammed. 

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about the lay Catholics living in Saudi Arabia? 

Eid: It is hard to be a lay Catholic in Saudi Arabia because you have to have a very deep background in your faith. You cannot have copies of the Gospel in your home. You cannot have a rosary. You cannot have contact with your Christian friends as a community; you can have Christian friends, you can frequent the foreign communities but you are prohibited from talking about your faith. So the only possibility is to have a strong awareness and knowledge of your faith that you can bank on in this environment. 

In other Islamic countries Friday is a holiday so Mass as a community [is allowed], but not on Sunday because Sunday is considered a working day; but even this is not the case in Saudi Arabia. So you are a community by yourself. Usually you do not even have your own family because Saudi Arabia has restrictions on family reunification. If you have a daughter who is more than 18 years of age, she cannot stay in Saudi Arabia if she is not married. So most have their families somewhere else. So you are alone and with no contact to other Catholics, which is very hard, and so you have to have the strength of faith in your heart; to be able to pray with out the prayer books, to just know and pray the prayers you have learned by heart from your childhood. 

 

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