MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Apparently reality and difficult questions don’t mix well in the Islamic world …

By Katerina Nikolas, Digital Journal – “Riyad – The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia on Friday issued a religious edict prohibiting contact with foreign media, in order to protect the Kingdom’s security and religion.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh decreed that contacting foreign media outlets was ‘not permissible and is considered betrayal and assistance to the enemies of Islam’ and amounted to ‘treason and major crime’ Al Arabiya reported.

The Grand Mufti went on to say that foreign media seeks to ‘spread chaos and strife in Muslim lands’ and contact with them is a threat to Saudi security and religion.

As the highest religious authority in the Kingdom, the Grand Mufti’s words carry great weight in a country already deemed one of the most censored in the world. Following the wake of pro-democracy protests across North Africa and the Middle East, censorship in Saudi Arabia was tightened. According to CPJ ‘No foreign or local journalists are granted access to the Eastern Province, where protesters have been calling for political reforms and greater rights for the Shiite minority since February 2011.’ Additionally ‘international news outlets operating inside its borders limit their reporting in order to maintain accreditation.'” Read more.

Flashback: Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia Calls for ‘Destruction of All Churches in Region’ – “According to several Arabic news sources, last Monday, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, declared that it is ‘necessary to destroy all the churches of the region.’ The Grand Mufti made his assertion in response to a question posed by a delegation from Kuwait, regarding the position of a Kuwaiti parliament member who recently called for the ‘removal’ of churches (he later ‘clarified’ by saying he merely meant that no churches should be built in Kuwait). The Kuwaiti delegation wanted to confirm Sharia’s position on churches. Accordingly, the Grand Mufti ‘stressed that Kuwait was a part of the Arabian Peninsula, and therefore it is necessary to destroy all churches in it.’” Read more.