Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia will never allow a church to be built on its soil, Defense Minister Prince Sultan announced this week. The birthplace of Islam and the site of the religion’s two holiest shrines, Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia has long banned the open practice of other religions, although Christian foreigners are allowed to worship privately in their homes. “This country was the launch pad for the prophecy and the message, and nothing can contradict this,” Sultan said, “even if we lose our necks.” Last week, the U.S. State Department released a list of countries that severely limit religious freedom. It did not include Saudi Arabia.
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