Irreligion in Saudi Arabia explained

Irreligion in Saudi Arabia is difficult to measure as it is illegal to leave the Islamic faith in the country.^{[1] [2] [3]} Most atheists in Saudi Arabia communicate with each other via the Internet.^{[4] [5]}

According to a 2012 poll by WIN-Gallup International, 5% of 502 Saudi Arabians surveyed stated they were "convinced atheists".^{[6] [7] [8]}

In March 2014, the Saudi interior ministry had issued a royal decree branding all atheists as terrorists, which defines terrorism as "calling for atheist thought in any form, or calling into question the fundamentals of the Islamic religion on which this country is based."^[9]

Apostasy is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.^{[10] [11]}

Notable irreligious Saudis

• Abdullah al-Qasemi (1907 - 1996) – Saudi Arabian 20th-century writer and intellectual. Former Salafist who became atheist and rejected organized religion.^[12]

See also

• Persecution of atheists in Islamic countries
• Persecution of atheists in the Middle East
• Religion in Saudi Arabia
• Freedom of religion in Saudi Arabia
• Apostasy in Islam

Further reading

• News: Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism . . 2012 . 2012-11-28 . 2013-05-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130524174009/http://www.winmr.com/web/files/news/14/file/14.pdf . dead .

Notes and References

1. News: Why Are Saudis Tearing Up the Quran? . Vocativ. 2014-04-18.
2. News: Atheists Classified As Terrorists Under New Saudi Arabian Laws . . 2014-03-04 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140404204845/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/04/02/atheists-classified-terrorists-new-saudi-arabian-laws_n_5075129.html . 2014-04-04 . live .
3. News: Saudi Arabia: A wave of atheism or a misunderstanding. Al Arabiya. 2012-11-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043137/http://english.alarabiya.net/views/2012/05/23/215974.html. 2016-03-04. dead.
4. News: 'Fighting Reality': Life as an atheist in Saudi Arabia. Washington Post. 2012-11-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20121124145517/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2012/11/21/fighting-reality-life-as-an-atheist-in-saudi-arabia/. 2012-11-24. live.
5. News: Interview with a Saudi atheist. Your Middle East. 2014-03-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20140325070306/http://www.yourmiddleeast.com/columns/article/interview-with-a-saudi-atheist_11146. 2014-03-25. live.
6. News: Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism . . 2012 . 2013-08-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170729183609/http://www.wingia.com/web/files/news/14/file/14.pdf . 29 July 2017.
7. News: A surprising map of where the world's atheists live . Max Fisher & Caitlin Dewey . . 23 May 2013 . 23 April 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180723152552/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/ . 23 July 2018 . live . dmy-all .
8. News: Atheism explodes in Saudi Arabia, despite state-enforced ban . . 2014-06-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140614035028/http://www.salon.com/2014/06/12/atheism_explodes_in_saudi_arabia_where_just_talking_about_atheism_is_illegal_partner/ . 2014-06-14 . live .
9. Web site: Adam Withnall . Saudi Arabia declares all atheists are terrorists in new law to crack down on political dissidents - Middle East - World . The Independent . 1 April 2014 . 27 December 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161228002547/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-declares-all-atheists-are-terrorists-in-new-law-to-crack-down-on-political-dissidents-9228389.html . 28 December 2016 . live . dmy-all .
10. Web site: 2017-04-26 . Man 'sentenced to death' for being an atheist by Saudi Arabia . 2022-04-03 . The Independent . en.
11. Web site: Saudi executioner tells all . 5 June 2003 . BBC News . 18 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090401233508/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2966790.stm . 1 April 2009 . live . dmy-all .
12. News: Meet the accused Arab agnostic who went his own way in the 1940s . english.alarabiya.net . en.