Religion in Saudi Arabia

The Kaaba in Mecca is the holiest site of Islam, the state religion of Saudi Arabia.

Islam is the state religion of Saudi Arabia.[1]

The government of Saudi Arabia has been criticized for its restrictions on religious freedom.[2][3][4][5][6] Boston University’s 2020 World Religions Database estimated that approximately 31.5 million Saudi Arabian residents are Muslims. The Basic Law of Saudi Arabia states that it is the duty of every citizen to defend Islam;[1] most non-Muslim foreigners attempting to acquire Saudi Arabian nationality must convert to Islam. Hanbali is the official version of Sunni Islam and it is used in the legal and education systems.[7][1]

In 2022, the law bans the promotion of atheism, as well as any proselytizing by non-Muslims.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d US State Dept 2022 report
  2. ^ Open Doors website, 2023 notes on Saudi Arabia, retrieved 2023-08-08
  3. ^ Human Rights Watch, 2019 article
  4. ^ Human Rights Watch, 2018 article
  5. ^ Human Rights Watch, World Report 2013 Archived 2017-05-19 at the Wayback Machine. Saudi Arabia.] Freedom of Expression, Belief, and Assembly.
  6. ^ Amnesty International, Annual Report 2013, Saudi Arabia Archived 2015-01-30 at the Wayback Machine, Discrimination - Shi’a minority
  7. ^ Robert Murray Thomas Religion in Schools: Controversies Around the World Greenwood Publishing Group 2006 ISBN 978-0-275-99061-9 page 180