This pot can call any kettle black
Saudi Arabia, the leading trendsetter in the Muslim world, has officially declared atheists to be terrorists. Giving new meaning to the term militant atheist, the nation introduced a new law that is being called the game changer in the war against militant atheism. To land themselves into hot waters, all anyone would have to do is criticise the state’s favourite organised religion, or the state itself. This new Saudi stance seems a bit rigid and uncalled for to some, but Saudi Arabia is right on the money with this particular decision. The country is doing its part in the fight against terrorism indeed.
The nation’s battle with its little Saudi militants has made headlines recently. However, a larger fight exists which hasn’t gained enough traction in mainstream media. It’s true that people from the nation have been flocking to join Islamist militant factions in other chaos-inflicted and disturbed Muslim nations; however, even more alarming is the number of people who are coming out as disbelievers. With Islamist militants on one side and atheists on the other, Saudi Arabia made the only rational decision it could. It chose to deal with the bigger threat i.e., threaten to throw freethinking individuals into jail, since it is a known fact that atheists without a voice will significantly reduce the terrorist activities plaguing not just the Muslim community, but the world at large. Often known as ‘heads of disbelievers’ these infidels will be swiftly dealt with under the new law.
Saudi Hezbollah and Al-Qaeda will need to look over their policies to see how they can remain in the limelight considering the centre stage that Saudi Arabia has thrown atheists on. The law dictates up to 20 years of punishment for joining a Syrian rebellion on one side and up to 20 years for having a fully functioning critical thinking brain on the other – the stakes are high indeed.
What’s in a thought crime?
Thinking. It’s a dangerous, dangerous thing. Saudi Arabia has pulled out of its hat a move that we find in the very best dystopian novels. A little revolution here, a little slapping people back into place there – perfect ingredients for a hard-hitting story that screams of plot twists only an atheist’s worst nightmares can understand. Orwell would be so very proud of the manner in which times are changing. Even he couldn’t be sure of the bull’s-eye he left for the future generations. But I digress… thought crimes. Funny things, these thoughts; you can’t really control them. And the Saudi state’s religion is all about controlling urges that can’t or shouldn’t be controlled.
Under the cloak of human rights and freedom, the atheist warfare has gone on long enough. Their propaganda in trying to convert men and women into religion and state hating bigots had to end. Bigotry is only cool as long as it’s without any atheist or freethinking flavours. To put things into perspective: physical wounds heal; it’s the wounds of the mind that last forever. Atheists, if allowed to promote critical thinking and secular values, are a great threat to all that we’ve known. They’re going to fill people’s heads with all sorts of nonsense that cannot be entertained. An idea changes the world, but how far will that idea go if you bury it under a mountain of fear and sheer force? Saudis hope that their approach will help ensure that disturbing ideals don’t travel all too far. We don’t want another Arab Spring springing up out of nowhere now, do we?
Saudi Arabia has already been threatened because of rape cases gone wrong, women taking to the roads even though they’re not allowed to drive, etcetera. The state and the state religion have continued to maintain status quo. So what’s the problem now? Atheists. Women have been fine not driving cars for ages, why have they only recently realised that the car isn’t a beast that only men can tame. Atheists. Rape has always been dealt with through these standard procedures, so why the clamour now? Atheists. Things are changing and Saudi Arabia is committed to ensuring that things change in a manner that won’t cause people to violently react against the state and religion they’re supposed to love. So dear open-minded folks, keep your tête-à-têtes and secular agendas to yourself.
The threat doesn’t start and end with just the atheists. It’s the agnostics, the irreligious, and even the confused cherry pickers — it’s everyone that can look the status quo in the eye and loudly proclaim their disagreement or confusion. A thought is a dangerous thing. A thought can do things a weapon cannot — some faiths were won by the sword but even they stand quivering in the face of an idea. It is that useless idea that needs to be done away with.
The hard work that Saudi Arabia as a country and as a people is doing will produce results. They’ve done everything they can, now it’s your turn — Muslim countries like Pakistan need to now join the fight. We too must make efforts like those of the mother nation. From banning cartoons to ensuring women don’t ruin expensive cars while driving — the time has come to tackle troubling ideas.