Talk is cheap

Religion: The kings of religious intolerance take the lead in interfaith dialogue | Alisa Harris

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When King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia hosted a United Nations interfaith dialogue in New York on Nov. 12-13, it was only the latest in a series. Abdullah in July hosted one in Madrid. Yale that month hosted another. The Vatican hosted one in October. Plans are underway for declaration of a United Nations Decade on Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace that will last from 2011 to 2020.

This month's dialogue was filled as usual with highblown rhetoric—but Marshall Sana of the Barnabas Fund notes that the Saudis, while leading a dialogue calling for religious tolerance, are "the most religiously intolerant regime on the planet." Last November the Saudi government executed an Egyptian pharmacist for sorcery, adultery, and desecration of the Quran on the evidence of a book, a candle, and "foul-smelling herbs." In February 2008, the government sentenced a woman to death for witchcraft, and in April arrested and imprisoned 16 Asian Christians, including women and children. In May Saudi officials arrested 15 Indian Christians for having a church service.