How does it feel to be a shia Muslim in Saudi Arabia?

After I post this , i got a lovely email from a friend who happens to be a Saudi and a Shia'. A very well -educated , honest and respected man. We discussed the situation and then I asked him if he can write about being Shia' in Saudi Arabia.

Today his honest and to the point article arrived and i am honored to share it, cuz i believe that Shia' are treated as second-class citizen and that they are judged by the majority of us without even hear them or see them.

If you have any question, I will be glad to send it his way and post his answer here.

I would love to thank you for accepting my offer to write the article despite the painful situation and reminder. Thank you dear friend :)

Here is what he wrote in his own words ......

How does it feel to be a shia Muslim in Saudi Arabia?

As a shia muslim individual in Saudi Arabia who grew up in an entirely Shia community the feeling of being discriminated against or hated by the majority of the public or let’s say the those who are in power be it political or religion starts as early as you join elementary school. We are forced to study religion subjects that actually state we are infidels and call us “Rafidha” which can be translated as rejecters. They mean we rejected the right path and chose the wrong one. Of course those who teach these subjects are the wahabies who believe in such statements and even try to convince the students of that. Many confrontations happened between parents and those teachers.

You grow up thinking ok that just it. School subjects and teachers surely it is not like that in the real world. You graduate from high school with an excellent average that should get you into medical school which usually requires the highest of averages. You pass the entrance exam and go for an interview, you get asked questions about your faith which totally unrelated to what you want to study! And it is not medical school only. There is always a hidden quota, if you accept 1 shia you have to get 10 sunnis with him or her and this might be an exaggeration but it is what you feel if you are part of our world.

Of course we do find jobs but there are jobs and positions that are restricted. A shia man cannot be in the military even if it is compulsory. The high positions like ministers or vice ministers in the government are far and beyond our reach and the closest was just 1 ambassador which only lasted for a very short period. Also in big companies like Saudi Aramco or Sabic, you rarely see a shia man holding a top position and if 1 did, I am sure he worked double or triple what others in the same position worked.

That was related to schools and work.. what about freedom of practicing your faith and beliefs? Well you will grow through hell just to build a mosque in a shia town. You need a "wasta" and sign hundreds of papers. It is even worse to get a license to build a "Hussainiya".

I guess we all remember what happened almost a year ago in Madina where several shia visitors were harrassed and beaten and taken to jail in AlBaqee3 after clashes with the "hai2a" or religious police.

Other points worth mentioning:

1-The government owned TV doesn’t show commercial advertisements for any shia company.

2-No judge would accept marrying a shia individual to a sunni in any Saudi court.

3-Shia websites are easily blocked.

4-Many anti shia sect are created in facebook or another websites by Saudi individuals and they are popular which makes you think that majority of the people really hate you because of what you believe in.