Hinduism is the 3rd largest religion in Saudi Arabia, followed by nearly 1.3% of total population residing in the nation. As of 2020, there were nearly 708,000 Hindus residing in Saudi Arabia, among whom most of them were Indians and Nepalis.[1][2] There has been a large migration of Indians to Saudi Arabia, with the number of Hindus also witnessing a growth.
| Total population | |
|---|---|
708,000 (2020)  1.3% of total population | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| All Over Saudi Arabia | |
| Religions | |
| Hinduism | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Indians in Saudi Arabia and Hindus |
Background
edit| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 129,640 | — |
| 2010 | 301,636 | +132.7% |
| 2020 | 708,000 | +134.7% |
| Source: [3][4][5] | ||
Saudi Arabia is an Islamic theocracy.[6] Sunni Islam is the state religion and the public practice of any religion other than Islam is not allowed. All of the Hindus living in the nation are foreign-based expatriates and tourists on working and tourist permits.[7]
Most Indians in the earlier waves of emigration to Saudi Arabia were Muslim, but after 2001 the share of Indian Hindus has increased, as has the number of Hindus from the Nepali diaspora, and Hinduism is now the fastest growing religion in Saudi Arabia due to migration of Hindus and increase in their fertility rate.[8] Though having an adequate population of Hindus, there is no Hindu temple or any other place of worship for non-Muslims and the freedom of religion of non-Muslims is very much limited.[9]
Limitations
editLike other non-Muslim religions, Hindus are not permitted to worship publicly in Saudi Arabia. There have also been some complaints of destruction of Hindu religious items by Saudi Arabian authorities.[10][11] Saudi authorities interpret Hindu icons as idols, and idol worship is strongly condemned in Islam. This is likely the foundation for the stringent position of Saudi authorities when it comes to idol worshiper religious practice.[citation needed]
Any conversion away from Islam is known as apostasy and it invites capital punishment.[citation needed] Proselytizing by non-Muslims, including the distribution of non-Muslim religious materials such as Bhagavad Gita, and Ahmedi Books are illegal.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Saudi Arabia". United States Department of State. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
- ^ "Religions in Saudi Arabia". globalreligiousfutures.org. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ "Country Profile: Saudi Arabia (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia". US State Department. Retrieved 31 March 2017.
- ^ "Religions in Saudi Arabia". globalreligiousfutures.org. Archived from the original on 28 October 2021. Retrieved 20 August 2021.
- ^ Trakic, Adnan; Benson, John; Ahmed, Pervaiz K. (22 January 2019). Dispute Resolution in Islamic Finance: Alternatives to Litigation?. Routledge. p. 172. ISBN 978-1-351-18889-0.
- ^ "Dozens of Indians apply for Saudi citizenship". gulfnews.com. 21 February 2005. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
- ^ Desk, India TV News (11 June 2015). "Hinduism fastest growing religion in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia | India TV News". www.indiatvnews.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Human Rights Watch (9 January 2013), World Report 2013: Saudi Arabia, retrieved 25 September 2021
- ^ On 24 March 2005, Saudi Arabian authorities destroyed religious items found in a raid on a makeshift Hindu shrine found in an apartment in Riyadh. (source: Marshall, Paul. Saudi Arabia's Religious Police Crack Down. Freedom House)
- ^ Hindus in the Middle East Gautam Raja (June 2001) Belief Net
- ^ Marsh, Donna (11 May 2015). Doing Business in the Middle East: A cultural and practical guide for all business professionals. Little, Brown Book Group. ISBN 9781472135674. Retrieved 28 February 2020.