Tolerant Islam II

The Shoura is what passes as the legislative body in Saudi Arabia. It's members advise the King. They are also appointed by the King, so any resemblance to a Democracy is purely accidental. It recently voted to reject a resolution stating in part:

“the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall work in coordination with Arab and Islamic groups and others at the United Nations to draft an international pact for respecting religions, their symbols and leaders, and prohibit insulting them in any way.”

The objection to this resolution was that it would require the recognition of religions that practiced idolatry (such as Bhuddism and Bahai) and this was forbidden under Islam. The vote was 77 to 33.

In other news, 20 clerics have supported the recent fatwa by Shaikh Abdul Rahman Al Barrak calling for the trial of Saudi newspaper columnist for apostasy. Apostasy is punishable by death.