Story number 3 for 14 Nov 2001

(Saudi Arabia)–Saudi Arabia has rejected Western criticism that its education system is a breeding ground for religious extremism. The report hits a chord of truth, but fails to take it further, says Voice of the Martyrs’ Todd Nettleton. “Many of the most radical fringe of the Islamic faith is coming out of Saudi Arabian schools and universities. The Saudi people consider themselves the guardians of the holy sites of Islam and that their nation is the pure Islamic nation.” Nettleton says in this closed country, the more radical forms of Islam may have become the norm. He asks believers to pray that doors will open for the Gospel. “Pray for government leaders to come to Christ because it’s the government leaders that can make a change in the way that the country is operating. So, if they were to find Christ that would present an opportunity for, perhaps, an opening up of the way for more Christians to meet and to have freedom in that nation.”