Hell is other
Twitter users — according to the head of Saudi Arabia's religious police force, anyway.
Sheikh Abdul Latif Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh said Wednesday that Muslims
who use Twitter or other social media have "lost this world and his
afterlife," as quoted by
BBC News.
Saudi Arabia has a complicated relationship with social media as its usage
skyrockets
in the country. However, the Saudi government is worried social media
could help the political opposition in the country organize in spread,
similar to the ways it has been used throughout the Middle East and
elsewhere.
"The Kingdom is particularly concerned with how Twitter has been used
to keep people informed of human rights activists who have been tried
for the crime of free speech,"
writes Jonathan Turley,
professor of law at The George Washington University Law School.
"Leaders on the web have been detained while others have been charged
with apostasy and other crimes for statements made on these sites."
Software engineer Moxie Marlinspike recently
alleged in a blog post that Saudi Arabia wants the ability to spy on Twitter and such popular messaging services as Viber and WhatsApp.
Several years ago, Saudi Arabia threatened to ban BlackBerry devices
unless the company made it easier for the government to read users'
messages. The company reportedly decided to
comply with those demands.
Other religious figures, including the Dalai Lama and
the Pope,
have embraced social media to varying degrees as a way to spread their
message or connect with those inside and outside their faith. Can
religion and social media mix? Share your thoughts in the comments.
