Out of the Sand Box

Most of my blog entries to date have been about Masonry in general, exoteric and esoteric issues and my understanding of them. Today, I want to take a stab at something just a tad different… what it’s like to live where Freemasonry is illegal.

For the last year and a half, I have been living and working in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as an ex-pat employed by Computer Science Corporation, Arabia, Ltd., employed as the Enterprise Training and Documentation Manager. There are many things we have heard about Saudi Arabia, some true, some REALLY true, and some untrue.

The first is that Freemasonry is considered illegal in Saudi Arabia. There has even been at least one fatwa, or religious ruling, issued against our ancient and honorable fraternity:

College of Islamic Jurisprudence, Makkah, 15th July 1978 - concerning: Freemasonry

“The College of Islamic Jurisprudence, in its session convened at Makkah on 15th July 1978, examined the issue of Freemasonry, of those affiliated with it and the legal Islamic judgment on it, after adequate study of this dangerous organization, and the boy of literature on it, inclusive of the College’s own published documents, books, and newspaper and journal articles.

From the totality of writings and texts which the College examined, the following was evinced:

Freemasonry is a clandestine organization, which hides as well as reveals it operations as it sees fit. Its true principles are guarded from all but its most venerated masters, who have, by virtue of their consecration at Freemasonry’s highest order degrees, proven worth of this honor. It establishes the relation of its members one to another, in all places of the earth, as is the alleged human brotherhood among all entrants in its organization, without discrimination as to race, religion, and creed. Such overt misrepresentation of “fraternity” is simple-minded, at best. It attracts persons whose affiliation is practicable for the organization; its allure is largely of a personally lucrative nature for the individuals sought. The high-minded principles of this recruitment entail; pledged assistance to any Freemasonic brother the world over; firm support of any Freemasonic candidacy to public office; and unconditional loyalty in all Freemasonic endeavors, even in those where the individual must compromise his sense of honour, justice, truth and right.

Such lofty appeals often amass considerable financial contributions. Admission to Freemasonry is based on the celebration of the new member’s affiliation through symbolic and awe-inspiring ceremonies which serve to frighten the initiate if he is at variance with the instructions; the more threatening orders are issued successively with rank. Gullible members are left free in the exercise of their religious beliefs; if they do not choose to benefit from the directives of guidance and the assignment of task appropriate to their status (they remain in lower degrees. As to the heretics, rank is calibrated in relation to individual experience and mastery, as well as demonstrated readiness to serve Freemasonry’s purposes, principles, and plans. It has political aims, and in most political and military upheavals, it has a visible, as well as an invisible, role. Its original organizational roots are Jewish; its secret global high administration, Jewish; and its activity, Zionist.

In its secret real aims, it is against all religions: in general it seeks to destroy Islam for its Muslim adherents. It strives to select its membership from among positions of influence - financial, political, social or scientific status ( and to draw to its ranks kings, presidents and ministers, as tools to be manipulated in the forging of its dogma. It has branches which adopt other names to thus misrepresent and divert attention away from activities which encounter resistance to the name of Freemasonry. Among the most conspicuous branches operating under pseudonym are the Lions and Rotary Clubs; many, under multiple guise, similarly contradict the fundamentals of Islam. It has become evident to the College of Islamic Jurisprudence the strong relation of Freemasonry to world Zionist Jewry. Thus it has been able to dominate many officials in the Arab countries concerning the question of Palestine, and to interfere in the Palestine question on behalf of the Jews and world Zionism.

Therefore, and for the detailed data on Freemasonry’s activity, its considerable danger, its wicked dressing and its cunning aims, the College of Islamic Jurisprudence considers Freemasonry one of the most dangerously destructive organizations to Islam and to Muslims

Whoever would associate himself with it while in knowledge of its true nature and aims, would be a non-believer in Islam and uncounted among its adherents.”

On the 1-10 paranoia scale, this Fatwa rates a 14, and of course, on the ignorance scale, it rates a 25… but we are used to this type of thing from Christian zealots. In fact, it reads much the same as the tinfoil hate brigades, same ignorance, same paranoia, same Konspiracy Kookery.

For the last 18 months, I have lived in a place where that type of paranoid delusion was de rigueur. Living in a place where a fundamental part of your life, your philosophy, are illegal was… entertaining, to say the least.

However, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism and all OTHER ism’s are also illegal. In fact, anything that is not fundamental Islam is illegal in Saudi Arabia, and actively enforced. I know men who tried to sneak bibles into the country, for their own use, of course, only to have the books confiscated, destroyed, and themselves fined for trying.

The good news is there are thousands of freemasons in Saudi Arabia. WE know how to recognize each other without square and compasses. I wore a common cane every day, and often a flower as well to identify myself… and as a result, met many ex-pats in that country.

Islam is not evil, nor are Muslims… the purposes to which it is put, however, like any other religion, can be turned to evil. Religion has been historically used to control the populace, though the degree to which Islam is used to control people in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is… scary.

Its scary, not because it exists, all religions have been used to control people, but its scary because the people seem to LIKE it. Saudi Arabia is the direct opposite of everything Freemasonry stands for: Freedom. As a freemason in Saudi Arabia, the lack of freedom was like the stink of decay, omnipresent, cloying… and unavoidable.

Some brothers complain about complying with the rules, obligations and traditions of Masonry, and others grind other issue axes. Live in a place where you have to hide the very fact that you are a mason, where the things you consider important and fundamental to your life are not only unimportant, but not even understood.

When you live for a time under a true religious theocracy, a fundamentalist police state, though granted, a velvet lined one as long as you act “right”, you will once more value the freedoms that Freemasonry advocates and embodies. Remember, in the west, we have freedoms that are not only unheard of in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but frankly, not understood.

Thank g-d for Freemasonry… its philosophy, tenets, and my brothers worldwide kept me sane and on an even keel while I toiled there. And thank g-d you are not a woman living in that place! Today, I sit once more in the west, breathing freedom like the very air in my lungs… but unlike two years ago, I no longer take those freedoms for granted.

May the blessing of heaven rest upon us and all regular masons. May brotherly love prevail, and every moral and social virtue, cement us.