Saudi labor authorities say they are now allowing Jews to work in the kingdom, the Saudi daily newspaper Al-Watan reported (Arabic link) reported on December 30.

The ministry’s website lists Judaism among the 10 religions whose practitioners can fill in working applications.

Shura Council Member Sadaqa Bin Yahya Fadhel said that the labor ministry’s decision to allow Jewish workers was “correct.” “We Muslims do not have a problem with Jews or Christians,” he said

This move was defined by a source in the Saudi labor ministry as an act of openness towards all monotheistic religions (Islam, Christianity and Judaism).

The Saudi labour ministry source was quoted in Gulf News as saying:

“Saudi Arabia does not oppose dealing with any religion and this is clearly demonstrated in the King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue.”

The MEMRI institute mentioned that the Saudi religious establishment is divided over the issue of foreign workers in the country due to differing interpretations of a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad that states: “Remove the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula.”

[Photo: Tribes of the World / Flickr]