Saudi to expel foreigners disrespecting Ramadan

July 10, 2013 09:25

Saudi Arabia has threatened to expel non-Muslim expatriates who eat, drink or smoke in public during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Ramadan begins in the kingdom from today.

"Non-Muslim residents in the kingdom must not eat or drink in public during Ramadan, in respect to the holiness of Ramadan and the feelings of Muslims," said an interior ministry statement published by the official SPA news agency.

Foreigners caught breaking the fast in public "will be subject to deterrent measures that include terminating their employment contracts and expelling them from the kingdom," the ministry said.

It added that "companies, corporations and individuals are required to inform their employees" of the rules.

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia, which applies a strict version of sharia (Islamic) law, is home to eight million foreigners, mostly Asians.

During Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to dusk and strive to be more pious and charitable.

The month begins with the sighting of the new moon, which varies from country to country.

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