Gulf Crisis, confidential （１４）　

１４) The clash of the civilizations

Japanese are a most generous minded people regarding religion. In fact, you may say we are indifferent to religion. Christians are less religious these days too, but they pray to God in the crisis situation. Muslims seem to be are more religious than Christians, and Islam also has strict religious rules. Those rules vary depending on countries, and Saudi Arabia is one of the countries where they are the most strict. Adhan (Islamic prayer) is broadcast 5 times a day everywhere. The first one is early in the morning.
Also, use of stimulants like alcoholic beverages are prohibited even for foreign travelers.

A large number of U.S. military forces came to Saudi Arabia and were stationed there at the time of Gulf Crisis. Religiously speaking, this could be viewed as a Christians, or a foreign religious force, invaded Islamic sacred places. Mecca, the sacred place of Islam, is located in Saudi Arabia. Authorities of Islam became extremely nervous then and the religious police also became very nervous and hyperactive. Non Islamic foreign residents or travelers were the easy scapegoats.

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