This is maddening. Talk about disrespect for the dead, as well as disrespect for a nation hosting a team.

In Australia today the team Football Federation Australia played a qualifying soccer match opposite the national Saudi Arabian team, and a moment of silence was held before the game to honor the victims of the London terror attacks. Two of the people killed were Australian.

The Australians stood solemnly. And the Saudi team? They wandered around the field. What the heck?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KDCSvVxR_E

Oh, but understand, Saudis don’t do that kind of thing. It’s not in their culture, you see. A spokesman from the FFA said this:

‘The FFA sought agreement from the Asian Football Confederation and the Saudi national team to hold a minute’s silence in memory of those lost in Saturday night’s terror bombings in London and in particular the two Australian women. . . .’
‘The FFA was further advised by Saudi team officials that this tradition was not in keeping with Saudi culture and they would move to their side of the field and respect our custom whilst taking their own positions on the field.’ (boldface mine)

Oh, really? Then maybe someone can explain this picture. Looks like a moment of silence to me.

So maybe this isn’t about a tradition, is it? Maybe it’s more about who were the victims, and who were the killers. . . er, martyrs.

Needless to say, some soccer fans are really enraged.

You know why it’s not “keeping with Saudi culture?” Because Wahhabi Islam governs that culture, and that branch of Islam doesn’t condemn the killing of an infidel by a Muslim. Moreover, it would be wrong to stand against the martyrs.

Here’s how Sheikh Mohammed Tawhidi explained it in the UK Daily Mail:

‘In their eyes the attackers are martyrs who are going to paradise. And if they stand for a minute of silence they are against their Muslim brothers who fought for jihad and fought the ‘infidels.’

Some culture, right?

But there was good news from Australia, after all. Australia beat the Saudis 3-2, and will meet Brazil on Tuesday.

Once again, we see that we’re facing a worldview that really hates us. It must be remembered that all the thoughts and prayers and teddy bears will not change the hearts of those who hold us in such contempt.