1,465 Embrace Islam

RIYADH, 5 December 2003 — A total of 1,465 expatriates embraced Islam in 2002 in Saudi Arabia. The number was up from 942 in 2001, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs. The statement said that during the holy month of Ramadan alone, 202 people embraced Islam, 85 during the Eid Al-Fitr holiday. The Kingdom’s centers for Islamic propagation, which are monitored by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, have been working to generate awareness of Islam. This has led to a sharp increase in those who embrace Islam. The Riyadh-based Cooperative Office for Call and Guidance also distributed a number of copies of the Holy Qur’an and Islamic cassettes.