Muslim countries and tsunami relief
Friday, 07 January, 2005
I also find it noteworthy that of the top ten countries, none is a Muslim nation. Just yesterday, Saudi Arabia agreed, after much public criticism, to triple its originally pledged $10 million. Kuwait, a country that ran an unexpected $10 billion dollar surplus this year, also pledged $10 million—please. Since Indonesia, the country hardest hit by the tsunami, has the world's largest Muslim population, it's ironic and sad that these oil-rich nations are so reluctant to part with the riches that enable their leaders to live as kings and princes—even for fellow Muslims.
Chuck Colson, “A Heritage of Giving: Christians and Disaster Relief”, Breakpoint (Source).
(Be careful when you read Colson; he has this irritating tendency to sound morally superior and overly-American. But he does say some good things sometimes.)
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Other comments
America origionally promised only 35mil. Apparently the criicism was so bad that this happened. Also theres an interesting fact panel in the middle of that article which has ausrtralia making the biggest pledges of all. (Although over 5 years)
Likely because most countries categorised (often helpfully) as “Muslim” are a great deal poorer. Muslim countries that are “rich” have tiny populations, and are ruled by despotic families who care little for the poverty of most of their people.
Nigeria has 54 million Christians, many times the number in Australia (and probably more actually go to church than anywhere in the west); their (probably lack of) donation says more about their GDP per capita of $900 than their Christianity.
These figures are because the west is rich, not automatically because it’s Christian. And I doubt the west is rich solely because of it’s “Christian heritage” (hmm, Russia has a Christian heritage too), as some like to add.
Though I like Chuck Colson almost all the time.
This is what some Muslims are saying about the tsunami:
Yes, I read that quote too, in the Courier Mail. I don’t mean to remark on Islam’s theological take on the disaster (a lot of Muslim countries have given aid, anyway); I only question whether Christians can claim the West’s aid response for Christianity.
Yes, I don’t agree with Colson’s simplistic claims. But I thought his observation about Kuwait was interesting. You’re right that a lot of Muslim nations aren’t wealthy enough to give a lot but Colson thinks that Kuwait’s 10 million dollar contribution is a drop compared to their 10 billion dollar surplus.