Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Saudi Arabia Deports Christians for Home Worship

Two weeks after King Abdullah calls for reconciliation between Muslims and Christians

-- From "Saudi Arabia to Deport 15 Christians" International Christian Concern 8/4/2008

Saudi Arabia is deporting 15 Christians on Tuesday, August 5, for holding private worship meetings in a house in the city of Taif.

On Friday, April 25, twelve Saudi Arabian police raided a house where 16 Christians were holding a prayer meeting. The first officer to enter the house after breaking down the main gate pointed a pistol at the Christians and ordered them to hand over their resident permits and mobile phones. The other 11 police followed quickly and started searching the entire house. They confiscated an electronic drum set, an offering box with 500 Saudi Riyal in it ($130), 20 bibles, and a few Christian books.

The police initially accused the Christians of preaching the Bible and singing. They later changed the charge to holding a "dance party" and collecting money to support terrorism.

During the raid, the police mocked, questioned and harassed the Christians for four hours. Then they took them to a police station where the head of the station interrogated them. The head of the police then wrote down their "statements" in Arabic and forced the Christians, who are immigrants and not able to read or write Arabic, to sign the statements.

To read the entire aricle, CLICK HERE.