TAIF, Saudi Arabia — Fifteen Christians arrested by Saudi Arabian authorities in April are being deported for holding worship meetings in a private home. The action followed close on the heels of a four-day interfaith conference hosted by Saudi Arabia in Madrid, Spain, during which Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah called for reconciliation among various religions.
Saudi police raided a house April 25 where a prayer meeting was being held confiscating resident permits, mobile phones and Christian resources, according to International Christian Concern (ICC), a human rights group. The group was arrested, interrogated and held for three days without contact from family or lawyers. The Christians, who are immigrants and not able to read or write Arabic, were forced to sign the Arabic confessions before their release.
The police initially accused the Christians of preaching the Bible and singing, ICC reported, but later changed the charge to holding a “dance party” and collecting money to support terrorism.
ICC President Jeff King urged Christians to contact Saudi Arabian embassies in their countries to register their opposition to the treatment of Christians in the country.
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