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.
On April 25, Saudi police raided a house where a prayer meeting was being held. The police confiscated resident permits and mobile phones, as well as an electronic drum set, a $130 offering, 20 Bibles and Christian books, according to International Christian Concern (ICC), a human rights group. After four hours at the house, the group was taken to a police station where they were 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.
“Deporting Christians for worshipping in their private homes shows that King Abdullah’s speech is mere rhetoric, and his country is deceiving the international community about their desire for change and reconciliation,” said ICC President Jeff King.
He 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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