_WORLD WATCH______________________________
____________________ Saudi Arabia ________________

Christmas in prison
Christians not covered by pardon
Thirteen Christians from other countries spent Christmas and New Year’s Day in prison in Saudi Arabia because of their religious practices.
Saudi Arabia continues to imprison Christians who are found practicing their faith. The 13 foreign nationals, charged with propagating Christianity, were arrested between July and September in Jeddah and have been held since that time. The prisoners include seven Ethiopians, three Eritreans, and one apiece from India, Nigeria, and the Philippines. All were legally employed by Saudi firms, and were arrested in connection with the activities of illegal “house churches.”

The Christian prisoners had been told that they would be released and deported as part of an amnesty program announced on December 10 by Saudi King Fahd. But the only prisoners released to date under that amnesty program have been those serving time for “petty” crimes, such as disorderly conduct. Offenses against Saudi Arabia’s strict laws prohibiting the practice of non-Muslim religions are considered serious crimes.

Back to Catholic World Report February 2002 Table of Contents