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Arabia

Conditional release for 7 Christians in Saudi-controlled Arabia

2005-06-13

Seven Christians, arrested for their faith, were released on the condition that they renounce religious practice, which they carried out privately in their homes. Of the seven released on Wednesday, six were part of a group of Protestants, who were arrested on May 28 in a raid by the muttawa, or religious police, in Riyadh.

Think Mike Isikoff will be all over this one?

The seventh Christian released is Indian evangelical Samkutty Varghese, who was jailed last March. Police used his address book to track down the other Christians. Two other Christians are still being held for 'further investigation', authorities said. According to AsiaNews sources close to Indian citizen Vijay Kumar (45) of Tamil Nadu, one of the freed prisoners, their release took place after having signed a document in which they renounced the prayer sessions and religious practices they had been carrying out in their homes. In Saudi Arabia, only Islam is allowed public expression.

Up to a few years ago, "a Christian was not even allowed to pray in private," said Father Bernardo Cervellera, director of AsiaNews. He added that now, because of international pressure, the Saudi royal family is allowing non-Muslims to practice their religion in the privacy of their homes. "Unfortunately, however," the priest explained, "the police and a considerable part of Saudi society do not accept this liberalisation, so Christians are arrested."

And beaten. And tortured. And executed.

Meanwhile, there's another unconfirmed report that an MP at Gitmo handled a Qu'ran with one gloved hand instead of two ...

Posted by:Steve White

#4 But..but..but...

Were any "Korans" looked at with a sour face during this? That is what's important.

Who cares if a few mud-people get tortured, raped, and executed? We want to know of any muslims could have been offended while burning and pissing on Bibles and Torahs....

Posted by: MainStreamMedia 2005-06-13 15:41

#3 Big Jim, are you familiar with the fact that most of SA oil production is centered in a narrow (15 km) strip on the eastern coast? Odder still the area is mainly inhabited by Shia! Weird no? There's a fine post about this in the archives.... anybody have it handy?

Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-13 15:17

#2 Just five days ago the Magic Kingdom was denying .... "allegations that the kingdom has arrested and tortured Christians, saying such actions run counter to Islamic tolerance" link.
...."the allegations 'don't go with the principals and values of the kingdom and above all our tolerant Islamic belief which guarantees the rights of Muslims and residents of different religions and ethnicities alike'."
Seems that someone forgot to properly inform the Muttawa of this NEW policy. SA policy is residents of different religions are guaranteed rights but nothing in that statement implies EQUAL rights. In fact the rule is: Members of other religions in the conservative Islamic kingdom generally are allowed to practice their beliefs in private but are prohibited from seeking converts or holding organized religious gatherings. Now there's a story for NEWSWEAK if they wish to follow up on it.

Posted by: GK 2005-06-13 10:30

#1 Wow, what a modern, progressive, healthy society they have themselves over there. Those sandy assholes are not our friends, they still live in the 9th century, but they want our money. We have got to get out from under the heel of their boot and find some real alternatives to oil.

Posted by: bigjim-ky 2005-06-13 10:22

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