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In an interview with AsiaNews, the priest tells how he was taken into custody after celebrating mass and undergoing an interrogation. Saudi religious police knew of everyone’s of his moves. Trivandrum (AsiaNews) – “It was a call to share in the suffering of Christ,” said Fr George Joshua, 41 as he described the days he spent in a Riyadh prison and his expulsion from Saudi Arabia, guilty only of celebrating mass in a country that bans all religious practices, except for those of Islam. In an exclusive interview with AsiaNews, Father George, a Catholic Malankar priest, tells the story of...

Saudi Arabia, fearing that US military action against Iran would wreak further havoc in the region, has asked Russia to block any bid by Washington to secure UN cover for an attack, a Russian diplomat said on Tuesday. During a visit to Moscow last week, the head of the Saudi National Security Council “urged Russia to strive to prevent the adoption of a UN Security Council resolution which the United States could use as justification to launch a military assault to knock out Iran’s nuclear facilities,” the diplomat told AFP in Riyadh on condition of anonymity. Prince Bandar bin Sultan,...

He was caught unawares while celebrating mass in a private apartment. He was visiting Catholic Indians in the country. Like all other non-Muslims, pastoral care is denied them. There are around one million Catholics in Saudi Arabia.Riyadh (AsiaNews) – A Catholic Indian priest was yesterday forced to leave Saudi Arabia. He was discovered by the religious police as he organized a prayer meeting in the lead-up to Easter. Arrested on 5 April, he remained in police custody for four days and on Saturday 8th April he left for India. The practice of any religion other than Islam is forbidden in...

20 minutes ago Fr. George Joshua of Malankara Catholic Church, (native of Ramapuram, near Kayamkulam, Alleppy Dist, Kerala, India) along with four altar boys, were apprehend by the religious police of Saudi Arabia during the celebration of Holy Eucharistic Service. Fr. George was visiting Saudi Arabia for the Holy week service. PLEASE PASS THIS INFORMATION FOR PRAYER SUPPORT AND POLITICAL AND DIPLOMATIC PRESSURE FOR THE RELEASE OF THE PRIEST AND ALTAR BOYS.