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27 Christians in Saudi Arabia Arrested for Using House As a Church
Ecumenical News via Assyrian International News Agency ^ | 2014-09-14 19:20 GMT

Posted on 09/14/2014 9:18:19 PM PDT by GonzoII

Saudi authorities have swooped on a house in the eastern province city of Khafji, on the border with Kuwait, and arrested 27 people for using the premises as church last week.

Members of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (Haia) also confiscated copies of the Bible and various musical instruments from the people during the raid.

The swoop was prompted by a tip from a citizen, reported the English-language newspaper Saudi Gazette.

Those arrested on September 5 were of various Asian nationalities, including women and children, the newspaper reported.

"A citizen reported suspicious activities in the house to the Haia and alleged that an Indian man had turned his residence into a church," said the report.

The arresting authorities supposedly found the men, women and children engaged in religious rituals in one of the rooms, it added.

Public worship of any religion besides Islam is banned in the kingdom, where Sunnis make up more than 90 percent of the population.

A Washington-based Christian religious freedom advocate denounced the raid, saying that it has always been an official policy of Saudi Arabia to continue its "religious cleansing."

"It is the only nation state in the world with the official policy of banning all churches. This is enforced even though there are over 2 million Christian foreign workers in that country," FoxNews.com quoted Nina Shea, director of the Hudson Institute's Center for Religious Freedom, as saying.

She said that those victimized were typically poor from Asia and African countries with weak governments.

An American Republican Party lawmaker, Frank Wolf said he hoped the U.S. government would speak up about the anti-Christian crackdown in Saudi Arabia.

(Excerpt) Read more at aina.org ...


TOPICS: Catholic; Charismatic Christian; Current Events; Evangelical Christian; Mainline Protestant; Orthodox Christian; Religion & Culture
KEYWORDS: assyrianorthodox; christianpersecution; frankwolf; iran; lebanon; muslimworld; qatar; religiousfreedom; religiousliberty; religiouspersecution; saudiarabia; virginia
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1 posted on 09/14/2014 9:18:19 PM PDT by GonzoII
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To: GonzoII

Probably coming to America sooner or later


2 posted on 09/14/2014 9:25:51 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans)
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To: GonzoII

Perhaps the feckless fool on the hill will object to their treatment. Or perhaps that monkey will object to their diet—too much meat.


3 posted on 09/14/2014 9:29:30 PM PDT by Fungi (Who is Nelson Riddle?)
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To: GonzoII

Our “Moderate Islamic Friends” the Saudis.


4 posted on 09/14/2014 9:38:42 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: GonzoII; All
I attended daily Mass in Saudi Arabia. I didn't start out that way. Our weekends were Thursday and Friday, Friday being the "holy day." Our priest was called a "special teacher" by the company (ARAMCO). He held daily Mass. The reverend, for all Protestant denominations, held one service a week, on Friday mornings. The Vicar held a once-a-week service in his home, as there were only six Anglicans on camp.

The ONLY one who objected to it was my co-worker, an Indian Catholic, who felt that I should go to the Friday Mass only. I did't WANT to go to Mass on Friday...I wanted to go on SUNDAY, like I always did. So I did. I made up time missed at my lunch hour but that wasn't GOOD enough for my co-worker.
He threatened to tell my boss, Mohammad Hussein, if I didn't stop. I didn't stop so he told on me.

In the hallway, my boss listened to Harry complaining about my taking off 20 minutes to attend Mass across the street in the clubhouse, used for our daily Mass. He KNEW that I made up every second of Mass time at lunch!

Do you know what my Saudi boss said to Harry?
He said: "Harry, God is number one. There is always time for God. CloudMountain (not my name of course) can go to pray whenever she wants."

I don't know whose mouth fell farther or faster, Harry's or mine. So, I went to Sunday Mass, then DAILY Mass. I still do. THANKS, Mohammad, for letting me go to Mass and giving me the chance to go every day! Shukran jazeelan.

5 posted on 09/14/2014 9:38:44 PM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: GonzoII

who will be the first Western PM/President to say Saudi Arabia isn’t Muslim and its behaving like IS Monsters???????/s


6 posted on 09/14/2014 9:38:53 PM PDT by RginTN
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To: GonzoII

I know no one wants to hear it but it could be the only way to separate the real believers from the make believers, if it happens here I think we will see some new faces in the illegal churches, I hope mine is one of them.


7 posted on 09/14/2014 9:39:50 PM PDT by ravenwolf (nd)
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To: GonzoII

If we could make Islam illegal in America, there would be equality. Isn’t that what liberals believe in?


8 posted on 09/14/2014 9:48:11 PM PDT by Telepathic Intruder (The only thing the Left has learned from the failures of socialism is not to call it that)
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To: GonzoII; All
The Saudis will allow practice of our Christian faith...since we are all "people of the Book." (Bible)
BUT no "impromptu" services are allowed.

Priests, vicars and reverends are called "special teachers" because Christian men of the cloth are NOT allowed into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Their visa into the country and their homes are ALL SET UP BEFOREHAND. The companies allow for their employees to practice their worship of God. They encourage it. It's been going on like that since the early 1930's.

SOMETHING very strange happened here: "Saudi authorities have swooped on a house in the eastern province city of Khafji, on the border with Kuwait, and arrested 27 people for using the premises as church last week. "

My GUESS that it was done WITHOUT permission. WE lived in the Eastern Province, in Ras Tanura. I know the area VERY well. It would not have made the international news for NO REASON.

These people with their unauthorized service helped SCREW things up for those of us who DID get permission and jump through the hoops to practice our faith. For me, it was daily Mass.

If people want to be COMPLETELY free to practice their faith wherever and whenever, then they have NO BUSINESS going to the KSA. They KNEW that ahead of time. We were all cautioned and warned.
What they accomplished was screwing it up for the rest of the Christians who did it the right way and went through the appropriate channels. ARROGANCE.

========================================

The Saudis NEED foreign workers because there simply are not enough Saudi men to do all the required work. The Saudis TRY to get 100% Muslims but the petroleum and natural gas industries require more specific skills than most people have.

Then, there are all the industries required to take care of the THOUSANDS of foreign workers: living quarters, food, education for their children (up to the 8th grade only), recreation for all, especially those students returning from high school abroad in Europe or the US, doctors, nurses, hospitals, medication, emergency services, golf, badminton, tennis, movies, bowling, he huge cafeteria serving all three meals, within specific hours and SO ON.

The petroleum/natural gas wealth is almost a double-edged sword as it brought in all us CATHOLICS and other CHRISTIANS.

We even had a Jewish woman specialist for dealing with local sick women. She was still "of the Book." She was AMERICAN.

9 posted on 09/14/2014 10:01:18 PM PDT by cloudmountain
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To: GonzoII

Khafji has a special place in my memories.


10 posted on 09/14/2014 10:58:02 PM PDT by onona (Why do I read those headlines ?)
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Comment #11 Removed by Moderator

To: GeronL

IIRC, it has already happened here. Forgot where.


12 posted on 09/15/2014 12:53:52 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: F15Eagle

I wouldn’t worry about Saudi Arabia. They’re our friends after all. Its not like they behead people or anything.


13 posted on 09/15/2014 4:25:15 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: GeronL

“Probably coming to America sooner or later”

Already in Europe and Canada...try reading certain passages from the bible in public and see what happens. Probably here too, just haven’t read about it yet.


14 posted on 09/15/2014 4:38:50 AM PDT by BobL (Don't forget - Today's Russians learn math WITHOUT calculators.)
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To: GonzoII

And still we ignore the main enemy.


15 posted on 09/15/2014 4:41:44 AM PDT by Jim Noble (When strong, avoid them. Attack their weaknesses. Emerge to their surprise.)
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To: Wolfie

I wonder what was the nationality of the 9/11 terrorists?


16 posted on 09/15/2014 4:48:47 AM PDT by ardara
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To: ardara

Must have been Iraqis, riiiiight????


17 posted on 09/15/2014 5:33:18 AM PDT by Wolfie
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To: BobL

Why then would Christians be attacked but not Muslims? Hmmmmmmmm.


18 posted on 09/15/2014 5:40:56 AM PDT by Biggirl (“Go, do not be afraid, and serve”-Pope Francis)
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To: cloudmountain
These people with their unauthorized service helped SCREW things up for those of us who DID get permission and jump through the hoops to practice our faith.

Sounds like prison.

Not enough money in the world that would make me want to work in Saudi Arabia.

19 posted on 09/15/2014 8:15:57 AM PDT by dragonblustar ( Psalm 103, Psalm 37:7, Ephesians 6:12)
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To: dragonblustar
Sounds like prison.
Not enough money in the world that would make me want to work in Saudi Arabia.

MOST understandable. We did see Syria when PAPA Assad was in charge. TOURISTS are 100% safe because most of the people have SOME brother-in-law who has a shop in Damascus.
----I bought a DAMASK tablecloth in DAMASCUS, where they originated. I still have the 12 foot long one with its FABULOUS embroidery.
----I also still have TWO camel saddles from Egypt.
----And I also still have the 22K gold earrings and chain necklaces I bought in the middle east. ANYTHING less is considered "trash gold."
----I STILL have my hoop earrings that have all THREE colors of gold over there: WHITE gold, YELLOW gold and PINK gold.

We DID get to travel all over the world, first class.
Lol, I can remember getting on to a Singapore Airlines flight and the flight attendant asked me: "May I take your parka, ma'am?" [It was a sleeveless parka and an "old friend."]
That was IMMEDIATELY followed up with Glenfiddich on the rocks for my husband and Drambuie on the rocks for me.

We traveled everywhere we wanted to see. He's passed now and I am traveling around MY HOME now...all over the good ole USA!!

I've seen New York, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone/Grand Tetons, Las Vegas (and the surrounding desert area--gorgeous) and most of California so far.
My husband and I DID take AMTRAK down the coast one year from Oakland to a depot outside of San Diego, I think. FABULOUS!
I also saw the Maritime Provinces in Canada. They were WONDERFUL.

Next week I see the "Changing of the Leaves" starting out from Boston.

In November I am going down the Mississippi on a steamboat paddle-wheeler from Memphis to New Orleans with a couple of extra nights in New Orleans.

Heck, I may even get to YOUR neck of the woods! (wherever that is) :o) WATCH OUT! She's a-comin'!!

USA!

20 posted on 09/15/2014 9:50:08 AM PDT by cloudmountain
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