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Ten More Christians Arrested In Saudi Arabia
persecution.org ^ | May 14 2002

Posted on 05/22/2002 8:05:10 PM PDT by Senator Pardek

(Washington, DC – May 14, 2002) On Friday May10, 2002, the Saudi police in Jeddah arrested ten Christians at a meeting place known for some time by the Saudi authorities to be a gathering place for Ethiopian and Eritrean Christians. They were arrested as they arrived at a weekly Friday worship service.

Details of Friday’s arrests were relayed to the Washington, DC based human rights organization International Christian Concern (ICC). A Christian present at the time of the police raid, who asked not to be identified, said: “The Saudis, irregular as they always are, let some of us pass unquestioned. Other Christians who were arriving by car drove off when they noticed suspicious police vehicles parked near the building that serves as our church. Those who made it safely to the church, together with those who had stayed at the church since the previous night, completed the scheduled Friday Bible classes. While we were continuing with the regular Friday service, seven police officers forced themselves into our church. We all politely stood up, showing respect to our Saudi guests, and blessed them. We then sat down quietly as the police questioned Mr. Endashaw Adane. The intruders then searched the adjoining premises for alcoholic drinks or anything they can use as an excuse to harass us. When they came back to where we were all assembled, they found us praying.”

The total number of detainees has been confirmed to be ten. Nine were detained on May 10th. They include: 1. Mekbeb Tilahun 2. Amsalu Sefaf 3. Miss Sisay Daba 4. Miss Saba Haile 5. Miss Bertukan Belayneh 6. Ali Abegaz 7. Miss Konjit Bidiquo 8. Miss Abrehet Gebremedhin 9. Miss Almaz Berakhi.

The men detainees are at a nearby Sharafeya police station. The whereabouts of the six female Christians is not known at this time.

Late Saturday night, May 11, 2002, three Ministry of Interior agents, two plainclothes and one in uniform, came to the church. They found the church caretaker Ghirmay Embaye and the janitor Miss Beletu Funja. They took both to the Sharafeya prison and questioned them. Ghirmay was sent home and Beletu was sent to the Terhil (deportation) prison. With the arrest of Miss Beletu, the total number of detainees is now at ten.

This recent arrest marks the third raid on Christian homes or meeting places since early last summer. A total of 14 were arrested during the summer and the last one was finally released and deported in late March. Then on April 25, 2002, in the area of Malaz, near Riyadh, a group of Christians holding a late-night prayer meeting were detained and interrogated. The Malaz area is where a number of Christians were arrested in October 1999. The recent raid in Malaz included more than 20 Christians of different nationalities (including children) who were interrogated. Some were arrested and it has not been confirmed if they are still being detained or have been released.

With Saudi Arabia’s reluctant support of America’s War on Terrorism, it appears that the Saudi government is carrying out its own war – a war against Christians who practice their faith in this Muslim kingdom that has traditionally shown no tolerance toward Christians.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: christianpersecutio
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1 posted on 05/22/2002 8:05:11 PM PDT by Senator Pardek
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To: Senator Pardek
I hope the Muslims realize that if the Christian West was as violent and hateful as the Muslim mid-east, there wouldn't be a thing left of the Middle East today.
2 posted on 05/22/2002 8:10:35 PM PDT by Thane_Banquo
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To: Senator Pardek
Very distressing news. I'll be praying for these brave Christians.
3 posted on 05/22/2002 8:11:23 PM PDT by Ciexyz
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To: *Christian Persecutio

4 posted on 05/22/2002 8:11:25 PM PDT by Libertarianize the GOP
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To: Senator Pardek
If Israel did this the world press would be going nuts. Since it is an Islamic nations the liberal PRESS IS SILENT! Typical Liberal Hiporcacy!
5 posted on 05/22/2002 8:25:43 PM PDT by GaryMontana
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To: Senator Pardek
Islam is a religion of peace.

...as long as you're Wahabbi Islamic.

6 posted on 05/22/2002 8:26:12 PM PDT by PokeyJoe
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To: Senator Pardek
This started out as a slow newsday and then FR went down so there was next to no news at all. But since FR is back there have been a lot of stories that seem to add up to a decided change of mood being underway. The India/Pak situation finally made the mainstream press. That is serious by itself. But the turban in the airport, and the Clinton's begging for more federal funds for NYC, and now this mass arrest through profiling in a foreign country and the comments to the threads don't sound the same, not knee-jerk responses for the most part.

It was probably the media and some members of Congress trying to expose complicity or management failure in the WTC911 travesty that got everyone thinking that maybe a change ought to be made. I'm afraid things will get real ugly real quick if the expected next terrorist attack happens like they say, and it looks like it's going to get tough on anyone who looks like or sounds like a foreigner. It's happened before, here, to the Japanese and the Germans, and to others, and this country has always been more tolerant than almost any other country.

Got a funny feeling, Cap'n, we're giving it all she's got, and she'll let go if we push much harder.

7 posted on 05/22/2002 8:30:11 PM PDT by RightWhale
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To: Senator Pardek
Ten More Christians Arrested In Saudi Arabia

When US will arrest more moslems? Probably never, even if they kill many more thousands of Americans.

8 posted on 05/22/2002 8:35:17 PM PDT by Anticommie
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To: Senator Pardek
Christian Church Sanctuary Violated by Saudi Muslim Authorities!" Would our Embassies be violated in the same fashion? is a more appropriate Headline
9 posted on 05/22/2002 9:02:03 PM PDT by Jumper
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To: RightWhale
Captain, the dilithium crystals can't take much more - I'll need 45 minutes!
10 posted on 05/22/2002 9:03:22 PM PDT by Senator Pardek
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To: Senator Pardek
I'm moving to the East Coast shortly. I intend to do some Freeping at the Saudi Embassy of Ill Repute.

They give me such a lot of material to work with.

11 posted on 05/23/2002 3:25:25 AM PDT by happygrl
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To: dennisw; OKCSubmariner; watchin; VOA; harpseal; timestax; xJones; justshutupandtakeit; TopDog2...
Repeat after me: religion of peace, religion of peace.

If people want on or off this list, please let me know.

12 posted on 05/23/2002 12:52:46 PM PDT by knighthawk
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To: knighthawk
Ten More Christians Arrested In Saudi Arabia

Oh, these are just more "growing pains".
Hey, the Saudis only outlawed slavery in 1962...they need a little time to
catch up with the rest of the world!
(sarcasm mode off...)
13 posted on 05/23/2002 12:58:32 PM PDT by VOA
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To: Senator Pardek
The islamics must be stopped!
14 posted on 05/23/2002 6:56:04 PM PDT by timestax
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To: GaryMontana
bump
15 posted on 05/23/2002 9:50:11 PM PDT by timestax
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To: muggs
Bump for the newbies to read
16 posted on 05/25/2002 1:28:24 PM PDT by timestax
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To: Senator Pardek
Until the traitorist Saudi cabal in the State Department is removed en masse, this country will continued to be mortally threatened and the people will be shielded from the truth.

The Saudi-paid traitors in our government (and private sector) are as great a threat to this nation as Cold War Communists ever were.

All politicians should boycott the following Saudi-paid consultants and media advisors this election cycle:
Qovis Communications
Sandler-Innocenzi
Patton Boggs
Hill and Knowlton
Burson-Marsteller
Lobbyist Jamie Gallagher

17 posted on 05/25/2002 10:10:24 PM PDT by montag813
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To: GaryMontana
Since it is an Islamic nations the liberal PRESS IS SILENT!

This is maddening. Especially since the American press is running off at the mouth about the Catholic Church.

18 posted on 05/25/2002 10:35:54 PM PDT by Salvation
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To: Thane_Banquo
I hope the Muslims realize that if the Christian West was as violent and hateful as the Muslim mid-east, there wouldn't be a thing left of the Middle East today.

Well, we can't allow the Jewel of the Middle East to be infected with Judeo-Christian principles, can we? After all, they might actually have to contribute something to the world besides oil-soaked hedonism and terrorism.

19 posted on 05/25/2002 10:45:53 PM PDT by FlyVet
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To: Anticommie
Like Vice President Cheney said, "Your dead meat, sorry, nothing we can do", or in similar words that mean the same thing.
Sorry, we can't close our borders, might insult Mexico and upset them that they might not be allowed to dissolve our borders.
Sorry, we must allow Saudi jets to land without knowing who is on board because, well, you know how Suadi's feel about being humiliated.
Sorry, we can't stop issuing visas to students from terrorist nations
Sorry, we can't stop immigration, might mess with free trade.
Sorry, when it comes to Corporate money, your just too easy to replace with third world spankin new pliable citizens.

Washington has become too bloated to accomplish even the most simple, sane, steps to security. It's time for citizens to visit their Governors and let them know it's time for them to be more than bookkeepers, it's time for them to control immigration, borders, and security for their own states. It's time for power to leave D.C., they can no longer manage the smallest of things, and we all should be fed up with hearing how sorry they are about the gridlock.

20 posted on 05/25/2002 11:09:25 PM PDT by MissAmericanPie
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