Middle East Concern

PRESS RELEASE – 6 May 2003

Two Christians are facing deportation from Jeddah, Saudi. Mr. Girmaye, from Eritrea, was arrested in mid-March and transferred to Terhil deportation centre where he has remained ever since. Pastor Endashaw Adane Yizengaw, from Ethiopia, was arrested on 26th or 27th April after the authorities cancelled his residency permit. Other members of the church have been warned not to attend any more.

Pastor Yizengaw is the pastor of the Ethiopian/Eritrean church in Jeddah. He was arrested on Saturday or Sunday, 26th or 27th April. Mr. Girmaye had been working at the same church.

The Saudi authorities have openly watched this church. They have questioned at least eight other members and warned them not to attend church again.

In early April Pastor Yizengaw tried to transfer a car into his name but the car dealer refused saying there was problem with his residency permit. Pastor Yizengaw discovered from his sponsor’s secretary that the police had cancelled his residency permit and were looking for him. He has been called in for questioning by the police several times over the last two years. He was always questioned about the church and his Christian activities

Police told his employer that pastor Yizengaw has been accused of selling alcohol and involvement in prostitution. These charges have not been pressed officially and have been vehemently denied by pastor Yizengaw and other Christians in Jeddah. An official from the Ethiopian Consulate in Jeddah told Middle East Concern today that pastor Yizengaw had been arrested because of his Christian activities.

One month before his arrest Girmaye was approached by the authorities before a Church service and forced to give his fingerprint and sign a paper in Arabic, which he does not understand.

Girmaye’s residency papers expired two years ago. The authorities have detained and subsequently released him several times since.

###

For further details please contact Middle East Concern: Email:

MEC is a co-operative effort by concerned Christians in the Middle East focusing on the need for Middle Eastern authorities to ensure the rights of all who choose to call themselves Christian