POLICE IN SAUDI ARABIA ARREST 10 CHRISTIANS

Police in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, arrested 10 Ethiopian and Eritrean Christians last weekend, eight of them as they arrived at a weekly worship service. A Christian who witnessed the raid on Friday, May 10, said authorities let some of the believers enter the church unquestioned but jailed eight others. “While we were continuing with the regular Friday service, seven police officers forced themselves into our church,” the witness said. “We all politely stood up, showing respect to our Saudi guests, and blessed them. The intruders then searched the adjoining premises for alcoholic drinks or anything they could use as an excuse to harass us. When they came back to where we were all assembled, they found us praying.” The following night the church’s caretaker and janitor were arrested. Of the 10 jailed, four are men and six are women. Their whereabouts are unknown. The arrest marks the third raid on Christian homes or meeting places since last summer. Last month a group of Christians near Riyadh were holding a late-night prayer meeting when they were detained and interrogated. Some of the 20 believers of different nationalities, including children, still have not been released. (Charisma News Service)

May 20, 2002