On January 28, a well-known Eritrean pastor, Yemane Gebriel, fled Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after being threatened with death multiple times, according to a January 30 report from Compass Direct. Pastor Gebriel, who has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia as a private driver for 25 years, found a note on his van on January 10 that stated he would be killed if he did not leave the country. Three days later, Saudi officials forced him from his van and threatened to kill him if he did not flee. Gebriel was again accosted in his van two days later, this time by four masked men who threatened him with death. At last report, Gebriel was residing in an undisclosed city in Saudi Arabia.
Pastor Gebriel previously came under fire for his faith in 2005, when religious police arrested him along with 16 other foreign Christian leaders. Due to diplomatic pressure, all of the believers were released within weeks.
Pray that Pastor Gebriel will not be overcome by fear but remain triumphant in faithfulness (Revelation 2:10). Pray for safety and wisdom for him as he serves the Lord.
For more information on persecution in Saudi Arabia, visit the Saudi Arabia Country Report.
Six Egyptian brothers were sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour on January 22 after police attacked them for opening their cafe during Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. According to a January 29 report from Compass Direct, the Ghatas brothers' cafe in the city of Port Sa'id was attacked on September 8 by 13 police officers who overturned tables, broke chairs and dishes, and severely beat the brothers with sticks. When the Christians tried to protect their cafe, they were detained for allegedly resisting arrest and assaulting authorities. One of the brothers required 11 stitches in his head after the attack while another two suffered broken arms. At the January 22 trial, the defense showed a video that an onlooker recorded as evidence of police brutality but the judge was not swayed and ruled against the brothers. Local Christians believe religious discrimination is the true motive behind the conviction since it is not illegal for a cafe to be open during Ramadan even if many Muslims in the country observe the fast.