Two years ago, Emad Alaabadi converted from Islam to Christianity. While not an unusual situation in much of the world, in Saudi Arabia such a conversion can mean death. On November 29, Alaabadi was driving his children to school when he was intercepted by police. According to International Christian Concern, he was escorted to his home to drop off the children and then taken into custody. He is reported to be in prison in Jeddah. On December 4, he was able to speak to his mother. She reports that Alaabadi sounded very weak. As with other Christian prisoners, he is likely being tortured in an attempt to reconvert him to Islam. There are also reports of other Saudi Christians recently being arrested. Details are not available for release at this time.
We encourage Christians around the world to contact their government representatives, encouraging them to pressure the Saudi government to release Alaabadi. Polite letters of protest can be written to Saudi embassies. Contact information is available here.
Pray for physical and spiritual endurance for Alaabadi and others in prison for their faith in Saudi Arabia. Pray that the Saudi government will ease restrictions on religious conversions.
For more information on persecution facing Christians in Saudi Arabia, click here.
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