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Saudi Arabia

• Christian Escapes the Country

  

  Over the past several months, Christians around the world have been following reports about a Saudi Arabian Christian referred to as "A" or "Adam." For more information, see our previously published reports, which are available at our country report.

• Believer's Family Escapes into Exile

  

  A Christian believer in Saudi Arabia, who was identified in previous Persecution & Prayer Alert reports as "A" or "Adam," has been sentenced with a large fine for allegedly attempting to convert Muslims to Christianity, as well as assisting his sister to flee the country. The accused believer was given 30 days to pay the fine unless an appeal was granted. (For more details about this situation, see this page.)

• Believer Faces Hefty Fine for Assisting Others

  

  A court in Saudi Arabia has recently imposed a hefty fine of 300,000 SAR (which converted equates to approximately $97,000 CAD) on a Christian man who can only be identified as "A" or "Adam" for security reasons. He has been given 30 days to pay the fine unless an appeal is granted within that time.

• Christian Man's Wife Seized by Opposing Family

  

  A Saudi believer identified only as "A" has been facing legal challenges after openly speaking about his conversion to Christianity, as well as assisting his Christian sister to flee the country (read more). While frivolous charges of theft against him were dropped in April (see report here), he continues to endure further court challenges and added personal concerns. His next court hearing is scheduled for May 30th.

• Christian Acquitted from One of Three Charges

  

  Last month, a report was released about a convert, referred to only as "A," who faced various charges after speaking openly about his Christian faith in Saudi Arabia (for more details on this situation, go to this report). He was charged with trying to convert Muslims to Christianity and for assisting his sister to flee the country because of her faith. He was also accused by an opposing relative of stealing money.

• Convert Faces Court Hearings

  

  Christians in Saudi Arabia are requesting prayer for an Arab convert who is facing two court cases because of his faith. The Christian, referred to only as "A" in the report, spoke openly about his conversion to Christianity in a restaurant last year. He was subsequently reported to authorities and charged with attempting to convert Muslims. A hearing was held on March 11th, but the results of the case are not yet known at this time.

• Arrests of 53 Ethiopian Christians at Private Worship Service

  Pray for the safety of Christians in Saudi Arabia who gather for private worship services. Photo: ThePatRyanReport / Flickr

  While attending a worship service in the private rented home of a fellow believer, 53 Ethiopian Christians were arrested by Saudi authorities in Dammam, the capital of the country's Eastern Province. The incident, which took place at about 10 a.m. on February 8, 2013, included the arrests of three church leaders. During a hearing in an Islamic court, authorities alleged that the leaders were converting Muslims to Christianity.

  In an annual 2012 report, published recently by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, is the following statement which accurately summarizes the country's overall situation: "The Saudi government persists in banning all forms of public religious expression other than that of the government's own interpretation of one school of Sunni Islam; prohibits churches, synagogues, temples, and other non-Muslim places of worship; uses in its schools and posts online state textbooks that continue to espouse intolerance and incite violence...." You can learn more about the political situation there by going to the Saudi Arabia Country Report.

  Please uphold these Ethiopian Christians and other believers in Saudi Arabia where intolerance and violence pose as constant threats to their freedom of worship and personal belief in our Lord Jesus. May He personally take up their cause, working out His very best plan for their lives and future (Jeremiah 29:11), while also touching the hearts of the country's authorities and citizens so that they may experience His wonderful plan for their lives as well.

• Update: Christian attacked on social networks

  Hamoud Bin Saleh

  Muslim social network users are calling for the arrest and even for the death of a Saudi Arabian Christian convert they say has insulted the Muslim prophet Muhammad via Twitter.

  Hamoud Bin Saleh, who has been imprisoned three times in eight years, was first arrested for "attacks against Islam" in 2004 and spent nine months in jail after blogging about his conversion from Islam to Christianity. In 2008, he was again arrested after writing about religious matters and his conversion. He was detained for a month and during that time he was tortured with sleep deprivation, solitary confinement and physical and psychological abuse. His most recent arrest was in 2009. He was released on the condition that he not travel outside the country or appear in the media (for more information on his case, click here).

  Please pray that Hamoud's voice for Christ will not be silenced by the authorities or by those who oppose his Christian faith. Please pray that Hamoud will not fear despite his past suffering (1 Peter 3:14).

  For more on the persecuted Church in Saudi Arabia, please visit the Saudi Arabia Country Report.

• Update: Indian Christians released from prison in Saudi Arabia

  Two Indian Christians -- Vasantha Sekhar Vara, 28, and Nese Yohan, 31 -- have been released from prison in Saudi Arabia. They were arrested and charged with proselytizing in January 2011 after officials raided their house church of mainly Indian expat workers (for more information, click here). Vara was pressured to convert to Islam in prison, but he refused. The men were deported to India on July 24.

  Saudi Arabia is officially 100 percent Muslim. However, as in other Arabic countries, there have been reports of a growing interest in Christianity and many foreigners in the country are Christian.

  Praise the Lord for the faith of these men! Pray they will continue to serve and worship the Lord boldly. Pray that the Lord will shine through them as they follow Him.

  For more on the persecuted Church in Saudi Arabia, please visit the Saudi Arabia Country Report.

• Indian Christians arrested

  Two Indian Christian men working in the state of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were recently arrested and sentenced to 45 days in prison. At approximately 8:30 p.m. on March 11, Vasantha Sekhar and Nese Yohan were beaten and arrested in the city of Batha on accusations of "proselytizing." Their apartment was ransacked after they were imprisoned, and local Christians believe they were arrested to keep them from practicing Christianity privately in their home. An employer has returned the passport of one of the Christians, making it clear that his job is no longer available, and he will be expelled. The other Christian awaits information regarding his legal status and job.

  Pray that these believers will be released. Pray that they will testify to the love and truth of the Lord in prison. Ask God to give all Christians ministering in Saudi Arabia grace, wisdom and endurance as they serve Him (1 Peter 5:10).

  You can learn more about the opposition facing Christians in Saudi Arabia at theSaudi Arabia Country Report.