Seven Christian Detainees Released by Saudis

Aimee Herd : Jun 10, 2005
Christian Wire Service

According to a report by the Christian Wire Service, Saudi officials announced the release of 7 Christians yesterday (Thurs), who have been held in a Saudi prison. Six of the Christians had been detained since May 28th, when they were arrested for having Bibles, crosses and teaching materials in their possession. Samkutty Varghese from India, the 7th detainee, had been held since March.

Saudi officials deny any practices of arresting and torturing Christians; however, it is illegal in Saudi Arabia to express any faith other than Wahabbist Islam. The Christians' release was contingent on them signing a renunciation of non-Muslim practices. Of the 7 prisoners, 4 have been repatriated to India, while the others are waiting to hear whether or not they will be allowed to remain in the Saudi kingdom.

Last year the United States deemed Saudi Arabia to be a "Country of Particular Concern for Severe Violations of Religious Freedom."

Editor's Note: For many of us who live in nations that honor religious freedom, where our many versions of the Bible sit on shelves next to huge concordances and the latest Christian paperbacks, being persecuted for our faith is an alien concept. Indeed, having the right to worship the Lord in our own homes, without fear of being discovered and hauled off to prison, is largely taken for granted.

One day I had the immense privilege of joining a group of Vietnamese Believers in an underground house church meeting in Vietnam. The location was veiled in secrecy . . . the two I traveled with and I quietly switched from van to foot and finally motorbike in order to arrive at the meeting place inconspicuously. Quietly, we made our way to an "upper room" of a house where it quickly filled with Christians whose faces were glowing with the Holy Spirit.

As the realization began to hit me that at any time the meeting could be interrupted by the police and all of us would be taken to jail, I thought, "This will be some quiet worship." That was right about the time a beautiful Vietnamese woman took out her tambourine and someone else grabbed their guitar. Suddenly that small upper room was filled with the strong voices of my brothers and sisters-in-Christ, loudly singing about the majesty of God, with the windows wide open. I was amazed.

In that moment, the words Jesus spoke, as He sat on that hill so long ago, became as real as the dark-haired brother next to me clapping his hands: "Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely on My account. Be glad and supremely joyful, for your reward in heaven is great, for in this same way people persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matt. 5:11-12) -- Aimee Herd, Breaking Christian News.