Extremist Groups:

• There are reports of religious vigilante groups who harass non-Muslims. The attitude and stance of the government likely gives these groups personal justification for their activities.

Government:

• Islam is the state religion and all citizens must be Muslims. The government believes it has a sacred responsibility as the guardian of the two holiest shrines of Islam, Mecca and Medina. As a result, they desire to remove all non-Muslim influences. Towards this end, they have formed the Mutawwa'in, the religious police.
         
• Public and private practice of any non-Muslim religion is restricted. Non-Muslims can be arrested, lashed, or deported for any religious activity that attracts the attention of the government.
          
• The wearing of non-Muslim religious symbols is restricted.
          

• The printing, possession, importing, or distribution of any non-Muslim religious material is banned.
             
• In April of 2000 Prince Turki ibn Muhammad Saud Al-Kabir, the assistant undersecretary for political affairs in the Foreign Ministry, announced at the UN Human Rights Commission in Geneva that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will form two human rights bodies, one independent and the other under the government. These bodies will investigate allegations of torture, monitor the implementation of human rights codes, and acquaint the public to the concept of human rights.

Recent Actions:

• August 9, 2003 - Girmaye Ambaye was deported to Eritrea (see April 27, 2003 below).
      
• May 16, 2003 - Pastor Endeshaw Adane Yizengaw was deported to Addis Ababa (see April 27, 2003 below). Pastor Endashaw reported being beaten when he was originally arrested. He also reported that Mr. Girmaye continues to be held and has suffered some health problems. (Compass Direct)
     
• April 27, 2003 - Pastor Endeshaw Adane Yizengaw was arrested in Jeddah because authorities had inexplicably cancelled his residency permit. Pastor Endeshaw has been questioned several times over the past two years for his Christian activities. Another member of his Ethiopian/Eritrean fellowship, Mr. Girmaye Ambaye, was arrested on March 25. Both are expected to be deported shortly. Pastor Endeshaw said, "The reason they are sending us back is because we are Christians. We have been serving Jesus Christ here in Saudi Arabia." (Middle East Concern/Compass Direct)
    
• July 2002 - All of the Ethiopian Christians being detained in Jeddah were released and deported.
     
• May 18, 2002 - Two Ethiopian Christians being held at the Breman deportation center were beaten in the chest for half and hour by Major Bender Sultan Shabani, a prison official. Shabani was also responsible for the flogging of 3 Ethiopian earlier this year (see January 28, 2002 below).
    
• May 18, 2002 - Filipino Christians Benjamin Diaz and Danilo de Guzman were deported to Manila. They were charged for the possession of Christian CDs and a Bible, which were confiscated during a raid on their home in March of 2001. Though sentenced to 150 lashes, the two were deported after a month in prison and paying a fine for possession of the Christian materials.
    
• May 16, 2002 - Miss Beletu Funja (see May 11, 2002 below) was deported to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
    
• May 11, 2002 - Ministry of the Interior officers once again searched the premises of a Christian meeting place in Jeddah, arresting the janitor, Miss Beletu Funja. (see May 10, 2002 below).
     
• May 10, 2002 - Police officers interrupted a worship service in Jeddah, arresting nine Christians and searching the premises for "illegal" items. Six of those being detained are women. See "Prisoners" below for the names of those arrested.
     

• April 10, 2002 -- Two Filipino Christians were arrested near Riyadh. Benjamin Diaz and Danilo de Guzman are being held at the Abqaiq prison. They had been arrested a year earlier and were able to be released from prison under the guidance of their employer. However, they were sentenced to 150 lashes in January 2002. It is not clear whether this sentence will be carried out. Their employer was told they would be held for 30 days and then deported.
       
• March 30, 2002 -- As of today, all 14 Christians being held since July have been released from prison in Jeddah. All have been deported to their home countries.
      
• January 28, 2002 - Three Ethiopian Christians being held in the Breman Deportation Center reported being tortured by prison officials. Baharu Menghistu, Tinsae Gezachew and Gebeyehu Tefera reported being suspended in the air and flogged 80 times with a metal cable. Upon arriving at the prison hospital for treatment the men were slapped and told to come back after they were dead. The men had sent a petition to the Ethiopian consulate in Jeddah, complaining about the lack of attention given them by the Ethiopian embassy and reporting on the poor prison conditions. They believe that this petition instigated the beatings.
      
• January 2002 - Six of the 14 prisoners imprisoned in Jeddah were deported. They were: Mesfin Berhanu (Ethiopian), Suleiman Keder (Ethiopian), Genet Haileab Araya (Eritrean), Kebrom Haile (Eritrean), Eskander Menghis (Eritrean), and Afonbunor Okey Buliamin (Nigerian).
     
• December 24, 2001 - After being promised on December 16 that they would be released from prison, nine of fourteen expatriate Christians being held in Jeddah were transferred to the Trahyl Deportation Center. The men realized upon reaching the new prison that they had been deceived and the Saudi authorities did not intend to release them right away. Many people in the deporation "center" have already served six months there. The conditions at Trahyl are worse than at the Sharafia prison, where the remaining 5 men are still imprisoned. Rumors also indicate that the authorities intend to bring the wives and children of several of the men to the deportation center. This presents health concerns for the women, one of which is pregnant. Five of the nine men at Trahyl are already suffering from the flu and/or dysentery due to the unsanitary conditions.
     
• August 29, 2001 – At 11 a.m. Dennis Moreno [Nationality: Filipino] was detained by 4 men from the MOI (Ministry of Interior) in Jeddah at his place of employment.  They questioned him and took him to his home.  While his wife was nursing their two month old daughter, the MOI ransacked his home, handcuffed him and took him to the Ruais Prison in Jeddah.  Dennis was the last person on a list of six Christian leaders obtained from Prahbu Isaac (see July 19, 2001) under psychological torture.
      
• August 19, 2001 – Over the span of three days, the following Christians have been detained by the MOI because they worshipped in private homes: Tinsaie Gizachew [Eritrean or Ethiopian], three other members of his church, Gabayu [Ethiopian], Keborom [Eritrean], Makbeab [Ethiopian], Afobunor Okey Buliamin [Nigerian], Baharu Mengistu [Ethiopian], and Beferdu [Ethiopian].  The whereabouts of these Christians are still unknown – as well as their condition.
     
• August 11, 2001 – Filipino Christian Wilfredo Caliuag (see July 5, 2001 below) was deported from Saudi Arabia. Wilfredo had been taken to the Red Sea Abdul Aziz Hospital on August 1 due to a severe heat stroke, which he suffered due to being held in a stifling, un-air-conditioned cell. Other Christians also reported that he had likely been beaten in prison because of bruises on his body. After spending two days in a coma at the hospital Wilfredo recovered. He has now arrived safely to his home in the Philippines.
      
• July 26, 2001 – Talks between Sudanese Defense Minister Bakri Saleh and Saudi Minister Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz discussed the possibility of military links. Arab diplomatic sources said the Saudi kingdom intends to help Sudan enter the Arab and international community after years of isolation. Sudan also wants to receive support from Saudi Arabia to bolster Khartoum’s security services. The capitol of Sudan, Khartoum, remains on the US State Department list of terrorist sponsors.      

• July 25, 2001 – At 12:00 midnight five agents of the MOI raided the home of Eskinder Menghis, an Eritrean Christian, and forced him to the police headquarters for interrogation. His name was listed on the computer of Prahbu Issac (below). Eskinder’s home was also emptied of his Bibles, books, family photos, video and audiotapes. It was also reported that Prabhu Issac (see July 19 below) was subjected to psychological torture until he divulged the names of other Christian house church leaders. He remains under arrest in the Sharafia Prison.  
       

• July 19, 2001 – Christian hospital worker Prabhu Issac was arrested and detained at the Sharafia Prison under the authority of the MOI near Jeddah after being interrogated for 3 ½ hours with his wife at 11:00 PM on July 18, 2001 about group meetings at their home. The Muttawa raided his home and confiscated his computer, photo albums, Bibles, songbooks, and all his audiocassettes and videotapes. Prahbu and his wife are foreign nationals from India. Fellow Christians are concerned personal files on Prahbu’s computer contain the names and addresses of other Christians who meet in each other’s homes.
    
• July 5, 2001 -- Filipino Christian Wilfredo Caliuag was seized by 3 Saudi Police officers and taken to the Intelligence Headquarters in Jeddah.  The charge against Wilfredo was “illegal use of Alias”  (He called himself Willy). Willy’s real crime, however, was leading a group of Christians.
             
• February 2, 2001 – The three Filipino Christian men imprisoned in Riyadh were released from prison. It is not yet known whether they will be deported. Meanwhile, another Christian was briefly detained by the MOI. MOI officials read him a list of Christians, proving that the authorities are carefully monitoring the activities of Christians in "the Kingdom."
              
• December 8, 2000 – Six Filipino Christians were taken into custody by the Muttawa after gathering for a Christian meeting in the Malaz area of Riyadh. Marlin Blando, Jose Garcia, and Ernesto Miranda remain imprisoned while a married couple and another un-named individual were released the same day. ICC is working with US officials to secure the release of these believers. ICC is also asking to have them restored to their jobs and not deported, as prisoners are usually immediately deported following their release.
           
• June 25, 2000 – Indian Catholic Christian, George Joseph, was arrested in Riyadh. Mr. Joseph was carrying a video of an underground Catholic gathering. Catholics fear that the video will be used to identify and arrest other members of their church. The whereabouts of Mr. Joseph remain unknown as Saudi authorities have not released any information to the embassy of India.
             
• February 14, 2000 – After being held for 40 days (see January 7, 2000 below), four prisoners were released in Riyadh. One man, Diosdado Cadoy, remains in custody. All of the other 15 Christians involved in the January 7^th incident were released about 2 weeks after their arrest. All 15 have been slated for deportation back to the Philippines.
            
• January 13, 2000 – Edmar Romero, a Filipino Christian arrested for religious activities, was released from prison in Dammam after 6 weeks. He was later informed by his boss that he had three weeks to leave the country.
             
• January 7, 2000 – In Riyadh police broke up a Christian gathering of approximately 100 people and arrested 15 of them. Among those arrested were five children. Filipino Christian sources fear that the children were taken in order to force their parents to reveal information about other expatriate Christian fellowships. Although Saudi law gives non-Muslims the right to practice their religions in private, authorities said the gathering in the Abreu home was too large and therefore conspicuous.
                
• October 8, 1999 – Thirteen Fiilipino Christians were detained for 24 days following a raid by the Muttawah on two houses in Riyadh where 267 Christians had gathered for a prayer service. A total of 40 were arrested in the raid, with all but the 13 released within a few hours. There were no reports of torture or abuse.
             

• July 6, 1999 — A Filipino worker, Arsenio "Jun" Enriquez Jr. was arrested at his home in Riyadh for religious activity. He had been a worker there for around six years and apparently has led a home Bible study for two years. It seems that Muslim co-workers turned him into the Muttawa who then made the arrest.
             
• June 9, 1999 — Chris Arboleda was deported from Saudi Arabia for performing Christian activities. He was one of eleven arrests/deportations that occurred as a part of sweep by the Saudi police against expatriate Christians.
                  
• May 24, 1999 — Filipino Christian Romeo Macabuhay, age 46, was arrested and imprisoned apparently for being a pastor and/or proselytizing in Saudi Arabia, although no formal charges have yet been filed. This seems to have been based upon a picture that was found showing him standing at a pulpit. This charge is actually false, as he is not a pastor but merely a Christian working in the country. As of early August, charges have yet to be filed and officers of the Philippine Embassy have yet to be granted access to speak with him.
            
• May 10, 1999 — Filipino Rene Camahort was released after serving three years and nine months in jail on false embezzlement charges. He apparently became a Christian while serving his prison term.
                
• Ongoing--The Saudi government has since stopped imprisoning suspected Christians. The current tactic is to pressure the company that employs these expatriate workers to cancel their contract. This then gives the Saudi government grounds for deportation. So far, 33 individuals, all of them Filipino, have been deported. None of them reported any mistreatment during their questioning or subsequent deportation. Eight people have not returned to Saudi Arabia for fear of their being deported.

Prisoners:  ICC is not aware of any Christian prisoners in Saudi Arabia at this time.
   

Suggested Actions You Might Take:

• Pray for the Christians in Saudi Arabia that they may be protected from harm and from being deported. Pray that the Christian message may be heard and received by all. Pray especially for the foreign Christian workers who are currently in prison for holding worship services in Saudi Arabia.
                
• Write a respectful letter to one or more of the government officials listed below. Express your continuing concern for the safety and wellbeing of the Christian community in Saudi Arabia. Emphasize the goal of those currently imprisoned to be released and the deportations for those charged with religious crimes to end. Request information about what steps the government is taking to ensure their protection and freedom to practice their faith as laid out in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights documents.
                
• Contact the elected national officials (Senators, Congressman etc.) for your area as well as the U.S. State Department and express concern for the well being of the Christians in Saudi Arabia asking them to make an inquiry into their status.
                
• Please keep us informed of any replies or results you may receive! Contact ICC by email at ICC@persecution.org.

POSTED:  August 28, 2003

ICC Articles on Saudi Arabia:

• June 15, 2003 - Prayer - Bangladesh, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, China, Indonesia, Laos
• June 1, 2003 - Prayer - Bangladesh, Colombia, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan
• January 14, 2003 - CONCERN - Posted the December edition of the CONCERN Newsletter.  Includes Top Ten Countries Persecuting Christians: Vietnam, North Korea, Myanmar, China, Laos, Sudan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
• August 1, 2002 - Prayer - Burma, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sudan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia
• July 1, 2002 - CONCERN - Posted June edition of CONCERN.  Suffering in Southern Sudan.  Updates on Indonesia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia.
• June 24, 2002 - Prayer - Belarus, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Uzbekistan, China, Jordan
• May 18, 2002 - Prayer - May Prayer Points for China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Vietnam
• May 14, 2002 - News - Press Release - Ten More Christians Arrested In Saudi Arabia
• April 3, 2002 - News - Press Release - Last Detained Christian to be Released in Saudi Arabia Speaks of His Ordeal "One day in prison did more for me than all my years as a Christian."
• March 2002 - CONCERN - Saudi Arabian Update: Three Prisoners Tortured.
• January 31, 2002 - Prayer - Prayer Points for China, Haiti, Indonesia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and a Praise Report for Turkmenistan
• January 30, 2002 - News - Press Release - Saudi Arabia Tortures Christian Prisoners
• December 31, 2001 - Press Release - Hopes Dashed For Promised Release Of Detained Christians In Saudi Arabia: Health Concerns Mount as Prison Conditions Worsen
• December 2001 - Prayer Points - Indonesia, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia
• September 2001 - CONCERN - Saudi Arabia: Crackdown in Saudi Arabia, 14 Christians Jailed in Renewed Crackdown