FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Seven Christians Detained in Yemen for “Promoting Christianity”

Detainees, Including American Citizens, Face Torture

You are free to disseminate the following news. We request that you reference ICC (International Christian Concern) and include our web address www.www.persecution.org. Contact Darara Gubo, Regional manager for Africa , 1-800-ICC (422)-5441, darara@www.persecution.org

(June 27, 2008) The Washington-DC based human rights group, International Christian Concern (ICC) www.www.persecution.org has just learned that on June 18, 2008, Yemeni authorities arrested seven Christians, including an unknown number of American citizens, in the Yemeni province of Hodiada .

The seven Christians were transferred to the capital city of Sana’a and the Yemeni authorities are investigating them. Our sources indicated that the Christians face the possibility of being tortured by Yemeni Security forces.

According to the Yemeni news website Sahwa Net, the Christians are charged with “promoting to Christianity and distributing the Bible [sic].” The paper does not clarify if the Christians were formally charged in a court of law based on those allegations.

Among the arrested is Hadni Dohni, a Yemeni Muslim who converted to Christianity. The rest of the six are foreigners.

Christians living in Muslim countries are coming under increasing persecution. Christians in Iran , Egypt and Algeria have seen a spike in anti-Christian activity. This recent imprisonment of Christians in Yemen is part of a growing persecution of Christians in Islamic countries.

Please pray for the safety of these seven Christians, and that the Lord will protect them from torture and other types of mistreatment. Please pray for strength and courage for the seven as they go through this difficult situation, and that they will be released quickly.

You can also help by calling US or Yemeni officials about the seven Christians. Please go to www.house.gov and www.senate.gov to find the contact information for your elected officials and alert them to the imprisonment of these seven Christians. Make sure you let them know that Americans were detained as well. Ask them to put pressure on the government of Yemen to release them. You can find contact information for Yemeni embassies below:

Yemeni Embassies:

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ICC is a Washington-DC based human rights organization that exists to help persecuted Christians worldwide. ICC delivers humanitarian aid, trains and supports persecuted pastors, raises awareness in the US regarding the problem of persecution, and is an advocate for the persecuted on Capitol Hill and the State Department. For additional information or for an interview, contact ICC at 800-422-5441.