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42 Ethiopian Christians Arrested in Saudi Arabia

Washington, D.C. (December 17, 2011) – International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that Saudi security forces arrested 42 Ethiopian Christians at a prayer gathering in Jeddah on Thursday. The location of the detained Christians is unknown.

On December 15, Saudi police and security officers raided an evening prayer meeting at the home of an Ethiopian Christian in the Al-Safa district of Jeddah. Those attending the service were reportedly beaten and threatened before being arrested.

Security officials broke [into] the house and captured… beat and threatened them for death… They divided the men and the women and they are torturing them [in prison],” an Ethiopian and Eritrean Christian immigrant community living in Europe wrote in an urgent appeal for help to the ambassadors of European embassies in Riyadh on Friday.

Saudi Arabian officials have arrested Christians in the past but it is unprecedented for them to arrest 42 Christians at one time,” a church leader in Jeddah, who asked not to be named for security reasons, told ICC. “We are particularly concerned about the children of the detained Christians.”

Two Ethiopian fellowships in Saudi Arabia informed ICC that they will temporarily postpone services until the situation calms. Christians in Saudi Arabia, most of who enter the country as foreign workers, are not allowed to practice their faith openly. Saudi police have been known to raid private worship gatherings in homes, arrest and deport congregants, and confiscate Christian materials, including Bibles.

Aidan Clay, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said, “Though not permitting a single church building where Christians can worship in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government goes even further to assault the religious freedoms of its citizens and foreign workers by hunting for and arresting Christians who attend services in the privacy of their own homes. As a signatory to the UN Convention against Torture, we urge Saudi Arabia to end the abuse that the Ethiopian Christians have reportedly suffered in prison and to ensure their immediate release.”

Call the Saudi Arabian Embassy in your country to express your concerns:

United States: (+1) 202 342 3800
Canada: (+1) 613 237 4100
United Kingdom: (+44) 207 9173-000
Australia: (+61) 2 6250 7000
Germany: (+49) 30 88 92 50
France: (+33) 1 56 79 4000

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  • Pastor Brian

    Praying for my brothers and sisters.

  • Tihitinaamanuel

    Nele nome di Gesu,chedo di liberati i miai frateli cristiani delle Ethiopia.

  • masarugay

    But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you

  • Tesema Gutema

    KILLING THE CHRISTIANS AND DESTROYING CHURCH CAN'T DESTROY CHRISTIANS FROM THE WORLD. BUT IT  BRING THE THE GLORY OF GOD FOR THE CHRISTIANS AND DISTRIBUTE THE WORD OF GOD. SO DON'T DISTURBED SINCE ALL ARE THE WILL OF GOD. JESUS IS LORD FOREVER!!!!!!! 

  • Tilahun chirfa

    THESE IS THE WORK OF DEVIL.THEY NEVER GIVE UP THEIR HAND TO THE WORK OF DEVIL SINCE THEY ARE WITH JESUS.EVEN IF THEY DIE THEIR SOUL GOES TO HEAVEN.SO,THEIR SCARIFICATION  IS THEIR WIN

  • Dtanhs

     a fact in this article is that there are no church building allow in Saudi officially so christians cant worship... however in all the western countries i know there are many mosques allowed... consider these data

  • kibreab

    Jesus have a way every wher including,prison,fire,... 

  • Abrham

    Who said Islam means peace? I doubt it after I saw time and time again violence emanating from this religion. If they want the world to believe that they are really peaceful they have to do it practically and not in words.

  • Prsky

    who are they ? they ask to bulid musqe in weestern and every where in the world but they dont want to allowed ppl to worshiph in their country. this show us as they have donkey maind,

  • yohannes

    Really saudi government should take care for her self, because arresting Christians was not good even for past Ethiopian governments. Then Saudi should maintain the foreign diplomacy with others by keeping human rights regarding all directions specially in religion view. We all Christians Love our enemies from our heart and we wish all to give respect and glory to God. 

  • Genitod

    let's pray for them!! God is good all the time, he can get them out of the prison .Jesus is lord!!!!his name is above all name, Jesus will never let there life in prison!!!!!!!!  

  • Masresha

     It is horrible to see such a fanatic and arrogant Islamic nation in the 21st century.I guess,it must not be tolerated.

  • Mark Tyack

    Let us pray for our Brothers and Sisters they they will have the strength to pass through this time of trial, lets pray that the persecutors will witness the patience of the saints, but above all let's remember that God is in control.

  • Mekerethaile

    You are right, and they complained because they have been refused to build a mosque in N.Y ground-zero. These weirdo people.
    The christians of the world should unite and confront them.
    God bless our religion (Christianity, as well as the others in our side)

  • Biruksend

    The Saudi government should release this Christians as soon as possible as  any Islam religion followers are practicing their belief in any other part of the world with out any problem. We are leaving in 21st century where freedom of speech belief is exercised and  this  should be give for any citizens living in any foreign land as long as they don't affect the other Islam followers.

  • Addis

    Jesus Christ is Lord!!! No body could Stop the people of  God from Worshiping the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob. 

  • Smwoo47

    When one part is hurting, the whole parts hurts. We are one body of Yeshua, we are call to pray for our family and it is about time to live as a family of Yeshua. Since, we all say we believe and love him. When they go thru all those hardship, we too will feel their pain, we must pray for them. We are call to be salt & light to the world. Yeshua suffered greater for us, what we are going thru doesn't compare. It is honor and privilege to suffer for our Savior Yeshua. My prayers are with our family abroad each passing day, and do suffer along with them. They are not forgotten and will never be forgotten.

  • Gezaw

    Jesus is coming soon

  • Aklilu

    God is love . those who dont now him they hate us . because they dont know the thruth
     

  • Abenezer

    I am proud of these Ethiopians. May God continue to warm their heart with forgiveness. WE SHOULD KNOW THAT DEVIL HAS NO CHANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD. May God show his work in this situation.

  • Annet

    God is love forever. he dont change at all. so we dont hate them who do bad to us but we tell them the truth... and pray for forgiveness

  • Abiy123

    What can one expect from Islam? Peace? Love? Never at all.They doing what they have been doing since the berth of Ismael.Please remember that you are in 21st century. At least come back to your natural mind.
     

  • Malwina Sosicka

    God draws people into Himself with His love
    satan (islam) uses force and threats and death
    God is the Victorer
    satan is loser

  • akberet teklay

    Amen!Jesus is Lord forever!

  • Guest

    I thought Ethiopia was the first place where the followers of P. Mohamad were able to settle peacefully. And after abt 1400 years, here they are putting the lives of their first humaniterian supporters into trouble. Either (1) not allowing non-muslims enter the country (2) officially declaring that being a non-muslim as a criminal would be a better solution, which of course is NOT ACCEPTABLE in the 21st century. Sorry ! 

  • Tamirat Td

    Jesus is alive, he is the lord of Peter and paul and silas ,he have a way, he have work in that prison ,Brothers    lat us pray for them, our Lord Jesus will never let there life in prison..........reed and pray Act Cap 12 Ver1_25 And Act Cap 16 Ver 19    God bless his people 

  • saudiMedic

    It is illegale to hold a prayer meeting in Saudi Arabia, no othr religion is allowed to be practiced in saudi. It is sad but true. when Islam all over the world asked for religious tolerance, Saudi continues to have no tolerance at all. Read a good book called "Paramedic to the Prince" It was written by an American paramedic who worked for the King. They even destroyed this mans passport photos because he was wearing a cross. It really opened my eyes to the hypocricy of Saudi Arabia. I bought the book on Amazon

  • Meron

    May the Lord Jesus strength you with His Care and Love while you go through these persecutions fellow brethren. Persecution is inevitable to all true believers of God and let it be known to you also that your works are counting worthier than anyone of us out side the prison. I wish I were just like you than do a useless graduate degree on philosophy in AAU. Thus be courageous!!!

  • Meron

    They destroyed the photos just for the cross's sakes should be bloody demons then, don't you think? What wrong is there with the cross, Jesus just died for our sins in spite of who we are! This is just the message of the cross!

  • heiny

    This is the folly of so called religious liberty.  We in the US give religious liberty to all kinds of religions but in the Arab countries there is only religious liberty for Islam.  This practice needs to be reevaluated right now.

  • Robmorrison81

    Less than a month ago UK Prime Minister David Cameron was frantically busy twisting the arms of members of the Commonwealth to respect the rights of homosexuals or risk losing out on foreign aid. He would never in his wildest imagination dare to call for such reforms from his Arab "allies" in fear of losing out on their oil deals, neither would I expect him to rebuke these imprisonments of innocent men and women whose right to practice their faith has been violated! Nowhere is the word "Democracy" most abused than in those countries that claim to be democratic!
    Let's collectively rebuke both the acts of Saudi Arabia and the defeaning silence of Western Powers.

  • Robmorrison81

    Less than a month ago UK Prime Minister David Cameron was frantically busy twisting the arms of members of the Commonwealth to respect the rights of homosexuals or risk losing out on foreign aid. He would never in his wildest imagination dare to call for such reforms from his Arab "allies" in fear of losing out on their oil deals, neither would I expect him to rebuke these imprisonments of innocent men and women whose right to practice their faith has been violated! Nowhere is the word "Democracy" most abused than in those countries that claim to be democratic!
    Let's collectively rebuke both the acts of Saudi Arabia and the defeaning silence of Western Powers.

  • Robmorrison81

    Less than a month ago UK Prime Minister David Cameron was frantically busy twisting the arms of members of the Commonwealth to respect the rights of homosexuals or risk losing out on foreign aid. He would never in his wildest imagination dare to call for such reforms from his Arab "allies" in fear of losing out on their oil deals, neither would I expect him to rebuke these imprisonments of innocent men and women whose right to practice their faith has been violated! Nowhere is the word "Democracy" most abused than in those countries that claim to be democratic!
    Let's collectively rebuke both the acts of Saudi Arabia and the defeaning silence of Western Powers.

  • mimi

    God bless our brothers and sisters in Christ,may God give them the strength and comfort they need,i pray for their safety and freedom and to all persecuted Christians as well. may God our Father bless you as you continue to spread the GOSPEL of TRUTH in Jesus Christ name. Amen!

  • mimi

    God bless our brothers and sisters in Christ, may God give them the strength and comfort they need, i pray for their safety and freedom and to all persecuted Christians as well. may God our Father bless you as you continue to spread the GOSPEL of TRUTH, in Jesus Christ name. Amen!

  • winy

    ,Amen!Jesus is Lord forever! I am proud of these Ethiopians Jesus have a way

  • lula

    No one can stop the word of God ,they try before they was not succeed!!!! .you also don't succeed,,,,, God is a powerful than you, you will be bless because of they are  prayer in your land, just late them to worship ther true God, and live with the true piece,you Muslim worship everywhere in the word, no one say anything but we don't belive what you belive, so their is a Lot of Muslim converting to christianity you don't see the heart ,live them to be free you will sleep in piece,,,,, you will be bless with the true piece God love you all the cristian Love's,,,, you too but we don't like what you are doing right now...may Good Lord bless and keep his piece apon my Brother and sister,we love you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Joezf Jewla

    saudi police have no manner to ppl either ways ur christian or not, as long as your a foreigner in thier eyes your always nothing, no human rights. so to all my fellow ppl out thier we're all in an open Prison, GOD BLESS AS ALL!!! AMEN.

  • Makda_105

    Thats so true...

  • Saudi/American in KSA

    I'm a Saudi/American livinf in KSA. I feel that Saudia is practicing double standards when it comes to the religious rights & freedom to practice ones religion. How can we as Muslims be furious when France wants to unveil muslim women, then say to Christians "you cannot wear a cross" in Saudia?? We want mosques to be built in foreign countries.. but we don't allow for churches to be built here??? We don't even tolerate people practising their religion privately in their homes !!!!?? that is sooo hard to believe, & I AS A MUSLIM, AM 100% AGAINST THIS ILLITERACY ! if the feds break down a muslims home door in the U.S. because he was praying, we would cry outrage & fury!! Christianity, judasim, Islam are all one faith, they are the religions of God, & we should be tolerant of them all. Unfortunately there are some religious finatics everywhere we go, & THEY ARE DECIEVING THE TRUE MEANINGS OF THESE RELIGIONS. i truly hope the ethiopian detainees are released ASAP, & i will do whatever i can to speed up this process. please have patience my brother Christians, for you are still living in a country where many illiterate fanatics have too much authority... peace to all.

  • Mesfin Abebe

    God has a great plan for every body . Our pray has a grat roll to the Ethiopian there plus the government and ppl of Saudi."""" Wengel le hulum""""  That is the only way for our world!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Glory to be God!! fredom to prisioners !!! In jesus Name

  • Jaliet

    I am an Ethiopian Muslim living in Saudi Arabia and there is no any wonder what the Saudi police did to those innocent Ethiopian Christian brothers and sisters cause i know  what kinds of situation we got to  face the day we arrived here ! I a Muslim afraid every time to out in street on the prayer  time,afraid to greetings my friends, the people i know they find u a reason to abuse u they have a right to  do whatever they can to expatriate living in Saudi Arabia there is no any justice no human right and they take themselves as a believer but they are more than a butcher and everyone knows this who live in Saudi.  forget about the expatriate even the Saudis live in bad situation like a concentration camp, nowadays there is  so many people in saudi prison without any crime but i wonder why the powerful country like America keep silent for the matter like this specially only for Saudi Arabia. A saudi citizen rise their voices to get there right in American which they can't have in their own country but no one can rise his voice in the name of Allah in Saudi to get even the basic right of human being ! they call a murderer  yahudi(Israeli) the truth is they are the worst!!!! we just leave the revenge to Allah and they will get what Allah deserve to those who commit crime in the name of God!!!

  • Sollove12

    zis shows ethiopian orthodox TEWAHIDO church is z corect one

  • Ermias Abera

    Jesus Christ dead 4 us .Worshiping GOD never ever stop.God bless our brothers&sisters and give hand 4 them in Saudi Arab(prison)

  • Meron

    In addition to the previous comment regarding Saudi police having no respect for foreigners. Also Saudi police have double standards if these people were westerners they would not dare touching them. Therefore, I urge every one to call the Saudi Embassy in their countries and contact the authorities in your cities to notify them about it. Please publicize this case. These people are in serious danger for their life. May the Lord be with them.

  • Woine Tekle

    Lord God, help them stand as they go through this day.
    Cause without You they r nothing, Give them strength
    and courage that they need today.. Thank You Jesus..

  • Anonymous

    Islamic history tells us that Ethiopians provided refuge for the family of Prophet Mohammad when he was under pressure in intense war. Now, devote followers of the Prophet do this to the descendants of those wise Ethiopians. It is so shameful to hear this story. I wonder if they would begin to do good to the very people who had been good to them by remembering their history. I am writing this to all the Muslims in general and the Saudis in particular.

  • Crystal33jesus

    Please lets us pray for the AMBASSADORS for Christ.

  • Belihud

    Christianity never been spread without challenges! I hear recently that Christians in Adwa contacted the Prim Minister that they are facing persecution while the Constitution stated Religious freedom! The Minister replied, "Our constitution is a recent one, your Bible is an ancient book which talks about Christianity can not be spread without persecution!" So brothers, no constitution releasing freedom for Christians! Christianity is by its nature attached with persecution! Let us pray for them to get strength and the family of the persecuted groups who are in a foreign land! 

  • Belihud

    Christianity never been spread without challenges! I hear recently that Christians in Adwa contacted the Prim Minister that they are facing persecution while the Constitution stated Religious freedom! The Minister replied, "Our constitution is a recent one, your Bible is an ancient book which talks about Christianity can not be spread without persecution!" So brothers, no constitution releasing freedom for Christians! Christianity is by its nature attached with persecution! Let us pray for them to get strength and the family of the persecuted groups who are in a foreign land! 

  • Mal

    This evil group - the religious (Islamic) police - are ruthless. I have heard that they hang people by the legs for long periods and beat them. All because these victims were praying peacefully.

  • Girmay

    The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together aginest the LORD 
                      and aginest his Anointed One
     they say " Let us break their chains and throw off their fetters "
    The One enthroned in heaven laughs the Lord scoffs at them .
                                                                                psalms 2-2

  • Meron Tilahun

    Perfect!!!

  • Hagos Gebrekidan

    Every Body how believe on Jesus Christ will not ashemed infront of persons so lets pray for them all. May His blessing and Security will be with them. Lets we pray for them.

  • Peter

    This is not new thing for Ethiopians because its already predicted in the Bible that it will be happen at the end of the world.  Be storing and pray strongly all Ethiopian Christians to accomplished God's plane and promises. Ethiopian Christians never stop to spreed out wongel to all over the world that is God's plane. We can't stop to do what God says for Ethiopian!!! NEVER EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Don't be afrid God is with us just pray to him and trust him   

  • Alemetam

    The worst possible religion in the world is Islam. Ethiopia is finally the land of Christians and Christianity. The Muslims has already forgot they were refugees when they came to Ethiopia in the 7th century. Then they should be deported to the place where they belong - if there is any land!

  • AB

    Daniel 6:16 -
    Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into
    the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom
    thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.The Lord that Daniel served continually in all his challenging situations rescued him from those harmful lions. The Lord of our brethern who are suffering there now due to their faith are is also alive now. He is the beginning and the ending. Daniel's Lord can shut the mouths of thousands of lions who are roaring around as declared in 1Peter 5:8 and control their aggression. The Lord's ways are unsearchable. The Lord has ways The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. Nahum 1:3 /KJV/.  Let's all stand on their side in prayer and in all possible /applicable/ ways.

  • Temesgenbunde2

    Prosecuted for the sake of Jesus' name! He will fight for them!

  • Binnmatty

    we must pray for them

  • Pastorhailemichael

    Pastor Hailemichael
    God is Able within this way he will make a difference. I am praying for you to be empower by the power of the Holy Spirit to be firm stand in the Lord Beloved brothers and Sisters. May the protection of the Kingdom be upon you always.

  • zz

    Always the truth is rejected if not there is something wrong!!!!

  • Milkiasb

    This has to be taken seriously and the government of Saudi has to give the response accordingly.
     

  • Sunnyahmed666

    moderfucker fuck yr christ, u godless son of a whore, u and yr whole race will burn in hell, repent while u are still alive , accept islam which is the only true religion , and stop eating pork,wine as this will bring u and yr loved ones closer to devil and hell, peace out

  • Sunnyahmed666

    moderfucker fuck yr christ, u godless son of a whore, u and yr whole race will burn in hell, repent while u are still alive , accept islam which is the only true religion , and stop eating pork,wine as this will bring u and yr loved ones closer to devil and hell, peace out

  • lulu

    No one can stop us from praying for lord of lord the saver of the world,may God open your eye in Jesus name!
    you are not fighting of christian you are fighting God,JESUS is lord!!!

  • lulu

    No one can stop us from praying for lord of lord the saver of the world,may God open your eye in Jesus name!
    you are not fighting of christian you are fighting God,JESUS is lord!!!

  • neema

    Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice
    and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same
    way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.Mathew 5:11-12

  • Terefe Taye

    The true christian warshipers have a power coming from our Almighty God, through Jesus Christ.The christian can face every problem. But God give a power and will know how to save his children, like Daniel, Abdinagom, 
    Misak and sidrak form fire and Lion attack.

  • Terefe Taye

    The true christian warshipers have a power coming from our Almighty God, through Jesus Christ.The christian can face every problem. But God give a power and will know how to save his children, like Daniel, Abdinagom, 
    Misak and sidrak form fire and Lion attack.

  • Fasilyiberta

    I am utterly disappointed the comment u made it really makes me sick come on in the time of john,christian were sufered,jailed,treated so cruely or being killed.even john was kill.but from that time the kingdom of heaven was taken by force and yet its not over.

  • Ahl_ramos11

    pray 2 all thiopians wll suppered in jail.......@ god knows for everything....in the name of god jesus.....

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