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Saudi Arabia: 27 Christians arrested and deported for “conducting Christian prayers” in private residence

Sep 1, 2016 3:10 pm By Raymond Ibrahim

Christians rosary

Saudi Arabian officials recently arrested 27 Christians—among them several women and children—for the crime of “conducting Christian prayers” and being “in possession of Bibles,” reports Arab media.

The group of Christians, most if not all of whom were Lebanese nationals, were celebrating a Virgin Mary feast day when authorities stormed their residence and arrested them.

Authorities, the dreaded “religious police,” proceeded to strip them of their visas and deport them back to Lebanon. Ironically, this is a much better fate than that suffered by other Christians caught engaging in “acts of Christianity” in the Islamic kingdom, including torture and long jail sentences.

For example, back in 2012, 35 Christian Ethiopians were arrested and abused in prison for almost a year, simply for holding a private house prayer. One of them reported after being released: “They [Saudis] are full of hatred towards non-Muslims.”

As of this time [August 30], no Western language media has reported this most recent harassment, arrest, abuse, and deportation of Christians privately celebrating their faith in the Arabian Peninsula, that is, the birthplace of Islam.

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Filed Under: Muslim persecution of Christians, Saudi Arabia Tagged With: Bibles


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Comments

  1. concerned canadian says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 3:15 pm

    HILLARY ? are you there ???

  2. nicu says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 3:39 pm

    But here in Europe the carpet – eaters raise their asses and pay in public and beware if you complain as a native ! :(((((

    • biff says

      Sep 1, 2016 at 3:54 pm

      You just need to understand the progressive theory of moral relativism.

      Muslims cannot help themselves for what they are. It’s not their fault. It’s our fault.

      Sure they are barbarians. That’s our fault too tho. It’s just our definition of barbarian needs to be updated so Muslims killings are normalized and accepts.

      As long as you understand that Muslims and never in the wrong, even as they pull the trigger, you are well set to vote for Hillary.

      • Ted Tyler says

        Sep 1, 2016 at 4:56 pm

        “Muslims cannot help themselves for what they are. It’s not their fault. It’s our fault.”

        Well, you are half right. True, it is not their fault. But it is not true that it is our fault. It is the fault of religious indoctrination that shapes the mind of the child. Take a baby and you can make it whatever you want – A Jew, A Jew-hating Palestinian, A Jew-hating, America hating, Atheist hating Saudi, a Buddhist, or a Christian. “As the twig is bent, so grows the tree”.

        • Freya's Cats says

          Sep 2, 2016 at 9:26 am

          Ted,

          Biff was being sarcastic. Sarcasm is often hard to recognize in print form.

  3. biff says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 3:51 pm

    Saudi Arabia, the ISIS that made it.

    It’s all peaceful of course.

    It’s just us western people do not understand what the Muslim definition of peace is.

    Muslims beheading people? Peace
    Muslims throwing gays of buildings? Peace
    Muslims planting IED’s? Peace

    It’s just 24×7 Muslims peace.

  4. Ciudadano says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 4:12 pm

    It has not been reported by MSM because it can not happen in Saudi Arabia the credle of religion of peace and tolerance, and the chair of the UN Human Rights Council

  5. abel & solomon says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 4:43 pm

    Part Seven; Is Allah the same as the God of the Jews and Christians? (from The Undoing:Islam by its own words, the amazing free e-book that’s turning heads in some very high places. Get your copy or read it online here;- http://abelandsolomon.simplesite.com/424568444 , for the bigger picture read our full length book Islamic Apocalypse:- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AS09LYW )

    One God, or different deities?
    The word “Allah” today simply means “the deity”, so religions other than Islam also use this word in Arabic to refer to their gods. This does not mean that they are the same spiritual entity, we have to consider their attributes as revealed in the sacred writings to discover whether or not they are the same. The Koran says; (9:2) “ye cannot escape Allah…”, (113:2) “…the evil He created”, (74:56) “He is the fount of fear”, (16:70); “Allah… causeth you to die”, (22:6) “Allah quickeneth the dead”, (32:13) “will fill hell with the jinn and mankind together”, (2:167) “They will never get out of the fire”. From such verses it is very apparent that Islamic Allah is not the same as the God of the Bible who is described very differently; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (Gospel of John 3:16), “God is love” (1 John 4:8), “Save others by snatching them out of the fire (of going to hell)” (Jude 1:23), “He is not the God of the dead but of the living” (Gospel of Mark 12:27). Islam’s Allah is very clearly not the same as the God of the Christians and Jews.

    There is no god but God, so who is Allah?
    Is Allah the Satan of the Bible? As we have seen Allah admits urging people into hell, he and his fallen angels are in charge there (74:30); “have We not only appointed angels to be wardens of the Fire…”. He assigns a demon to each Muslim (7:27); “We appointed devils as companions…” and thus fits Satan’s description as “Beelzebub, Prince of Demons”.

    The Star and Crescent
    One of the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World”, was “the temple of great Artemis, of her image (idol) which fell from heaven” (Book of Acts 19:35). Artemis is the Greek name for the crescent moon goddess Diana and her image was much like Mecca’s Black Stone. John of Damascus in the Fount of Knowledge tells that the Black Stone has the likeness of Aphrodite (the Greek name for Venus), “who they (the Arabs) named Akbar in their own language”. Hence that Islamist shout of “Allahu Akbar” really is an invocation of the ancient goddess of war Venus, whose symbol is a five-pointed star. During WW2 author John Van Ess visiting the Ka’aba noted; “in one corner is the Black Stone, probably a meteorite, the kissing of which is now an essential part of the pilgrimage”. If the Hajj Pilgrimage and the direction of prayer of all Muslims are focussed on this egg shaped idol, once addressed as a female pagan deity, then it is evident, as many experts maintain, that Islam is actually paganism packaged as monotheism.

  6. Karen says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 4:49 pm

    I wonder what Prince Alwaleed bin Talal of Saudi Arabia would have to say about this. He uses his almost infinite supply of money to promote Islam and ‘interfaith dialogue’ around the world, and at the West’s most prestigious universities. Yet, the Saudi government cannot tolerate the very thought of a few Christians praying behind closed doors inside of KSA’s borders.

    The massive hypocrisy is obvious, but hey, money talks, and I’m sure the Prince’s $$$ will continue to be eagerly gobbled up wherever they are offered.

    • Wellington says

      Sep 1, 2016 at 5:14 pm

      Most especially at Georgetown, Karen, which is a Catholic university in name only and effectively now an extension of Saudi Arabia, courtesy of Prince Alwaleed bin Talal and his ilk. Thus it is not possible for an American patriotic parent to send a child of theirs to Georgetown and still call themselves a patriot. Such a parent knows what is going on at Georgetown or should know.

      Georgetown especially should be shunned by all possessed of common sense and proper knowledge. It is, as I already mentioned, nothing more anymore than an outlander base for promoting the worst religion ever created by man, and in America’s capital no less——-this too by design by the Mohammedan.

      • J-A palmaer says

        Sep 1, 2016 at 5:31 pm

        I would call for a revision of the concept of “religion”… Religion has never needed a “police”, but “politics” needs these “officers” intruding, poking, into people’s personal lives. What is going on is a “World-wide Harassment”. This is a kind of beginning of the “WWIII”…? …don’t expect any improvement…this “Priciple of Harassment” is innate in the thought world represented in their “holy book”, and exercised every day 5 times, annually confirmed with the pilgrimage to a certain city, having a black stone “from heaven” (was that the stone they had in Ephesos, in the Artemis-temple, stolen…?)… This is not “religion any longer – it is only harassment.

      • Karen says

        Sep 1, 2016 at 7:15 pm

        Yes, Wellington, the Islamic scholars of Georgetown eagerly carry water for the Prince in exchange for a paycheck. To add to your thoughts, I’d encourage alumni not to send in their annual donations either.

  7. Wellington says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 4:58 pm

    Meanwhile, folks like John Esposito and Karen Armstrong are still extolling the tolerance of Islam and how Mohammed is a prophet for our times. Meanwhile again, lots of gooey, kissy/face, huggy/bear Christians are holding a veritable plethora of interfaith meetings in order to insure that dialogue continues between the “three Abrahamic faiths.” Meanwhile a tertiary time, the present Pope, along with other major Western dignitaries like John Kerry, Angela Merkel and Theresa May, keep reassuring all that Islam is a religion of peace and enlightened thought.

    And meanwhile again, Christians are killed, persecuted, suppressed or (at best) subjected to humiliating restrictions in the over 50 majority Islamic nations that exist. Mad world. Stupid world. Courtesy of Mo’s followers and submissive dhimmis aplenty. Time for a beer.

    • Ted Tyler says

      Sep 1, 2016 at 6:54 pm

      1. Karen Armstrong is an ivory tower scholar that is so full of hope and optimism that she has lost her grip on reality.

      2. Perhaps the Muslim Brotherhood should compile a list of atrocities committed by Christians. This list could be compared with a list prepared by Jihad Watch of atrocities committed by Muslims.

  8. citycat says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 5:01 pm

    “Religious Police”
    The Christians are Religious criminals?
    Reminds me of the ‘thought police’.
    Now where are ye ‘thought criminals’?
    Oh gather ye! Oh gather ye!
    When two or more are gathered in my name ‘I’ am there present with greater force than the added force of two or more ‘thought criminals’.
    Just a thought.

    • Karen says

      Sep 3, 2016 at 10:12 am

      A good thought.

  9. Jake says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 5:56 pm

    Those 27 are getting out alive, which is great. We in the states will be left to deal with those Muslims here, and those who would like to come here. There is increasing knowledge of the nature of Islam and specifically of sharia. It may come to pass that those who adhere to Islam and sharia may find it impossible to come to the USA and hard to stay in the USA. Personally, I’m fine with both of those outcomes. This is a hateful pagan ideology diametrically opposed to American political institutions which deserves no respect.

  10. Ted Tyler says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 6:07 pm

    There is “what I say”, and then there is “what I do”. So what is it exactly that the Saudis are doing? Can it be confirmed that Saudis are actually beating in jailing Atheists for the crime of denying the existence of their imaginary deity? Are they actually deporting Christians for possessing Bibles and conducting Christian services? If this can be verified convincingly, the information should be given to John Kerry. Then, in the spirit of “Do unto others as they do unto you”, pose the question as to why we should not deport Muslims who have committed the crime of conducting Islamic services and possessing Korans?

    • Cecilia Ellis says

      Sep 2, 2016 at 1:00 am

      Ted, it is verified by the U. S. Department of State (DOS) that Saudi Arabia can and may deport those who practice any religion other than Islam. Here are some extracts from a 21-page report issued by the DOS:

      “No law specifically requires all citizens to be Muslims, but non-Muslim foreigners and many foreign and Saudi national Muslims whose beliefs are deemed not to conform with the government’s interpretation of Islam must practice their religion in private and are vulnerable to discrimination, harassment, detention, and deportation for noncitizens. Legally children born to Muslim fathers are deemed Muslim, and conversion from Islam to another religion is considered apostasy and punishable by death. Blasphemy against Sunni Islam is also punishable by death, but the more common penalty is a long prison sentence. There have been no confirmed reports of executions for either apostasy or blasphemy in recent years.”

      “The law discriminates against adherents of religions deemed polytheistic and to a lesser extent against Christians and Jews, who are mentioned in the Qur’an as “People of the Book.” The government officially does not permit non-Muslim clergy to enter the country to conduct religious services, although some do so under other auspices and are able to hold services. These entry restrictions make it difficult for non-Muslims to maintain regular contact with clergy. This is particularly problematic for Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians, whose faiths require that they receive sacraments from a priest on a regular basis. However, many non-Muslims continue to gather for private worship, and the government generally allows the discreet performance of religious functions of all faiths.”

      http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/171744.pdf

      This report is most interesting and provides significant information about the constant danger a non-Muslim lives under in the Saudi kingdom. I recall that any Christian services, if conducted at all, had to be conducted in the U. S. Embassy which, as you might guess, did not provide for a very large gathering. Bibles were prohibited.

      Hope this answers your questions. Also, since it is a DOS report, John Kerry should know this . . . indeed, it would be impossible for him not to know it.

      • Ted Tyler says

        Sep 2, 2016 at 9:34 pm

        Thanks for the official reference. It looks like things are actually as bad as they appear. I suspect that John Kerry may have read the words of the report – and not be smart enough to understand what then mean. He also has to bow to political correctness and must not offend our “friends and allies” (who give us so much money).

  11. a marvin says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 6:41 pm

    Muslim countries have Christian churches and people attend outside of their homes, but in your home this is illegal ? Yet it is worthy of death when western countries do not indulge Muslim practices ?????

    • Michael Copeland says

      Sep 2, 2016 at 9:27 am

      No churches in Saudi Arabia. Also no temples, no synagogues.

  12. Undaunted says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 8:12 pm

    Speaking of Muslims behaving badly, today is the 12th anniversary of the takeover of Beslan School #1 in North Ossetia, Russian Federation. Three days later 333 Russians, including many children, were dead or dying. If you wonder why that’s important to you, check the link below:

    http://freemendo.typepad.com/undaunted/2016/09/true-warriors-theyre-still-out-there.html

  13. xavier says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 8:49 pm

    O’d love to see the muttwa splatteedr by gunfire the next time they bust a prayer service

  14. billybob says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 10:03 pm

    “Authorities, the dreaded “religious police,” proceeded to strip them of their visas and deport them back to Lebanon. Ironically, this is a much better fate than that suffered by other Christians caught engaging in “acts of Christianity” in the Islamic kingdom…”

    The Saudis are most merciful!

  15. citycat says

    Sep 1, 2016 at 11:53 pm

    @ abel and solomon
    Kissing the stone.
    If the stone is a stone, then the stone may act as a container of records of stuff of humans, possibly.
    One could go there and conceivably impart stuff into, or ‘virus’ the stone, possibly not, possibly yes.
    Best if there is nobody around though, assuming that it has been the same stone for some time.
    I doubt anyone will do that though.
    Supposedly it has been done with a statue in Hindu land, some famous geyser got knowledge of archery from it and became top man archer.
    Can’t recall who.

    • Carolyne says

      Sep 2, 2016 at 3:51 pm

      The stone is a meteorite. Nothing more, nothing less. It was there long before Mohammed. As an inanimate object, it is unable to absorb any words or knowledge. It is an object of idol worship.

  16. Michael McDermott says

    Sep 2, 2016 at 3:32 am

    We are paying the price for taking the Saudi ‘Shilling’, they should have been left to be an undeveloped desert nation! Funds not then available to spread Islam abroad.

    • billybob says

      Sep 2, 2016 at 6:04 am

      It’s like some lost tribe in the Amazon had discovered the cure for cancer and we end up paying them hundreds of billions of dollars per year to deliver the substance. Then suddenly, before they are even civilized they have this vast wealth, and decide to use it to promote their primitive religion around the world.

  17. duh swami says

    Sep 2, 2016 at 6:54 am

    Islam has two armpits, both ate in SA…The surface loos clean and shiny…but under the pretty paper is a packet of filth and pure evil…

  18. roxy says

    Sep 2, 2016 at 2:15 pm

    Why were these Christians in Saudi Arabia to begin with? I’ve known some Lebanese Christians, and for some reason they are very solid supporters of the Muslims. Yes there are some like Brigitte Gabriel who are not, but she is the exception, not the rule. In spite of the Christian genocide being committed by Muslims, the Lebanese Christians still overwhelmingly side with Islam. I guess they’re Arab first and foremost.

  19. TH says

    Sep 2, 2016 at 3:06 pm

    Suadi Arabia should be put on notice that unless it gives freedom of religion to Christians (which of course it won’t) then all the mosques they have financed in the West will be shut down and bulldozed. They will understand that.

    • Jake says

      Sep 3, 2016 at 7:55 am

      Mosque money should be shut down from Saudi Arabia anyway. We don’t need to accept alien funds to promulgate a hate filled screed in this country. Their sophistication is paper thin, and at their core, they remain seventh century barbarians. Imams from this hell hole should be put on planes and sent back.

  20. Carolyne says

    Sep 2, 2016 at 3:47 pm

    This is the country which has given at !east $22 million to Hillery Clinton and where her BFF was raised and is a Muslim. How could anyone think our secrets would be safe with that bunch? Everything is for sale with Hillery Clinton.

  21. Tony says

    Sep 3, 2016 at 3:42 am

    So hypocritical how they treat others but when they come to our countries as soon as anything is said about them they scream racism & intolerance & demand things to change to suit their way of life

  22. Carmel says

    Sep 3, 2016 at 11:15 am

    They should pray in the streets like in Paris .

  23. Peter Buckley says

    Sep 4, 2016 at 4:27 pm

    As I keep saying, Islam is collapsing. Just about every muslim country is witnessing a growth in Christianity, and Atheism. This includes Saudi Arabia. Atheism 5% and rising:

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/05/23/a-surprising-map-of-where-the-worlds-atheists-live/

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