Jailed Indian Christians released in Saudi Arabia after warning

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The growing concern over the seven Christians that were recently arrested by the Muttawa (the religious police) in Saudi Arabia ended in relief when the government released them all on June 8, 2005.

The seven Christians who were arrested for professing Christianity were released on the condition that they renounce practising their religion and prayer sessions, which, till then, they had been carrying out privately in their homes, as permitted by the Saudi laws.

Of the seven released, six were part of a Protestant group (8 in all) who had been arrested last May in an extensive raid carried out by the Muttawa in Riyadh. The other person released was Samkutty Varghese, another Indian Protestant, in jail since March. According to AsiaNews reports, the police had used his address book to track down the other Christians.

AsiaNews also quoted local sources as "the first 3 days were the worst" for the Christian prisoners, who were subjected to all kinds of abuse, physical and verbal. Then, "when the 8 were divided into different cells, things got better." The police are still holding two other Christians in jail for "further investigations," the Catholic news site reported.