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Christianity Today, April 22, 2002 |

Bearing the Cross: Flogged and Deported

What you can do to help persecuted Christians in Saudi Arabia.

Jeff M. Sellers | posted 4/22/2002 12:00AM

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Suggested Action

As an ostensible ally in the U.S. "war on terrorism," Saudi Arabia is feeling less pressure from U.S. and U.K. officials to improve its poor human rights record, Hoffman says—all the more reason for Western Christians to urge their elected officials to turn up the heat on the royal regime.

Lodging protests directly with U.S. and Saudi officials is neither a lost cause nor counterproductive, Hoffman says—except when Christians are already in the process of being deported.

Likewise, when Christians who have been arrested are released and allowed to stay in Saudi Arabia, objecting to officials about their cases would do more harm than good, Hoffman says.

Otherwise, protests of Saudi Arabia's violation of international standards for human rights (imprisonment, torture, and death for practicing non-Islamic faith) should be directed to Congress, the U.S. State Department, and Saudi officials:

His Excellency Prince Bandar Bin Sultan bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
601 New Hampshire Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20037

Crown Prince H.R.H. Abdallah bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud
Royal Court
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

H. R. H. Prince Saud Al-Faisal
Royal Minister of Foreign Affairs
Shariya Nasriya
Riyadh 11124, Saudi Arabia

Pray that Christians in Saudi Arabia may be protected from harm and deportation.

—Jeff M. Sellers

Related Elsewhere

You can also contact your representative or senator online, as well as the White House.

The U.S. State Department Human Rights Report and Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for Saudi Arabia are available online.

Persecution watchdog groups such as International Christian Concern have regularly updated reports on Saudi Arabia.

Christianity Today's "Bearing the Cross" articles by Jeff M. Sellers have focused on persecution in countries including Laos, China, Indonesia, Sudan, North Korea, Pakistan.

Christianity Today's persecution archive has more articles on religious discrimination and violence from around the world. The World Report section allows readers to search for past articles by country (see articles on Saudi Arabia).

Last week Sellers covered a summit of a core group of political and Christian leaders who issued a "Statement of Conscience" on religious persecution.

For more articles, see Yahoo's full coverage on Saudi Arabia.

Previous Christianity Today articles on religious persecution in Saudi Arabia include:

U.S. Ally Jails House-Church LeadersMore than a dozen Christians imprisoned in Saudi Arabia since last summer. (November 11, 2001)

Naming NamesWere the State Department's actions on international religious freedom compromised by the war on terrorism? (Nov. 7, 2001)

What Does 09.11.01 Mean for Religious Persecution Policy?Persecution watchdogs fear religious freedom will suffer. (Oct. 10, 2001)

Two Christian Leaders Arrested by Saudi Arabian AuthoritiesJeddah campaign strikes to eliminate house churches. (July 30, 2001)

Four Christians Released By Saudi AuthoritiesOne detained Filipino still waiting for employer's guarantee. (March 6, 2000)

Saudi Arabia Keeps Four Christians Under ArrestWives and children released after two weeks (Jan. 31, 2000)

Riyadh Police Raid Christian Worship ServiceTen adults, five children arrested; engineer still detained from previous arrest. (Jan. 10, 2000)

Christian Engineer Arrested in Saudi ArabiaCharges Against Filipino Termed "Religious-Related." (Dec. 27, 1999)

Arrested Christians Face DeportationPopular Christians meetings lead to house-church raids. (Dec. 6, 1999)

Filipino Christians Released By Saudi AuthoritiesLocal Employees Ordered to Fire and Deport Imprisoned Worshipers" (Nov. 3, 1999)

Two Filipino Christians Beheaded (Sept. 1, 1997)

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April 22 2002, Vol. 46, No. 5

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