released, a leading human rights group said late Thursday, July 21. Washington-based International Christian Concern (ICC), which has close contacts in the region, said Indian Christian preacher Samkutty Varghese "was released from a Saudi prison" and left the Islamic kingdom early Thursday, July 21.
In a statement to BosNewsLife News Center, the ICC added it "received reports this morning that Mr. Varghese arrived safely in India after his official deportation." Varghese was reportedly arrested March 22 as part of what the ICC previously described as "the largest crackdown on Christians in a decade."
MANY LASHES
"ICC had received reports that Varghese was sentenced to as much as 10 months in prison along with [at least] 100 lashes," the organization added. Christian Aid Mission (CAM), which also supported the 30-year preacher, spoke earlier of "300 lashes" and "one year prison", but that sentenced was apparently reduced.
CAM said Varghese was detained while on his way to a Bible study after he arrived in Saudi Arabia on the invitation of Christian friends who asked him to speak in churches of Indian believers. "His arrest led to a later crackdown which involved standard police forces and Saudi’s special religious police, the Muttawa," ICC explained. Up to 100 foreign Christians, including many Indians, were believed to have been detained in recent weeks, but most of them were soon released, human rights activists say.
"Many saw the crackdown as a response to allegations against the United States for desecrating the Qur’an at the Guantanamo Bay detention center," the ICC said. During the raids Saudi forces "ransacked houses and destroyed any religious materials found in the victims’ possession," the organization claimed.
QUESTIONS REMAIN
It was not clear how many Christians remain in jail as there have been several reported raids in recent years. "As far as how many Christians in general are still in Saudi prisons, it’s very hard to say," ICC told BosNewsLife in a statement.
The organization cautioned that while it is "very pleased with the release of Samkutty Varghese," its supporters should continue the fight for "increased transparency and religious freedom within Saudi Arabia."
In addition, "we urge the new Ambassador to the United States, Prince Turkey al-Faisal, to take up the cause of freedom in Saudi Arabia and to take seriously Saudi’s Country of Particular Concern status," the ICC said. The status could lead to sanctions against Saudi Arabia, although analysts agree that the US is reluctant as it needs Saudi Arabia in the fight against terrorism.
Human rights watchdogs and Western diplomats have complained that although Saudi Arabia’s economy heavily depends on foreigners, expatriates are not allowed to profess their faith under strict regulations. There are around six million foreigners in the conservative country, which has a population of 23 million, including many Christians from Europe, North America, Asia and other Arab states, according to estimates. ICC can be reached on the Internet via website: https://www.persecution.org (With BosNewsLife Research, Stefan J. Bos, and reports from Saudi Arabia, India and the United States).
