Author:
Publication: www.ZENIT.org
Date: September 14, 2000
Caught in Possession of Video of
Christian Meeting
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, SEPT.
14 (ZENIT.org). - An Indian Christian arrested last June while carrying
a video of a Christian meeting in Riyadh will be deported to India, according
to a watchdog group.
Middle East Concern, a religious-rights
group of Christians, said George Joseph managed to postpone his deportation
while waiting for severance pay from his employer, Saudi Railway Co.
He has been working for the company since his arrival in 1977.
Joseph is being held at the Shameshi
detention center here, the rights group said, citing sources in India and
Saudi Arabia.
After his arrest his friends were
unable to locate him and the Saudi authorities refused to inform the Indian
Embassy of his whereabouts. Now, his friends are allowed to visit
him regularly; they told Middle East Concern that Joseph is being treated
well.
In an unrelated incident another
Indian Christian was arrested Aug. 27 in Riyadh. Joseph Vergis
was arrested by religious police in downtown Riyadh. He was in possession
of an audiocassette tape that had the words "Jesus" on it. Again
the Saudi authorities failed to inform the Indian Embassy about the arrest.
His present whereabouts are not known.
Embassy sources reported they believed
he was scheduled to be released Sept. 4. However, they cannot
confirm whether the release actually took place.
