53 Ethiopian Christians arrested in Saudi Arabia

The Religious Liberty Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance reports that 53 Ethiopian Christians were arrested by Saudi authorities earlier in the month.

The arrests happened during a worship service in the privately rented home of an Ethiopian believer in Dammam, the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

In total, 46 women and six men were arrested. The group included three church leaders.

The RLC said it was likely that those without residential permits would be deported.

There are tight restrictions on religious practice in Saudi Arabia, with religious freedom withheld even from visitors and expats.

Godfrey Yogarajah, executive director of the RLC, said: "Arrest of believers for peacefully gathering for worship goes against the spirit of Saudi Arabia's promotion of inter-religious dialogue in international fora."

News
SNP 'conversion therapy' ban would be 'fundamentally illiberal'
SNP 'conversion therapy' ban would be 'fundamentally illiberal'

SNP support has dropped, but they are still the frontrunners for next month's elections.

Franklin Graham pushes back against Pope's war comments amid war of words with Trump
Franklin Graham pushes back against Pope's war comments amid war of words with Trump

Graham told Piers Morgan that while he did not want or support war, there was justification for it "when you're fighting evil".

Archbishop of Canterbury joins Pope in call for peace
Archbishop of Canterbury joins Pope in call for peace

The Pope has been outspoken against the latest war in the Middle East.

Church warden murder conviction quashed as Court of Appeal orders retrial
Church warden murder conviction quashed as Court of Appeal orders retrial

The Court of Appeal has overturned the murder conviction of Benjamin Field, the former church warden jailed in 2019 for the death of university lecturer Peter Farquhar, in a significant ruling that reopens one of the UK’s most complex criminal cases.