Saudi Arabia Arrests 53 Ethiopian Christians at Private Worship Service

Saudi authorities on Feb. 8 arrested 53 Ethiopian Christians, mostly women, who were attending a worship service in the private, rented home of an Ethiopian believer in Dammam, the capital of the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia, ASSIST News Service reports. The Christians -- 46 women and six men, including three church leaders -- were arrested around 10 a.m., and the three church leaders were produced in an Islamic court in Dammam the same day when authorities alleged they were converting Muslims to Christianity. Authorities are likely to release two of the Ethiopian Christians who have residential permits, and the others are expected to be deported.