Saudi Arabia: Indian Christians in Jail

Two Indian nationals have been locked in a Saudi Arabian jail for more than two months, even though they were sentenced to just 45 days in prison. The religious police arrested Yohan Nese, 31, and Vasantha Sekhar Vara, 28, on Jan. 21 during a raid on a prayer meeting. Four other Indian nationals at the prayer meeting escaped arrest.

Police accused Yohan and Vasantha of converting Muslims, and they asked them how many Christians are in Saudi Arabia. The men were reportedly beaten during the interrogation and were also pressured to convert to Islam. During the raid, police destroyed Bibles and other Christian materials.

The day after their arrest, Yohan and Vasantha were sentenced to 45 days in prison by the religious court in Riyadh. Although family and friends have not seen legal documents of the official charges, the prisoners have told them they are religious in nature. According to Compass Direct News, the men are confined to a prison cell with only enough room to stand.

One week after his arrest, Vasantha called his wife and his pastor in India. He told his pastor that he had been pressured to convert to Islam but had refused to convert. “If I have to die for my God, I will die for him here,” he said. Vasantha also requested prayer.

Vasantha and his wife are expecting their first child in three months. His wife and his pastor have tried to obtain information through the Indian embassy in Riyadh, but their inquiries go unanswered. A source told Compass Direct News that he had lost all hope in the Indian embassy. “The only thing they are always saying is that this is a religious case, so we can’t do anything.”

Source: Compass Direct News