By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) - Saudi Arabia has reportedly imposed a hefty fine on a Christian man for allegedly evangelizing among Muslims and helping his Christian sister to escape the Islamic nation.
A Saudi court fined the man, who was only identified as “A” or “Adam” for security reasons, some $80,000 in local currency, trial observers told Worthy News Friday.
He was given 30 days to pay the fine unless an appeal is granted within that time, Christians said.
“This believer was charged for helping his Christian sister safely flee from the country,” confirmed the advocacy group Voice Of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC).
The man, who abandoned Islam, was also charged with his “purported attempts to convert Muslims,” VOMC added in a statement to Worthy News.
Family members responsible for instigating the charges seized his wife and attempted to convince her to divorce him, Worthy News reported earlier, citing Christians. “Thankfully, she was eventually able to return home and be reunited with her husband,” VOMC said.
FILING APPEAL
However, the group cautioned that “Adam now has four weeks to file an appeal and make necessary arrangements for his family's safety.”
His case has underscored growing pressure on the country’s Christian minority. Despite the reported persecution, the small number of Saudi Christians is slowly increasing, church monitors say.
There are some 1.2 million Christians among Saudi Arabia’s mainly Muslim population of some 35- million people, according to advocacy group Open Doors estimates.
“They are becoming bolder, sharing their faith with others on the Internet and Christian satellite TV channels,” Open Doors said. “Such public action has led to serious repercussions from Saudi families and authorities.”
Christians, therefore, asked prayers for Adam and his wife and “that their family members and relatives would become Christians.”