You're watching...
Benjamin Weinthal on why the mutawa shut down a group of Ethiopian Christians’ private prayer
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Well here in the states we yet we take religious liberty for granted but and other parts of the world it is not seen as a god given right.
Earlier this month Saudi Arabia's -- what would -- police arrested more than fifty Ethiopian Christians at a private gathering.
The Christians only climb now practicing their faith.
With more on the -- is Fox's son comes Benjamin one ball.
Whose article is now posted on the fox website and -- been joins me now via Skype from Berlin Germany welcome.
Benjamin.
Thank you for having me.
But this -- we hear about these things so much about.
Religious persecution and it countries.
Heavily Muslim countries what is the latest.
On this group from Ethiopia.
What we know.
Is in early February.
In eastern Saudi Arabia the religious police read at a private home and -- -- -- as many as 53.
Ethiopian Christians and they've been detained.
This is and that's what we know at this point.
-- -- saudis.
In Washington at their embassy.
Have not -- not responded to Fox News press queries.
And it's if it's and it's a repeat offense from the Saudi government because.
This press -- almost an identical.
Raid took place.
In December during -- 2011.
Where a group.
Ethiopian Christians were also arrested and imprisoned for seven months.
They were tortured and the women were sexually abused after increasing pressure from human rights groups Christian organizations.
And the US government.
The Saudi government released of that group -- -- being questioned in August of 2012.
Additional.
And one of aboriginal quote via.
That -- this year's US commission of their religious international religious freedom.
He said the US should demand that any expatriate worker detained and held without charge.
For private -- his activity in the kingdom should be released immediately.
That is a quote that's coming from the US is is anything being done after that.
-- after he said that.
We were waiting for a comment from the US State Department on the case.
The State Department -- comment recently.
After Fox News send queries about the arrests of Christian a Christian family and he just.
Who converted from Islam to christianity they were sentenced to fifteen years.
But in the Saudi peace the US government.
For a whole host of reasons has taken a very.
The State Department -- a very gingerly.
Hands off approach.
The Saudi government.
This is immersed in in the way he.
Persecution of -- And it's somewhat inexplicable right now that the US government.
-- -- -- -- -- I want to ask you that would -- you've got.
Two of these cases by the Ethiopians are they the ones being targeted mainly -- are there other nationalities that are also being targeted other Christians.
There are other Christians and in the region one has to remember that that were called the the quote from the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia in march of 2000.
Twelve when he announced.
All coaches in the Arabian Peninsula.
Should be destroyed.
So you've got millions of workers in the gulf region from -- -- -- -- Catholics from the Philippines.
Ethiopian Christians who -- this type of persecution.
There's virtually no independent reporting in the region so it's very difficult to.
Ascertain other cases.
But.
I think we're we're just dealing with the tip of the iceberg in terms of this type of religious persecution and themselves.
-- Benjamin I think you -- much for talking to us about this particular case obviously there are many more cases out there.
And you can read more about Benjamin's account in Watson's dot com.
It's a Saudi religious police arrest YouTube and workers were practicing christianity that is on our web site right now to check that out -- thank you very much for joining us we'll obviously be talking about this a lot more.
In the future thank you so much -- every.
