Religion Roundup
Official: Yemen Detains Nine People for Converting
Associated Press
August 20, 2008
SAN'A, Yemen - A security official in Yemen says police in the Arab nation have detained at least nine people in recent months for converting from Islam to Christianity.
The official isn't authoritized to speak to reporters and doesn't want to be named, but says the nine were arrested between May and early August and are still in police custody.
Converting from Islam to any other religion is illegal in Yemen and can be punished by death. But those arrested are usually released if they renounce their new faith and pledge to return to Islam.
A relative of one of the detainees says he fears they're facing torture or abuse in prison.
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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