Warned against carrying scriptures to Saudi Arabia

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>vaidika1008 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com>Subject:Indians warned against carrying scriptures

to Saudi Arabia>Fri, 5 Aug 2005 11:48:24 -0700>>Indians warned against

carrying scriptures to Saudi>Indo-Asian News Service>Hindustan Times>Hyderabad,

August 3, 2005>>Indians travelling to Saudi Arabia have been warned not to carry

religious>scriptures, photographs or idols.>>An official statement issued here

Wednesday said that religious activities in>private residences or undertaking

missionary or preaching activities are banned>in Saudi Arabia and could invite

stringent punishment.>>CR Banswal, principal secretary (political) to the

Andhra Pradesh government,>said the Indian ambassador in Riyadh had said that

detention cases of Indian>nationals on allegations of involvement in religious

activities in that country>were increasing.>>The statement said the Saudi

religious police recently arrested nine Indians for>preaching

Christianity.>>"He (the ambassador) has therefore expressed the view that it is

urgent and>important that all Indian nationals be forewarned prior to their

departure from>India against carrying any religious scripture, photographs or

idols with them>to Saudi Arabia," said the statement.>>"This would be a major

preventive measure in promoting the welfare of the Indian>nationals in Saudi

Arabia," the statement added.