Father George Joshua Kanneeleth Arrested In Saudi Arabia, Deported Back To India

Malankara Catholic priest Father George Joshua Kanneeleth, who was arrested in Saudi Arabia for saying Mass in a private apartment returned safely to his base in Kerala April 9 after being deported by Saudi authorities.

Police arrested Father George Joshua Kanneeleth of Trivandrum Syro-Malankara archdiocese April 5 in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, and kept him in custody until he was deported four days later, Trivandrum chancellor Father John Kochuthundiyil said.

The Church official told that Father George was on a visit to Saudi Arabia when the country´s religious police raided the apartment where he was saying Mass and arrested him. The Persian Gulf nation bans the practice of any religion other than Islam in its territory.

“We have no complaints against the Saudi government. They treated our priest well. He was not fined,” the Church official said.

Father Kanneeleth, who was on a tourist visa, met and prayed with some families of the Syro-Malankara Church who work in Saudi Arabia. The Oriental-rite Catholic Church is based in the southern Indian state of Kerala.

Jiji Thomson, principal secretary of the Kerala government´s Non-Resident Keralites Association, said the Saudi government has not informed the state of the incident. The association looks after the welfare of people from Kerala working outside the state.

“Practicing a religion other than Islam in the Saudi kingdom is a crime. Severe punishment, including flogging, is given to those who break the law. I´m happy (Father Kanneeleth) is back home safely,” Thomson told.

Catholics of St. Mary´s Parish, where Fr. George serves, told they were pleased at his safe return. “We came to know about the incident only when he returned. Thank God, he was just arrested and deported,” James Mathew, a parishioner told.