Muhammad Talib Al-Ahmadi Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – Ethiopian authorities have released seven Saudis who were detained in two separate cases in the country last week for carrying out Da'wa activities and distributing charity. The last of the detained Saudis arrived in the Kingdom Saturday morning after they were transferred from jails to Addis Ababa's Bole International Airport under tight security. Their cases were followed up by the legal adviser at the Saudi Embassy and two members of the Saudi diplomatic mission. Six of the men were arrested in Addis Ababa while the seventh was detained in Bali, some 450 km south of the Ethiopian capital. Abdulbaqi Ajlan, Saudi ambassador to Ethiopia, said it was the first time Saudi nationals were arrested in the country for alleged political activity. Previously, Saudis were detained for traffic violations or minor scuffles. The detained Saudis were released after intensive efforts by the Saudi Embassy, which contacted the Ethiopian government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Ajlan said the most complicated of the cases were of those Saudis who were carrying out Da'wa activities. They were arrested with religious books in possession, which they were distributing in good faith. The ambassador called on Saudis visiting Ethiopia for tourism, recruitment or business purposes to stay away from all philanthropic and Da'wa activities, such as giving donations to Islamic institutions, and distributing alms, foodstuffs, books or other materials. Speaking to Okaz/Saudi Gazette on telephone, Ambassador Ajlan said two of the Saudis were detained in the Mercato area of Addis Ababa while they were distributing meat to the needy people after slaughtering 20 animals while a colleague was arrested as he was bringing them food. A fourth Saudi, who is married to an Ethiopian woman, was distributing charity from his home where a large number of poor people started gathering on a daily basis. The Ethiopian authorities arrested the Saudi after accusing him of terror financing.
