Saudi Arabia has deported 27 Christians for celebrating the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. Despite the event taking place in a private home, Saudi authorities ordered the immediate removal of the group, all Lebanese Maronite Christians which included children, for engaging in “unIslamic prayer”. The Christians’ defence that no insult to Islam could be caused as the Koran lauds the Virgin Mary was ignored. The arrests and deportations come despite a commitment offered by Saudi Arabia in 2006 not to interfere with private worship by non-Muslims.