SANAA: Yemeni police have detained at least nine people this year for converting from Islam to Christianity, a security official said yesterday.
The nine were arrested between May and early August and remain in custody, said the official.
Converting from Islam to any other religion is illegal in Yemen and can be punishable by death. But in previous cases, those arrested were released after they revoked their new faith and pledged to return to Islam.
Three of the nine were detained west of the capital, Sanaa, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. He declined to provide details about the others.
Separately, police detained six Iranians accused of being members of a rebel group.
