The four Finnish nationals arrested in Malaysia last week for distributing Christian literature have been released and deported, The Associated Press reports.
The four – two men and two women aged between 27 and 60 – were arrested in their hotel on Langkawi Island, a well-known tourist destination, on 20 November on charges of “disturbing religious harmony”. The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
As World Watch Monitor reported last week, district Police Chief Mohamad Iqbal Ibrahim told the media the arrests were made following complaints by the public. Since the arrival of the Finns on 18 November at least three reports regarding their activities had been filed, he said.
Conversion to Christianity in Muslim-majority Malaysia is against the law in almost all states, as is evangelism among Malay Muslims.
A Malaysian pastor who received death threats for alleged proselytism of Muslims was abducted in February 2017 and remains missing.
