The four Finnish nationals who were arrested in Malaysia last week for distributing Christian literature, were released and returned home on Wednesday, 28th November, The Associated Press reports.
The four – two men and two women aged between 27 and 60 – were deported on Tuesday, 27th November, AP said.
The group was arrested in their hotel on Langkawi Island, a well-known tourist destination, on 20th November on charges of “disturbing religious harmony”. The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
As World Watch Monitor reported, 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 18th 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.
