US Missionary Returns Home After Detention In Tunisia
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TUNIS/WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – An American missionary who was detained in Tunisia for over a year on charges of espionage has spent his first days in freedom after the United States secured his release, Worthy News learned Tuesday.
“Robert Vieira is headed home to reunite with his family after more than 14 months of pre-trial detention,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a statement on social media platform X.
Rubio suggested the Christian had been held on trumped-up charges. “We acknowledge the Tunisian government’s actions to correct this situation and secure Vieira’s release as the Trump Administration continues to secure the release of all detained Americans.”
In separate published remarks, U.S. Special Envoy Adam Boehler said Vieira was freed Sunday afternoon.
“We appreciate the government of Tunisia’s decision to resolve this case and allow Mr. Vieira to reunite with his family after more than 13 months of pre-trial detention,” Boehler explained, adding that he worked closely with Tunisian foreign minister Mohamed Ali Nafti
After being released on Sunday, Vieira flew home to the U.S. alongside his family, Worthy News learned.
Christian rights activists view the detention of the Christian missionary as part of a broader campaign against devoted believers by authorities and Islamist extremists in the mainly Muslim nation.
VIOLENT ATTACKS
“All Christians are at risk of attack by violent Islamist extremists around the southern border,” noted Christian advocacy group Open Doors.
“Being known as a Christian affects a Tunisian’s reputation, their job security and, in the worst cases, can result in complete rejection or abuse from their Muslim family and community,” noted advocacy group Open Doors.
It ranks Tunisia, which has a tiny but thriving Christian minority, as 34 on its annual World Watch List of 50 countries where it claims Christians face the most persecution for their faith.
Among those facing the most pressure are those abandoning Islam, Christians say. “Men from Muslim families who become Christians face ostracism, intimidation, beatings, and death threats. They can also be denied promotion and suffer loss of employment and physical violence,” added Open Doors.
“A Christian woman can be physically beaten, expelled from her home, put under house arrest or threatened with rape, forced marriage or death. If already married, she is likely to be divorced, have her children taken away, and have her financial support withdrawn.”
It stressed that there has been “a rollback of women’s rights in Tunisia” since President Kais Saied ushered in a new constitution in 2022. “Church gatherings are also monitored by the authorities; despite this, the church in North Africa is growing.”
Yet Christians still comprise roughly 0.2 percent of Tunisia’s over 12 million mainly Sunni Muslim population, according to Christian researchers and the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
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