ISLAMABAD, May 13: A young Brazilian national attending the Friday prayers in the Faisal Mosque was arrested for causing disturbance by raising pro-Christianity slogans during the prayers.

Police said Morto Cubek Rebio, a lawyer by profession and attired in shalwar-kameez, followed the rites normally. But when the congregation stood up for the second Rakat, he suddenly started shouting slogans hailing Christianity.

No one could restrain him because the prayer was still on. Only after the Imam finished the prayer, could the security staff of the mosque seize him.

Police was called and he was handed over to them, along with a bag that he was carrying.

Police said the mosque staff quoted Rebio raising the slogans: “Christianity Zindabad” and “Maryam Zindabad”.

At the Margalla Police Station, he told the interrogators that

“Lord Jesus appeared in my dream and asked me to go to Pakistan and preach Christianity”. That was what he did in the mosque, he said.

Clean-shaven and in early 30s, the Brazilian said he arrived in Islamabad three weeks ago and went to Peshawar on his “mission”.

Later he visited Quetta and arrived in Rawalpindi recently and was staying in the Pearl Continental Hotel.

Police found his Brazilian passport stamped with a tourist visa for Pakistan. The officers who interrogated him surmised from the anti-depressant medicines found in his luggage that he was a mentally disturbed person.

Brazilian diplomats arrived at the police station after their embassy was informed of the arrest and talked to Rebio. Police requested the embassy officials personal details of Rebio but was told that he had not registered himself with the embassy.

They took his passport and other documents of the arrested man to check details with the authorities back home.

A senior police official said the Brazilian would undergo a medical examination to determine his problem.

Meanwhile, the police prosecution department is seeking advice what charge should be slapped against the “missionary”.