A Libyan security force arrested a second US citizen on Thursday for alleged Christian proselytizing in the North African Muslim nation.

The arrest came a day after another US citizen, who was also teaching at the same private language school in the capital Tripoli, was detained for inciting the Libyan children to renounce Islam and convert to Christianity.

The Internal Security Agency said it had arrested the center’s assistant director in Tripoli, identifying him by the initials “SBO”.

According to the agency’s accusations, the man was operating in the company of his wife as a missionary on behalf of the organization Assemblies of God in order to persuade the sons of the Muslim people.

Assemblies of God is a missionary organization based in the southern US state of Arkansas.

While the security forces have not named the man arrested on Wednesday, Libyan media identified him as Jeff Wilson, the founder of the consulting firm Libya Business.

Libyan security forces said Thursday it had also arrested two Libyans, including a 22-year-old woman who had allegedly converted to Christianity when she was 15.

In a video, she describes how she in turn became a missionary and tried to persuade other Libyans to switch faiths.

Islam is considered the state religion in Libya, and while Christians have the freedom to worship there, the majority are foreigners living in the country.

By Jane Kibathi.