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Saudi Arabia

  • Forty Arrested for Praying

    Several carloads of religious police surrounded a home in the Badeena neighbourhood of the Saudi capital of Riyadh, where forty Pakistani Christians had gathered for a weekly prayer meeting on April 22. Everyone present, including women and children, was detained.  All but the owner of the house, Saleem Sardar, and the preacher, identified as Emmanuel, were released that evening.  The two detained were released two days later.  Speaking to the press following the raid, Lt. Col. Saad al-Rashud, the investigating police officer, said that the church contained crosses, Christian literature and tapes.  He stated that the church was run by a Pakistani man who claimed to heal the sick, heard confessions, distributed communion, and held prayer meetings.

    Inside a Mosque in Riyadh
    Freedom of religion is not recognized in Saudi Arabia.  Officially, foreigners are allowed to worship in their own homes, as long as they do not proselytize. Raids such as this demonstrate that even that freedom is not always allowed. This raid took place just as Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Abdullah was in the United States for meetings with President Bush.  According to VOM spokesman, Glenn Penner, this raid is clear evidence that hopes for a liberalization of Saudi human rights policy are premature. "Western leaders like US President Bush need to make crystal clear," says Penner, "that they view such actions as what happened in Badeena as unacceptable behaviour by a so-called friend in the Middle East.  Religious liberty is a fundamental human right and must be defended as such.  It must not be seen as negotiable."

    Pray for the continued outreach of the Gospel into this very difficult and closed country of the world.  Pray for Christians in Saudi Arabia who endeavour to live their faith in the face of great danger.

    For more information on the situation facing Christians in Saudi Arabia, click here.
  • Convert Imprisoned

    Two years ago, Emad Alaabadi converted from Islam to Christianity.  While not an unusual situation in much of the world, in Saudi Arabia such a conversion can mean death.  On November 29, Alaabadi was driving his children to school when he was intercepted by police.  According to International Christian Concern, he was escorted to his home to drop off the children and then taken into custody.  He is reported to be in prison in Jeddah.  On December 4, he was able to speak to his mother.  She reports that Alaabadi sounded very weak.  As with other Christian prisoners, he is likely being tortured in an attempt to reconvert him to Islam. There are also reports of other Saudi Christians recently being arrested.  Details are not available for release at this time.

    We encourage Christians around the world to contact their government representatives, encouraging them to pressure the Saudi government to release Alaabadi.  Polite letters of protest can be written to Saudi embassies.  Contact information is available here. 

    Pray for physical and spiritual endurance for Alaabadi and others in prison for their faith in Saudi Arabia.  Pray that the Saudi government will ease restrictions on religious conversions.

    For more information on persecution facing Christians in Saudi Arabia,click here.
  • Indian National Released and Deported to India For several weeks, Christians around the world have been praying for Brian O'Connor, an Indian national arrested in Saudi Arabia under false alcohol and pornography charges, as well as charges related to Bible studies and preaching Christianity. On October 20, he was convicted on the alcohol charges and sentenced to ten months in prison and three hundred lashes; a sentence he was to appeal. The Voice of the Martyrs was pleased to learn that O'Connor was unexpectedly and unconditionally deported from Saudi Arabia on November 1 without any reason being given. He was taken to the Riyadh airport late Monday night, allowed to embrace friends who had gathered to see him off, and then put on a plane to India.

    Speaking to Compass Direct, O'Connor reports that, during his seven months in prison, he was able to lead twenty-one fellow prisoners to faith in Jesus Christ. "I was there for a purpose," he testified. "And on the flight home today, I shared with another man who prayed with me to receive Christ."

    Praise God for this sudden release. This is clearly a case where the power of prayer and international advocacy was demonstrated. Pray for O'Connor as he settles into life in India, which he left in 1998 to work in Saudi Arabia. Pray for those whom he was privileged to lead to Christ.

    For more details on Brian O'Connor, as well as information on the persecution of Christians in Saudi Arabia,click here.
  • Indian National Sentenced On March 25, Brian O'Connor, an Indian national working in Saudi Arabia, was arrested on charges of possessing Bibles, preaching Christianity as well as false charges of selling alcohol and possession of pornography. O'Connor admits that he had been leading Bible studies in his home for expatriates only.

    On October 20, O'Connor was notified that he had been found guilty of the alcohol charges and was sentenced to three additional months in prison (beyond the seven he has already served) as well as three hundred lashes. No mention was made of the religious charges. He was also warned that if he appealed, the sentence would most likely increase. O'Connor was given ten days to accept the verdict but he refused, effectively appealing the decision.

    Continue to pray for Brian O'Connor, that he will stand firm in his faith and resolve, despite the threats and opposition that he faces. Pray for the continued testimony in his life throughout this ordeal.

    For more information on the oppression facing Christians in Saudi Arabia,click here.
  • Charges Outlined Against Indian National

    For several months, The Voice of the Martyrs has been following the case of Indian Christian Brian O'Connor, arrested on March 25. On September 16, details of the charges against him were presented at a hearing in Riyadh. O'Connor has been formally charged with possession of alcohol, the sale of alcohol, possession of pornographic videos and preaching Christianity and the possession of Bibles.

    According to a September 21 report from Middle East Concern, the videos in question are primarily English programs recorded from a Christian satellite channel for his personal use. There was no pornographic content. The Bibles in his possession were brought when he came to Saudi Arabia and were used for Bible study. Even O'Connor's employer has stated that the allegations that he had sold alcohol were a fabrication by the religious police.

    While no date has yet been set for the next hearing, the judge has said that the muttawa (religious police) would be present and both sides would be questioned.

    Pray that O'Connor's trial will be fair and unbiased. Pray that he will be strong as he remains in prison in Saudi Arabia. Pray for Christians in Saudi Arabia, which the U.S State Department also listed as one of the world's worst religious liberty violators in their 2003 report.

    For more information on the persecution of Christians in Saudi Arabia,click here.
  • Expatriate Christian Remains in Prison

    Since his arrest on March 25, The Voice of the Martyrs has been following the story of Indian Christian, Brian Savio O'Connor, arrested on the streets of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. On August 4, we reported that he had been told he would be either released or deported within two weeks. This week, Middle East Concern reported that, despite those assurances, O'Connor remains in prison on false charges of selling alcohol and drugs. O'Connor admits to leading a Bible Study for expatriate Christians after reading announcements in local newspapers that non-Muslims are free to practice their religion in private.

    Continue to pray that Brian will remain strong in his faith and a testimony of God's grace. Pray that a decision will come soon.

    To contact Brian with words of encouragement, he can be reached at:

    Mr. Brian O'Connor
    c/o the Prison Director
    Al-Hair Prison
    Cell #9
    Riyadh City
    Saudi Arabia

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Saudi Arabia,click here.
  • Decision To Be Made on O'Connor

    Four months after being tortured and imprisoned for spreading Christianity, Indian Christian Brian O'Connor was allowed his first official visits in late July. According to Compass Direct, two members of the Indian embassy visited him at Riyadh's Al-Hair Jail, followed the next day by an official from the office of Riyadh's governor. O'Conner was told by the official that within two weeks, he would be either deported to India or allowed to return to his job. O'Connor later told a visitor, "I am confident that the Lord will turn this mess into a message and my test into a testimony."
  • Christian from India Arrested


    Riyadh, Saudi Arabia     

    On March 25, Brian O'Connor, a Christian from India, was arrested by the Muttawa (religious police) on the streets of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. According to a news release from International Christian Concern, O'Connor was taken to a mosque where he was hung by his legs and they "played football" with him, kicking him in the chest. He was also whipped on his back and the soles of his feet. He has since been taken to the Olaya police station in Riyadh.

    Police at the Olaya station claim that he is being held on allegations of preaching Christianity as well as drug-related charges and selling alcohol. These charges come from the Muttawa and police acknowledge that there is no direct proof of these claims. False drug charges are commonly laid against Christians accused of spreading the Gospel in Saudi Arabia. The police also stated that the interrogation is being done by the Muttawa.

    Pray for O'Connor's health and endurance. Pray that the charges will be dropped against him.

    We encourage Christians to politely raise your concerns about this situation to the government leaders in your country, as well as the Saudi embassies. Contact information is available here.

    For more information on the situation facing Christians in Saudi Arabia,click here.
  • New Policies in Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia Met With Skepticism

     
    Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov

     
    King Fahd bin Abdulaziz

    Since 1996, Turkmenistan has operated under a constitution guaranteeing freedom of religion, while only Sunni Muslim and Russian Orthodox communities are allowed to register. Unregistered religious groups have faced fines, prison, eviction from their homes, destruction of church buildings and confiscation of property.

    In a surprise decree on March 11, Turkmenistan's president Saparmurat Niyazov lifted a requirement that a religious community have at least 500 adult members before it can apply for registration. An official from the Justice Department told Forum18 on March 12 that unregistered religious communities remain illegal, saying, "The decree simply gives religious communities like the Baptists and others the possibility to work legally."

    Some religious leaders in Turkmenistan are skeptical of the government decree, suggesting that it may be merely a way of bringing religious groups under state control.

    In Saudi Arabia, King Fahd bin Abdulaziz has formally endorsed the establishment of the National Human Rights Association (NHRA) to promote and monitor human rights in what is possibly the most repressive nation of the world. This announcement follows a conference on human rights in October 2003 which concluded, in part, that "tolerance of faith is required by Islam, which also prohibits coercing people to follow a certain religion."

    Saudi Arabia forbids any evangelism and anyone who converts a Muslim faces jail, expulsion or execution. Even foreigners are not allowed to gather for worship. Since 1992, more than 360 foreign Christians have been detained for gathering for private worship. In March 2003, Prince Sultan, told reporters that Christians are free to worship privately, but reiterated that no church buildings will be allowed. He said, "We are not against religions at all... but there are no churches - not in the past, the present or future."

    Pray that the push for human rights in general and religious freedom in particular will continue in Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia. Pray that Christians in these countries will soon be free to worship and practice their faith.

    For more information on persecution of Christians in Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia, go to Turkmenistan Profile and Saudi Arabia Profile.
  • Saudi Arabia: Ally or Perpetuator? (Editorial)

    I continue to be amazed by the US State Department and their insistence that Saudi Arabia is a sincere ally in their war against terrorism. In their annual report released yesterday, the U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom cited Saudi Arabia as the world's top violator of religious liberty. The commission's report stated that freedom of religion does not exist in Saudi Arabia except for those practicing an extreme form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism (the very form of Islam that is behind the acts of al-Qaida and other violently militaristic Islamists groups in recent years). President Bush can declare all he likes (as he did yesterday) that the only faith that suicide bombers have, like those responsible for the recent attacks in Riyadh, is that of hate. But such declarations do not respect the declared Islamic convictions of those believed to be responsible. Put another way, if it barks like a Rotweiler, looks like a Rotweiler, acts like a Rotweiler, what gives us the right to say that it is a cat just because we like dogs?

    I applaud the US government's desire to make the world a safe place. But as long as they ignore the fact that Saudi Arabia provides the religious environment that not only makes terrorism possible but inevitable, this is a war that they simply will not win.

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