charges of "spreading Christianity," BosNewsLife monitored early Wednesday, October 27.
The Washington-based International Christian Concern (ICC) said Brian O’Connor was also warned of an even "harsher sentence" for appealing against his case. ICC and other human rights activists claim that O’Connor has been often tortured by Saudi Arabia’s feared religious police.
He "was beaten and tortured and threatened with death unless he abjured his Christian faith," said well informed AsiaNews quoting several human rights groups, including Middle East Concern, in a recent report. Saudi officials have not commented on the case.
The reported October 20 court sentence came as a set-back for AsiaNews, a major Catholic news agency which had embarked on an international campaign for O’Connor’s release.
News of the sentencing came after United States Secretary of State Colin Powell recently named Saudi Arabia as one of eight "countries of particular concern" for its "gross infringements of religious freedom."
LEADING BIBLE STUDIES
O’Connor had reportedly acknowledged that he led Bible studies for expatriate Christians in his home, which is illegal under Saudi Arabia’s controversial policies. The Christian man, who has been jailed since March, is among the estimated 6 million foreign workers most of whom are not Muslim. Middle East Concern (MEC) said that "O’Connor led study sessions for Catholic immigrants from different countries."
Following his arrest he "was beaten, tortured and received death threats. In April the Indian Embassy called on the Saudi government to state the motives for O’Connor’s arrest but has not yet received any answer", MEC said in a recent release obtained by AsiaNews.
In its unusual harsh report on Saudi Arabia, which raises the possibility of U.S. sanctions, the State Department referred to these kind of situations, saying that "freedom of religion does not exist" in the Islamic kingdom. "It is not recognized or protected under the country’s laws, and basic religious freedoms are denied to all but those who adhere to the state-sanctioned version of Sunni Islam," the report added.
FREEDOM DENIED
"Citizens are denied the freedom to choose or change their religion, and noncitizens practice their beliefs under severe restrictions. Islam is the official religion, and all citizens must be Muslims.
The Government limits the practice of all but the officially sanctioned version of Islam and prohibits the public practice of other religions," the State Department said.
It reflects comments from Pope John Paul II, who earlier deplored the reported lack of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia.
The administration of United States President George W. Bush had come under increased pressure to condemn Saudi Arabia’s alleged links to extreme Muslim groups and its harsh policies, following the September 11 terror attacks on American soil.
Washington has an uneasy friendship with Saudi Arabia, where thousands of American troops are stationed and which has been an important oil trade partner. Saudi Arabia officials however say the government is on a path of reforms and supports the US-led war on terror.
ICC urged its supporters to protest at the Saudi Embassy in Washington (2600, Virginia Ave. NW, Washington D.C. 20037-1905).
Terrific work! This is the type of info that are meant to be shared across the internet.