My friend Bruno Foresi at Secolo XX just let me know about the plight of a Christian who is being held in Saudi Arabia. I'm using Robert Bruce's post over at was not ever thus since he's done a great job putting all the relevant information together. Take the time to send an email, and be sure to say some prayers for Brian. Veni Sancte Spiritus, Veni Per Maria.
There is a campaign underway at some Italian blogs to save Brian Savio O'Connor, a Catholic Indian national who (according to reports from Fides and L'Osservatore Romano) has been imprisoned in Saudi Arabia on charges of drug use (trumped up) and praying to Jesus Christ (true). Brian faces the death penalty if he does not renounce his faith. Since being arrested by the Muttawa (Saudi religious police) six months ago, he has been incarcerated and subjected to torture that includes being suspended upside down and kicked in the chest and head. The civil police have not interrogated him, indicating that his sole crime is his religion.
I'd like to bring this campaign into the English language blogosphere. You can help Brian by writing the relevant embassies--although he is an Indian citizen, this is a despicable crime against freedom of religion and a blatant contravention of the U.N. declaration of human right, and therefore everyone's concern. Also, the mainstream media are completely silent about this story; let them know you want them to speak up about it!
Useful addresses:
Ambassador Prince Bandar bin Sultan
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia,
601 New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.,
Washington DC 20037
(202)342-3800
email: info@saudiembassy.net
US Embassy in Riyadh:
Ambassador James C. Oberwetter
American Embassy
P.O. Box 94309
Riyadh 11693
Saudi Arabia
EMail: USEmbRiyadhWebSite@State.gov
Saudi Embassy in Canada:
Saudi Arabian Embassy
901-99 Bank St.
Ottawa, ON K1P 6B9
Tel: (613) 237-4100
Canadian Embassy in Saudi Arabia:
Canadian Embassy
PO Box 94321, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh 11693, Saudi Arabia
Tel: (1) 488 2288 or 488 0292. Fax: (1) 488 0137 or 488 1997.
E-mail: ryadh@dfait-maeci.gc.ca
Permanent Mission of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia To the United Nations
809 UN Plaza 10th floor
New York,New York 10017
Telephone:
(212) 697-4830
Fax:
(212) 983-4895
Saudi-mission@un.int
Tell major press outlets to cover this story:
New York Times
212-556-1234
Fax: 212-556-3690
letters@nytimes.com
USA Today
800-828-0909
703-276-3400
Fax: 703-247-3108
editor@usatoday.com
Washington Post
202-334-6000
Fax: 202-334-7502
ombudsman@washpost.com
Los Angeles Times
213-237-5000
Fax: 213-237-4712
letters@latimes.com
Globe and Mail
444 Front Street West,
Toronto, Ontario,
M5V 2S9
Ph: 416-585-5000
Newsroom@GlobeAndMail.ca
Toronto Star
One Yonge Street, Fifth Floor,
Toronto, Ontario
M5E 1E6
fax 416-869-4328
city@thestar.ca
The National Post
300 - 1450 Don Mills Road,
Don Mills, Ontario
Canada
M3B 3R5
ph (416) 386-2600
Hi. It's great to know about you. I follow Bruno's blog and from him I heard about you. Thank you for your web-presence!
Martino.
Posted by: Martino | Jun 10, 2004 at 03:02 AM
WE hope Brian O Connor has come out of his dangerous life in Saudi ARabia and all there what happend was a test from God for him and for the lords Glory alone.
Now we have to pray for our Brother Brian so that he comes out of Greed of money that is again a test for him to be free from Satans game.
We Pray to our lord that he Comes out of the Greed of taking any money from people in the name of the ministry called body of Christ and saying its for ministry and use it for wrong purposes. We hope and pray again his tempetations towards the Worldy life be seperated from his ministry. we dont want any damage to the kingdom of God. Please Brian please give back the money and Gold you took from the innocent people. God will deal with that if those people have given in the wrong manner.thanks
Posted by: johnson | Oct 27, 2008 at 02:27 AM