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Saudi Arabia
September 16, 2004 Indian Christian falsely accused
CSW
has received a further update from Middle East Concern regarding Indian national
Brian O'Connor, currently being detained in
2. Possession of money received
from the sale of the bottles to an undercover agent
4. Being a preacher of
Christianity and in possession of Bibles
Brian
is an Indian Christian, aged 36, who was arrested on March 25th by the
Muttawa'een,
----------------------------------
September 15, 2004 Urgent Action for Brian O'Connor
CSW
has received the following update from Middle East Concern regarding Indian
national Brian O'Connor, currently being detained in
-
today's court hearing will result in a swift end to Brian's detention and that
he will either be free to return to India or continue working in Saudi Arabia
- his faith will continue to remain strong and steadfast
- for those who are bringing this case against Brian
March 16, 2004 CSW Welcomes New Saudi Arabian Human Rights Association
CSW welcomes the establishment of the first human rights Non-Governmental Organization in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
King Fahd bin Abd al-Aziz has approved the establishment of the National Human Rights Association according to the Saudi Press Agency.
CSW hopes the National Human Rights Association will be effective in spearheading the promotion and protection of human rights.
In light of this initiative, CSW calls upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to pave the way for the respect of the rights of all its citizens, by acceding to and ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights.
In addition, CSW continues to call on the Kingdom to safeguard the freedom of all people resident in the Kingdom to worship according to their professed religion in the privacy of their own homes, as publicly guaranteed by senior Saudi officials.
CSW is a human rights charity working on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs. We also promote religious liberty for all.
----------------------------------
International Christian Concern
June 28, 2002 NEW ICC PETITION TO THE PRESIDENT
Please find attached the text for a new ICC "Petition to the President about Saudi Arabia." ALL CONCERNED CHRISTIANS ARE
ASKED TO HELP by logging on to the ICC web site where the petition will immediately appear. The petition will be automatically
forwarded to the President.
www.persecution.org
ICC learned today from an ICC contact at the Washington Post that the Saudi Arabian Embassy is "very angry" because of
ICC organizing lobbying along with former Saudi prisoner Dennis Moreno. ICC has apparently attracted attention at high levels
and, according to the Post contact, ICC has "drawn blood". Praise God, for this means that our efforts to bring attention to the
imprisoned Christians in Saudi Arabia has been effective. The Washington Post is planning to publish an article on Saudi
Arabia's persecution of Christians in the Washington Post either on July 2 or 3rd.
Dear
President Bush,
We,
the undersigned, are concerned about US foreign policy toward Saudi Arabia. The
government of Saudi Arabia has shown nothing but hypocrisy since the September
11th attacks. While claiming to be allies against terrorism, they
have done little to stop the dissemination of fundamentalist Islamic
indoctrination. It is not surprising that most of the September 11 hijackers
were Saudi citizens, as was Osama bin Laden. To deny that terrorism is fostered
by the Saudis is to ignore the obvious. In fact, Christians imprisoned in Saudi
Arabia during September reported to the human rights group, International
Christian Concern, that following the attacks on America, Al-Qaeda members in
the prison, as well as Saudi prison employees, celebrated, even sponsoring a
buffet lunch in honor of the terrorists.
Another
blatant act of hypocrisy on the part of the Saudis was a media campaign carried
out by the Saudi Embassy this past January. At that time the embassy sent
information packets to schools across the nation with videos explaining the
Islamic religion (see Washington Post article January 30, 2002). In their
own country, however, Jesus films would be immediately confiscated and
the owners arrested. Christians cannot even so much as meet in their own homes
for prayer and worship without risking imprisonment, despite public claims to
the contrary. At the same time, the Saudis spend millions of dollars to spread
Islam in the US, but they will not allow missionaries of other faiths to step
foot in their country. This double standard is unacceptable.
Mr.
President, you have gone above and beyond the call of duty to show respect for
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and its religion, Islam. However, this respect has
not been reciprocated. Why should the US government go out of its way to be
“tolerant” of Saudi Arabia when the Saudis make no pretense about being
intolerant of all faiths other than Islam?
We,
the undersigned, request that the US government adopt a no-tolerance policy
toward religious freedom violations in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis need to be
reprimanded for their repressive policies against non-Muslims who choose to
practice their faith in private. The US government must also demand that the
Saudi government release all Christian prisoners who have been arbitrarily
arrested and never charged with a formal crime. Some of these people have been
mentally and physically tortured and denied consular access. This is inhumane,
to say the least, and flies in the face of several international conventions
signed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This shameful conduct on the part of
Saudi Arabia must be exposed and dealt with before it is allowed to escalate.
Respectfully
yours,
------------------------------------------------
May 20, 2002 Two men deported from Saudi Arabia for owning a Bible and Christian CDs
Filipino Christians, Danilo de Guzman, 38, and Benjamin Diaz, 40, were deported to the Philippines last Saturday after spending more than a month
in prison.
The men were caught in possession of a Bible and some Christian CDs (including a gospel of Luke and two Christian music CDs) when police raided
their room on March 29 2001 in Abqaiq, about 350km north-east of Riyadh.
A local court sentenced them to a month's imprisonment in April 2001 and a higher court increased their sentence to include 150 lashes in January 2002.
De Guzman told CSW today that he was not given a lawyer and that only his company
liaison officer was present during the hearings.
The two men were taken from their flat on April 10 this year and de Guzman's wife Evelyn told CSW that he spoke with her hurriedly on the phone: "He just
said, 'Don't worry, God will help us. Take care of the children.'"
They were taken to prison in Abqaiq and were spared the lashes, but told they would be deported instead.
In addition, de Guzman paid a fine of 3,500 Saudi Riyals (about $933), which was made up of 500 Riyals
($133) for the pocket Bible and 500 Riyals for each CD.
They were later transferred to a deportation center in Dammam. After their papers were cleared, they were deported together on a flight to the
Philippines, arriving in Manila on Sunday morning.
"I'm glad we're all together now", Evelyn said, "and that he is safe and in good health".
De Guzman went to work in Saudi Arabia as an electrical engineer in September 2000, leaving his wife and children, aged ten, two and one, in the
Philippines.
He said: "Thank you so much for your prayers. Please pray for my family, as we are now without an income until I find a new job.
"We are afraid we won't be able to send my son to school this year, as the admission fees, uniform and books are so expensive. Please pray that I
would find a job soon. It is very difficult to find a job in the Philippines and I am going to try to get work abroad again."
The public expression of religious belief other than Islam is forbidden in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but senior Saudi officials have repeatedly
stated that non-Muslims are free to practice their faith in the privacy of their own homes.
Over the summer months of 2001, 14 expatriate Christians were detained in connection with their Christian faith in a spate of arrests in Jiddah. The
last of these detainees was finally deported at the end of March this year. Three men suffered 80 lashes each, even though none appeared before a court
and they were not formally charged with any crime.
CSW condemns the prison terms and the fine imposed on these men. CSW-UK's Advocacy Director Tina Lambert, said: "De Guzman and Diaz were imprisoned
for exercising their right to worship in private. It is inexcusable that the mere possession of religious materials can lead to job loss and
deportation in the Kingdom."
CSW is calling on the international community to speak out against breaches of freedom of religion and other fundamental human rights abuses in Saudi
Arabia.
---------------------------------------
January 30, 2002 Christian to be deported from Saudi Arabia after months in prison
Indian Christian, Prabhu Isaac, is due to be
deported
from Jiddah tonight after
spending more than six months in Saudi prisons in connection with his Christian faith.
A spokesman at the Indian Consulate in Jiddah told CSW earlier
today that Mr Isaac was booked on a flight to India tonight.
Mr Isaac has already been refused exit at the airport twice this
month. On January 17, the airport computer registered his wife as still being in Saudi Arabia and on January 27, it was found
that he had an outstanding traffic penalty.
The spokesman from the Indian Consulate said both these issues had now been successfully resolved and added: “We are
very hopeful that he will leave today.”
Mr Isaac, an employee in the Kingdom for more than 17 years, was arrested on July 19, 2001, after complaints were lodged
concerning a farewell party held in his honour in a public hall.
Religious police raided his home late at night and interrogated
Mr Isaac and his wife separately for more than three hours. His computer, photographs, Bibles, songbooks, and audio and
video tapes were confiscated by the authorities.
His arrest led to the detention of a further 13 men of Eritrean,
Ethiopian, Filipino and Nigerian nationalities, who were taken into custody between July and September. All were involved
in
private Christian worship in Jiddah. One man, an Ethiopian known only as Tishome, was released after he allegedly
converted to Islam. A fifteenth man, Suleiman Keder also from Ethiopia, was mistaken for a Christian by the Saudi authorities
and detained along with the others.
It is alleged that Christian songs were sung at the farewell party
and there have been reports that Saudi nationals may have been present. It is feared that the arrests may have been part
of an attempt to track down any Saudi nationals with Christian sympathies.
The men were never formally charged and were denied consular access for the duration of their imprisonment. Only when they
were transferred to a deportation center were consular visits permitted. Three of the men were beaten with rods during one
of the interrogation sessions.
Kebrom Haile, an Eritrean, was the first to be deported on January 12, followed by a further seven men on January 18, 25
and 26. The remainder continue to be held in the Breman deportation center in Jiddah, while their outstanding affairs are
settled, according to human rights agency Middle East Concern.
The remaining detainees are Ethiopians Tinsaie Gizachew, Bahru
Mengistu, Gabayu Tefera, and Filipino Dennis Moreno. Ismail “Worku” Abubaker, another Ethiopian, was transferred to a
prison in Mecca on January 8, in order to settle his affairs there before deportation.
Just days after the men began to be deported, CSW received unconfirmed reports that religious police have arrested a further
ten Indian Christians gathered in their private quarters to read the Bible in Riyadh.
The ten were reportedly taken into custody by religious police on
January 16 and have been detained without charge since then.
The men, from the poorer segment of the expatriate population, will be without an income whilst they are held, which
could cause great financial strain on their families.
Stuart Windsor, CSW’s National Director, said: “This shocking
cycle of arrest, detention and deportation of innocent men on account of their religious faith must be brought to an end. As
Saudi officials raise concerns for their citizens held in Camp X-Ray, they must re-examine their own treatment of foreign
nationals in Saudi Arabia”.
CSW calls upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to safeguard the freedom of all people resident in the Kingdom to worship in
private according to their professed religion, as publicly guaranteed by senior Saudi officials. CSW further calls on the
Kingdom to bring to an end the arbitrary arrest and detention of peaceful, law-abiding residents.
---------------------------------------
December 31, 2001 13 Christians to see in the New Year behind bars
Thirteen Christian foreign nationals incarcerated in Jiddah, Saudi
Arabia will remain behind bars over New Year, despite hopes that they might have
been released in time for Christmas.
The men, allegedly charged with propagating Christianity, were
arrested as part of a crackdown on Christians in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia, between July and September this year and have been
held in Sharafiah prison ever since.
A fourteenth man, an Ethiopian known as Suleiman, has also been implicated with the 13 after Saudi officials mistook him for
a Christian.
The men had been told on December 19th, during the Eid celebrations marking the end of the Muslim holy month of
Ramadan, that they would all be transferred to a deportation center ready for their imminent departure.
But their hopes were dashed when only nine of their number were transferred to Trahyl deportation prison on December 24th.
The nine comprise Gabayu Tefera, Tinsaie Gizachew, Bahru Mengistu and Beferdu Fikri, Ethiopian; Eskinder Menghis and
Kebron Haile, Eritrean; Prabhu Isaac, Indian; Benjamin Buliamin, Nigerian and Filipino Dennis
Moreno.
A source in Jiddah told CSW that conditions in the deportation
center were like "a pig pen".
"Rain is seeping into the cells, food and leftovers are served
from one cooking pot which is never cleaned, toilet facilities are flooded and overcrowded and family visits are not permitted,"
the source said.
Some of the men have received visits from their consular representatives since their transfer, but none have been told
when they are to be released.
However, there are fears that their stay in the deportation prison
could be lengthy as other inmates have been detained for up to six months.
The men are requesting permission to leave the deportation prison in order to be able to settle their affairs quickly before
their inevitable departure from the kingdom.
In addition, Mengistu, Menghis and Buliamin are voicing concerns over calls made by the authorities to bring their
families, resident in Jiddah, to the unsanitary deportation prisons.
Stuart Windsor, National Director of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said: "We remain appalled at the way these men
have been treated. They are guilty of nothing more than the private practice of their Christian faith, but have been
imprisoned and ill-treated as if they were criminals."
Arrests and deportations on grounds of religious conscience have been on-going for decades in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
with little response from the international community.
CSW is calling on the UK government and the EU to priorities religious freedom in all their discussions with Saudi
Arabia.
--------------------------------------------
November 1, 2001 Petition
for Saudi Arabia Detainees
Dear Friends,
Those of you who receive our bi-monthly magazine, Response, will have been reading about the 13 foreign nationals
imprisoned in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia in connection with their Christian faith.
May I take this opportunity to thank you on their behalf for all your prayers and to encourage you to continue praying
for them and their families.
Some of these men have been detained since July of this year, bringing their time behind bars to four months, simply for
being Christians.
Their families, who are still living in Saudi Arabia, are without an income while their husbands and fathers are
imprisoned.
They have asked people to write to the Saudi authorities requesting that the men be included in the “Ramadan pardon” which is
customarily granted in Islamic countries.
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan has now started. Would you consider writing to the Saudi Arabian Ambassador in your
country, asking that the following men be included in the amnesty?
1. Prabhu Isaac, Indian
2. Eskinder Menghis, Eritrean
3. Gabayu Tefera, Ethiopian
4. Kebrom Haile, Eritrean
5. Tinsaie Gizachew, Ethiopian
6. Afobunor Okey Buliamin (Benjamin), Nigerian
7. Mesfin Berhanu, Ethiopian
8. Bahru Mengistu, Ethiopian
9. Beferdu Fikri, Ethiopian
10. Joseph Girmaye, Eritrean
11. Dennis Raymund Rodriguez Moreno Lacalle, Filipino
12. Worku (last name not known), Ethiopian
13. Genet Haileab, Ethiopian
Please also send a copy of your letter with the appropriate salutation to King Fahd of Saudi Arabia. The addresses are:
King Fahd of Saudi Arabia:
The Custodian of the Two Holy Shrines, His Majesty King Fahd bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz Al-Saud, Office of H.M. The King,
Royal Court, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(Salutation: Your Majesty)
+++
Many thanks to all of you for your continued, faithful, support for our suffering family.
If you are unsure of what to write, here is a suggested letter format to help you:
Your Majesty/Your Excellency,
Peace be with you during this holy month of Ramadan.
I beseech Your Majesty/Excellency at this special time during the Islamic year to look
favorably upon the following men who are imprisoned in Sharafiah prison, Jiddah in connection with their Christian faith. May I petition you to grant them a pardon to
return to their families and to continue to work for the prosperity of your Kingdom.
Their names are: Prabhu Isaac, Indian; Eskinder Menghis, Eritrean; Gabayu Tefera, Ethiopian; Kebrom Haile, Eritrean; Tinsaie
Gizachew, Ethiopian; Afobunor Okey Buliamin (Benjamin), Nigerian; Mesfin Berhanu, Ethiopian; Bahru Mengistu, Ethiopian;
Beferdu Fikri, Ethiopian; Joseph Girmaye, Eritrean; Dennis Raymund Rodriguez Moreno Lacalle, Filipino; Worku (last name
not known), Ethiopian; Genet Haileab, Ethiopian.
I am very grateful for your generous consideration of this request.
Yours faithfully,
-----------------------------
October 30, 2001 Crackdown on Christians intensifies in Osama Bin Laden's home country
A FURTHER six Christian men have been arrested in the coastal
city of Jiddah, Saudi Arabia as the crackdown on believers in the city escalates.
Four Ethiopians, an Eritrean and a Filipino were detained by the
Saudi Arabian authorities between August 21 and September 4.
This brings the total number of arrests of Christians in Jiddah
this summer to 15 according to reports from human rights agency Middle East Concern.
CSW believes one reason for the continued arrests of ex-pat believers in the city is an attempt to track down Saudis who have
Christian sympathies.
Of the fifteen, two have been released – Tishome, one of the
Ethiopians, and Wilfredo Caliuag, who was deported to the Philippines on August 9, having spent two days in a coma in a
Jiddah Hospital as a direct result of the appalling conditions in which he was held.
The remaining 13 have been denied consular access, although some of
the men have been permitted to see their families.
Prabhu Isaac, arrested on July 19 , has now been held for over
10 weeks and sources report that the Indian consulate has never been officially notified of his arrest.
According to reliable reports, CSW believes that all those detained are being held solely in connection with their Christian
faith.
Mervyn Thomas, chief executive of CSW, said: “Recent international events have led to a global call for the eradication
of radical Islamic terrorism. At the same time, intolerance against peace-loving Christians quietly continues in Islamic
regimes and must also be stamped out.”
CSW appeals for tolerance in calling for the immediate release
of these men, whom we believe to be prisoners of conscience.
According to Saudi law, its citizens must be Muslim, but officials
have said that ex-patriot non-Muslims are free to worship in private.
CSW urges the rulers of Saudi Arabia to protect the freedom of
non-Sunni Muslims to worship in private.
---------------------------------
August 23, 2001 Crackdown on
Christians in Saudi Arabia Worsens After Six More Arrests
ANOTHER six Christians have been arrested in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia as part of a new crackdown.
Tinsaie Gizachew, an Eritrean, and Afobunor Okey Buliamin, a Nigerian, were arrested on August 19. A day later,
Baharu Mengistu, an Ethiopian, was also arrested. On August 19, three other Eritrean Christians were arrested, known only by their first names of Gabayu, Kebrom and
Mesfin. There are reports of more arrests, but these have not been confirmed.
There is particular concern for Mr. Buliamin, a Christian whose passport says he is a Muslim. This means he could face
the charge of apostasy from Islam, the penalty for which is death under Sharia law.
The Saudi authorities appear to have launched a crackdown on ex-pat believers in a bid to track down Saudis who have links
with Christians according to these reports from human rights agency Middle East Concern.
Reports from the coastal city of Jiddah suggest the authorities believe that Saudi nationals were present at the farewell party for
Prabhu Isaac, an Indian who was arrested at the end of July. Mr. Isaac was arrested on July 18 after a visit from the
muttawa, Saudi’s religious police, who confiscated bibles, songbooks and a personal computer which contained lists of other Christians in the city.
He is being held at Sharafiah Prison near Jiddah and is being denied access to consular officials and relatives. His wife
Socilia, who was also questioned on July 18, has been told to have no outside contact.
Another Eritrean believer, Eskinder Menghis, was arrested after his name was found on
Mr. Isaac’s computer. He is being held at Ruais prison in Jiddah on charges of bringing people into his home for religious practices.
Wilfredo Caliuag, a Filipino Christian, was arrested on July 5 on charges of the illegal use of an alias.
During his detention, Wilfredo was accused of being a religious teacher and was interrogated to give information about
other Christians in the city.
On July 31, Wilfredo was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Red Sea King Abdul Aziz Hospital where he was
on a life support machine. Clinical records said he had suffered from severe heat stroke, but bruises suggested he had also been
ill-treated at the hands of the authorities. Wilfredo was deported on August 9.
CSW’s advocacy director Tina Lambert said: “There have now been at least nine Christians arrested and ill-treated in Saudi
Arabia in the last few weeks. It is time the international community sat up and took notice of this fundamental abuse of
human rights. These people have been arrested and jailed and in some cases tortured for their religious beliefs.”
CSW is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all eight men and are urging the Government of Saudi
Arabia to protect the freedom of non-Sunni Muslims to worship in private.
---------------------------------------------
August 13, 2001 Christian
"Coma Victim" Deported from Saudi Arabia
A man was hurriedly deported from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Thursday after lying in a coma for two days following brutal mistreatment in a Saudi
prison.
Wilfredo Caliuag, a Filipino Christian and resident of Jiddah on the south-west coast of Saudi Arabia, was arrested on July 5th 2001 on
fabricated charges of the illegal use of an alias.
During his detention, Wilfredo was accused of being a religious teacher and was interrogated to try to extract information about the underground network
of Christian believers in Jiddah.
Wilfredo complained of the severe heat inside the detention cells, which reached well over 40 degrees centigrade. No medicines were provided to
treat scratches and skin conditions from which he suffered.
Wilfredo testified to the deaths of two inmates during his incarceration.
On 31st July, Wilfredo was suddenly admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of the Red Sea King Abdul Aziz Hospital where friends, who were allowed access
to visit him the next day, found him on a complete life-support system. Clinical records revealed Wilfredo had suffered a severe heat stroke but
tell-tale bruises were also unofficially reported. Wilfredo was later transferred to a ward where his feet were kept in chains.
This shocking story comes at a time when the authorities in Jiddah have launched what appears to be a crackdown on expatriate Christian residents of
city.
Prabhu Isaac, an Indian, and Eskinder Menghis, an Eritrean, were both remanded in custody when Saudi police stormed into their homes late at night
and interrogated them in connection with their Christian activities.
Prabhu Isaac, 46, a hospital worker and resident of the kingdom of Saudi Arabia for seventeen years received an unexpected visit by seven members of
the muttawa, Saudi Arabia's religious police, at 11pm on July 18th, 2001.
Bibles, songbooks, photographs, cassette tapes and Prabhu's personal computer which was believed to contain the names and addresses of other
Christians in the city were seized in the raid.
Eskinder Menghis, father of three, was arrested on July 25th, when five agents of the Ministry of Interior raided his home at midnight. It is
believed that Eskinder's name was among those listed on Prabhu Isaac's computer.
Both men have been held incommunicado in separate prisons since their arrest.
The men's wives are desperate to be able to visit their husbands. Prabhu's wife, who was scheduled to leave the Kingdom on July 22nd reportedly said,
"What do I do? I am not leaving without my husband."
A source in Jiddah described the situation as "very tense".
Saudi Arabia prohibits the public practice of any religion other than Islam, even by foreign nationals. Although senior Government officials have
repeatedly guaranteed the protection of individuals who worship privately in their own homes, Christians continue to be arrested.
Stuart Windsor, national director of CSW-UK said, "Saudi Arabia continues to violate even the most basic human rights standards. The international
community must make a stand for these innocent victims who face imprisonment solely on account of their religious beliefs."
Christian Solidarity Worldwide is calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Prabhu Isaac and Eskinder
Menghis, whom they
believe to be prisoners of conscience. CSW also strongly urges the government of Saudi Arabia to safeguard the freedom of non-Sunni Muslims to
worship in private.