AICU condemns Saudi Police Torture of Indian Christian

NEW DELHI: The All India Catholic Union (AICU), the Laity organisation of Indian Catholics, today issued a strong statement condemning the arrest and torture of an Indian citizen in Saudi Arabia because of his faith.

The case was first reported in the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano.

AICU national vice president Dr. John Dayal in an urgent telegrammes to the Saudi King through the Ambassador in New Delhi expressed the strong revulsion and deep injury felt by Indian Christians in particular and civil society in general at the torture of Brian Savio O'Connor who was imprisoned about six months ago by the Mutawa, the Saudi religious police. Taken to the Ali Hira prison in Riyadh, he was threatened with death if he did not leave his faith.

His bothers Raymond and James O'Connor confirmed Brian's torture. Brian is now said to be in the Olaya prison.

The Mutawa has accused O'Connor of using drugs and praying to Jesus Christ, accusations which imply he runs the risk of being punished with the death penalty," the Vatican newspaper stated. The family says evidence was fabricated to foist the drug charge on Brian.

The Catholic Union has demanded Brian's release from prison, and has called upon the Indian government to ensure that justice is ensured to the Indian citizen.

AICU was founded in 1919; it represents the 16 million Catholic Laity in India.