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ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL Regd. Office: 8-2-601/B/17 Bhanu Society Banjara Hills, Hyderabad 500034 Andhra Pradesh, India President: Dr Joseph D' Souza Secretary General: Dr. John Dayal Please correspond with Dr John Dayal at: 505 Link Society, 18 I.P. Extension, Delhi 110092 India Phone (91 11) 22722262 Mobile 09811021072 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 26 October 2004 His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah Thru The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia, new Delhi And His Excellency the President of India, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi MOST URGENT A Joint Mercy Letter for the Release of Indian Citizen Brian O'Connor sentenced to 10 months in Prison and 300 Lashes in a Saudi Jail. Your Majesty, the King of Saudi Arabia, and Your Excellency Te President of India Greetings I am the President of the All India Catholic Union, founded in 1919, the oldest and largest organisation of Catholic Laity in Asia representing the 16 Million Indian Catholics, at home and abroad. I am also the Secretary General of the All India Christian Council, one of the major and Ecumenical Christian Organisations in India playing a leading role in the Civil Society movement. I write this most urgent appeal to the two heads of state of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of India as a follow up of an earlier mercy petition to His majesty the King in the cause of Indian citizen Brian O'Connor, born in the state of Karnataka, who was arrested in Saudia in March this year. We now learn that a Saudi Arabian court on 20th October 2004 sentenced Brian O'Connor to 10 months in jail and 300 lashes, accusing him of "spreading Christianity" and other charges. O'Connor was first arrested on March 25, 2004, by the Muttawa, the Saudi religious police. We learn that the police reportedly tortured the young Indian during his captivity. After enduring months in a Saudi prison, O'Connor was taken to court in late September 2004 for a brief, 90-minute hearing, Charges were reportedly brought against him for selling alcohol and possession of pornography in addition to spreading Christianity. Officers of his employers have declared that the allegations against their employee are not valid, though it is accepted that O'Connor is a practicing Christian. Brian's arrest, his experience in Jail and now the sentence of a jail term and lashing have caused deep concern amongst the Christian Community in India, and the Indian community abroad Indians go to Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Gulf out of desperate poverty and to improve their financial position. Brian has no criminal record at home or abroad, and has been arrested, we feel, just for his religious convictions. We appeal to the government of India to urgently intercede with the Government of Saudi Arabia for the immediate release of an Indian citizen. We also appeal to His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia to generously give clemency to O'Connor, and ask his government to release this Indian citizen who has already suffered much. We are sure we will not be disappointed in this appeal for Mercy and Justice in the name of universal brotherhood, human dignity and the friendly relations between the two countries, India and Saudi Arabia. Please be assured of _expressions of our highest considerations Dr. John Dayal For The All India Catholic Union, Goa The All India Christian Council, Hyderabad Camp office: 505 Link, 18 IP Extn, New Delhi 10092 Copies to: Shri Natwar Singh, Minister for External Affairs, Government of India The Chief Minister of Karnataka The Catholic Bishops Conference, New Delhi Amnesty International