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Inhuman punishment continued in the jail without any respite. He was made to hang upside down, beaten up, kicked and whipped.
In the Saudi capital of Riyadh, a Christian from Hubli was arrested six months ago on charge of preaching Jesus Christ'sgospel among Muslims there. The torture in jail ranged from being hung upside down and whipped with a wire. And one Human Rights group has even claimed that the police ?played football? by kicking him around like a football in the chest and rib for hours as he dangled helplessly from the ceiling.
According to family sources here, Brian Savio N. O?Connor was arrested by the Saudi religious police, known as Muttawa. Reports say that he was taken to a mosque where he was tortured before being sent to Ali Hira Jail.
Horrified, Brian'sbrothers?Raymond and James?have written to the President and the Prime Minister'soffice, seeking their intervention in getting him released.
Inhuman punishment continued in the jail without any respite. He was made to hang upside down, beaten up, kicked and whipped. Brian is now said to be in custody at the Olaya police station of Riyadh, probably with broken ribs and in intense pain.
The O?Connor family believes that the charges against Brian?of preaching the gospel and selling drugs?have been fabricated by the Muttawa since Brian is a devout Christian and an upright citizen. The family alleges that Brian was tricked into signing documents in Arabic which the police told him were his release papers. It was later discovered that his signature was affixed to a document admitting to drug-trafficking.
The Washington DC-based international Christian concern?a human rights group, believes that torture meted out to Brian O?Connor was part of the persecution of Christians in Saudi Arabia for practising their faith, which is illegal and an offence in the Islamic country.
Horrified, Brian'sbrothers?Raymond and James?have written to the President and the Prime Minister'soffice, seeking their intervention in getting him released. They have accused the Muttawa of forcing Brian to convert to Islam and threatening to kill him if he did not. If the Government of India does not intervene, Brian will have to wait for months before the court issues a verdict. Till then, Brian will remain in the custody of the Muttawa.
