Date: 2004-06-02

Saudi Police Torture Indian Catholic for His Faith

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 2, 2004 (Zenit.org).- A Catholic Indian citizen was arrested and tortured in Saudi Arabia because of his faith, according to L'Osservatore Romano.

The semiofficial Vatican newspaper, quoting sources of the Fides missionary agency and the Indian bishops' conference, said that Brian Savio O'Connor was imprisoned about six months ago by the Mutawa, the Saudi religious police.

Taken to the Ali Hira prison in Riyadh, the accused was threatened with death if he did not convert to Islam, his brothers, Raymond and James, said.

The O'Connor brothers confirmed that Brian "has been incarcerated for six months and tortured with the intention of obliging him to abjure his faith," L'Osservatore Romano's Italian edition reported today. Sources said the accused is now in the Olaya prison.

"Officially 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 that the proofs of his use of drugs have been fabricated by the police, while it does not deny that Brian is a good Christian," the newspaper added.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), June 04, 2004

Answers

bump

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), June 04, 2004.

its sad, but the man is working a way into sainthood by his devotion. My prayers will go with him for peace, fortitude, and release from this struggle if that is the will of God.

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), June 05, 2004.

Keep in mind that this is a regime propped up by none other than Dubya.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), June 05, 2004.

actually, anti bush, in case you didnt know, all US military personnel have been removed from saudi and we are putting political pressure on them to change some of their governmental policies.

[sings] OH THE TIMES, THEY ARE A CHANGING...

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), June 05, 2004.

Saudi Arabia has been this way for decades AB...

Now, this man shoiudl win our prayers, and out outrage at the actiosn commited agaisnt him.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), June 05, 2004.

Saudi Arabia has been supported by both Democratic and Republican administrations. The rational before our current President has been that Arabs don't know how to live in a free society and really can't. This philosophy has been brought back to the US by our ambassators to Saudi Arabia. Most (all?) of the retired ones are now on the Saudi payroll.

Our current president doesn't believe this, and although there has been a lot of criticism of his policy of allowing Iraq the possibility of freedom, he is showing leadership in steadfastly pursuing his policy. If Iraq really becomes free, the princes in Saudi Arabia need to rethink the possibility of democracy in their country.

Why not force democracy in Saudi Arabia 1st? Because of our dependence on their oil. How do we avoid this dependence? Well, finding alternative sources....Alaska comes to mind.

more information on all this can be found at: MEMRI

-bill

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), June 05, 2004.

Please. The Bush family and the Saud family are close friends. Bush would never actualy mess with them. He just doesn't care about the human rights abuses that go on there. Just like he doesn't care about the human rights abuses in Turkey. Or in Kuwait. Or any of the dozens of dictatorships our government props up.

Why is it that the most "alternate" source you Republicans can think of is drilling in Alaska? Yeah, there's a good idea. Take one of the last areas in the country that is full of pristine, untouched wildlife and turn it into an oilfield.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), June 06, 2004.

Anti-Bush, I think they just found some oil in Bosnia as well, we could get it from there. Anyway, we need to find alternate sources.

ALL Washington insiders are friends with the princes in Saudi Arabia (even Kerry). The princes make a point of making friends of powerful Americans.

As for democracising Saudi Arabia, that is part of the overall strategy. President Bush has not exempted them. You can be sceptical if you like, but the 'kindom' is currently on a very weak foundation.

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), June 06, 2004.

How tragic! I'm trying to find out if what I heard is true - that Brian is dead - and I find an arguement about OIL in response to his plight! Perhaps governments aren't our problem! We better investigate our hearts, for therein lies the spring of life. We live in a world that we all helped build.

-- SueAnn Jennings (sueanne@myway.com), June 18, 2004.

Why is it that the most "alternate" source you Republicans can think of is drilling in Alaska?

third largest oil reserve in the world, mostly untapped, which means it probably now has more oil than the middle east does. come on, anti, you're smart and should have known this one already.

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), June 18, 2004.

Hi!

Recent estimates of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Oil Reserve are about 10.3 billion barrels. At the current rate of consumption, about 20 million barrels a day, it's good for about 500 days. There are also other reserves in the Gulf and California. The US can provide for about 1000 days of consumption domestically, that's a paltry reserve compared to what's under Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and especially Saudi Arabia - each.

The US is not a major crude supplier, it is a major consumer. Btw, it's my field of science...I'm not practicing it right now, though.

Go here, since you're a scientist

I don't know what techniques they're using for measuring the reserves. It doesn't matter. We'd have to go on best estimates.

Hope that helps,

-- Vincent (love@noemail.net), June 18, 2004.

Oooh! Sorry about the terse title on the link paul. I was getting ahead of myself there. My idea was you would find the site easy to understand.

God Bless,

-- Vincent (love@noemail.net), June 18, 2004.

thats okay, vincent, i didnt think you meant it that way. but the link was broken, could you try it again so i could read it?

thanks,

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), June 19, 2004.

I tried the link, paul. It's working fine.

-- Vincent (love@noemail.net), June 19, 2004.

http://www.eia.doe.g ov/emeu/cabs/usa.html

-- (heres@vincents.link), June 19, 2004.

On September 11 and the days that followed, after all non-military aircraft were grounded, President Bush sent private jets around the country to pick up members of the bin Laden and Saud families and quickly move them back to Saudi Arabia. Many had had contact with Osama quite recently, some within a few months. Not a single person was detained or questioned. I haven't been at an airport in three years without seeing at least one Arab get pulled out of line and searched. Yet BIN LADENS who could quite possibly have possessed some information about the attacks were allowed to leave the country in the middle of a national lockdown.

A few weeks later, Prince Bandar was over at the White House smoking cigars with Dubya. It sure is good to see that our President has his priorities straightened out, isn't it?

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), June 22, 2004.

anti bush,

i really gave you more credit than i should have i guess. i thought you were smart enough not to fall head over for conspiracy theory mumbo jumbo.

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), June 23, 2004.

The Washington post, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the London Times, the Tampa Tribune, and CNN aren't generaly in the habit of publishing conspiracy theories, yet they all reported the story. Perhaps there IS something to it, no?

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), June 23, 2004.

hmmn, werent those the ones that posted the story about the attack on the "wedding" which actually turned out to be a terrorist gathering place for foreign fighters entering iraq... all but CNN.

also, why don't you point us to a link where those agencies reported that bush personally escorted high level terrorists from the nation...

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), June 23, 2004.

On September 11 and the days that followed, after all non- military aircraft were grounded, President Bush sent private jets around the country to pick up members of the bin Laden and Saud families and quickly move them back to Saudi Arabia.

WRONG! Your not taking your history from Michael Moore are you? Anyway, Richard Clarke did that, not President Bush. He took full responsibility in an interview with 'The Hill' newspaper. See: Clarke claims responsibility Ex-counterterrorism czar approved post-9-11 flights for bin Laden family In an interview with The Hill yesterday [May of this year], Clarke said, “I take responsibility for it. I don’t think it was a mistake, and I’d do it again.” Most of the 26 passengers aboard one flight, which departed from the United States on Sept. 20, 2001, were relatives of Osama bin Laden, whom intelligence officials blamed for the attacks almost immediately after they happened.

Other flights were authorized previously by Clarke that moved Saudi's out of the US: “It didn’t get any higher than me,” he said. “On 9-11, 9-12 and 9-13, many things didn’t get any higher than me. I decided it in consultation with the FBI.”

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), June 23, 2004.

See: Clarke claims responsibility Ex-counterterrorism czar approved post-9-11 flights for bin Laden family

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@Hotmail.com), June 23, 2004.

I'm having trouble finding the other post. Don't know if you all have heard the news that Paul Johnson, a Lockheed Martin employee working out of Saudi Arabia was taken by al-Qaeda militants and decapitated. The murderers were caught and killed dumping his body. I picked this up from last Sunday's paper.

-- Vincent (love@noemail.net), June 23, 2004.

yes vincent, i heard,

in fact, yesterday i met the man who was paul johsons manager

-- paul h (dontsendmemail@notanaddress.com), June 24, 2004.

That's terrible news, paul. Makes my stomach churn. I have prayed for Paul Johnson and his family. They continue to be in my intentions as are you, paul. May the Lord have mercy on his soul.

Have peace and God bless,

-- Vincent (love@noemail.net), June 24, 2004.

You might want to ask your Democratic Congressmen why not one Democrat went to the house floor to denounce the Johnson beheading, but they all spent many hours decrying the prison abuse?

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), June 24, 2004.

What do you expect them to do? Propose a bill against beheading? They talk about the prison abuse because it's something they can change.

-- Anti-bush (Comrade_bleh@hotmail.com), June 24, 2004.

What do you expect them to do? Propose a bill against beheading? They talk about the prison abuse because it's something they can change.

LOL! You really believe that? How many times have they gone to the floor to protest things they have no control over? I'll tell you: thousands of times! But if you really believe that: I have a bridge you can buy in NYC!

-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), June 24, 2004.

In the spirit of edification, here are some recent bills where the congress has condemned acts they have no power to stop.

1 . Condemning the punishment of execution by stoning as a gross violation of human rights, and for other purposes. (Reported in Senate) [S.CON.RES.26.RS]
2 . Condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, Muslim-Americans, South Asian- Americans, and Sikh-Americans. (Reported in House)[H.RES.234.RH]
3 . Condemning bigotry and violence against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South-Asian Americans, and Sikh Americans. (Introduced in Senate)[S.RES.133.IS]
4 . Condemning bigotry and violence against Arab-Americans, Muslim- Americans, South Asian-Americans, and Sikh-Americans. (Introduced in House) [H.RES.234.IH]
5 . Condemning bigotry and violence against Arab Americans, Muslim Americans, South-Asian Americans, and Sikh Americans. (Agreed to by Senate)[S.RES.133.ATS]
6 . Condemning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for its announcement that it has restarted a nuclear reactor at Yongbyon and for the provocation caused by the interception of a... (Introduced in House) [H.CON.RES.81.IH]
7 . Condemning the punishment of execution by stoning as a gross violation of human rights, and for other purposes. (Introduced in Senate)[S.CON.RES.26.IS]
8 . Condemning the adoption of United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-10/14 (December 8, 2003) which requests the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to render an advisory opinion... (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.390.IH]
9 . Condemning the terrorist bombing attacks in Madrid that occurred on March 11, 2004. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.565.IH]
10 . Condemning the current political unrest and political leadership in Venezuela, calling for new elections in accordance with the constitution of that country, and for other purposes. (Introduced in House) [H.RES.40.IH]
11 . Condemning religiously intolerant remarks and calling on the President to clearly censure and reassign Lieutenant General Boykin for his religiously intolerant remarks. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.419.IH]
12 . Condemning the Government of the Republic of the Sudan for its attacks against innocent civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan. (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.403.IH]
13 . Condemning the terrorist attacks in Mombasa, Kenya, which occurred on November 28, 2002. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.76.IH]
14 . Condemning the recent increase in acts of anti-Semitism in member countries of the European Union, and for other purposes. (Introduced in House) [H.RES.616.IH]
15 . Condemning the punishment of execution by stoning as a gross violation of human rights, and for other purposes. (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.26.IH]
16 . Condemning the Government of the Republic of the Sudan for its participation and complicity in the attacks against innocent civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan. (Introduced in Senate)[S.CON.RES.99.IS]
17 . Condemning the designation of Iraq as chair of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament. (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.29.IH]
18 . Condemning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea for its failure to comply with the Treaty on the Non- Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the U.S.-North Korea Agreed Framework... (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.10.IH]
19 . Condemning the terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15 and 20, 2003, expressing condolences to the families of the individuals murdered in the attacks, expressing sympathies... (Introduced in Senate)[S.RES.273.IS]
20 . Condemning the terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15 and 20, 2003, expressing condolences to the families of the individuals murdered in the attacks, expressing sympathies... (Agreed to by Senate)[S.RES.273.ATS]
21 . Condemning the terrorist attacks in Istanbul, Turkey, on November 15, 2003, expressing condolences to the families of the individuals murdered and expressing sympathies to the individuals... (Introduced in House) [H.RES.453.IH]
22 . Condemning the terrorism inflicted on Israel since the Aqaba Summit and expressing solidarity with the Israeli people in their fight against terrorism. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.294.IH]
23 . Condemning the terrorist bombings in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, and Israel, urging strengthened efforts in the fight against terrorism, and calling upon the Palestinian Authority to take... (Introduced in House) [H.RES.250.IH]
24 . Condemning the report issued on November 10, 2003, by the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement Appellate Body in which the Appellate Body determined that imposition by... (Introduced in House)[H.RES.441.IH]
25 . Condemning the Islamic Republic of Iran (also known as Iran) for constructing a facility to enrich uranium with potential for developing a program for the proliferation of weapons of... (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.217.IH]
26 . Condemning the recent terrorist attacks in the Middle East by Hamas and other terrorist organizations and urging the European Union to classify the entire entity of Hamas as a terrorist... (Introduced in House) [H.RES.285.IH]
27 . Condemning ethnic violence in Kosovo. (Introduced in Senate)[S.RES.326.IS]
28 . Condemning ethnic violence in Kosovo. (Agreed to by Senate)[S.RES.326.ATS]
29 . Condemning ethnic violence in Kosovo. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.596.IH]
30 . Condemning the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison, urging a full and complete investigation to ensure justice is served, and expressing support for all Americans serving... (Introduced in House) [H.RES.639.IH]
31 . Condemning attacks on United States citizens by Palestinian terrorists, and for other purposes. (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.119.IH]
32 . Condemning the Government of the Republic of the Sudan for its participation and complicity in the attacks against innocent civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan. (Reported in Senate)[S.CON.RES.99.RS]
33 . Condemning the Government of the Republic of the Sudan for its attacks against innocent civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan. (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House) [H.CON.RES.403.EH]
34 . Condemning attacks on United States citizens by Palestinian terrorists, and for other purposes. (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.112.IH]
35 . Condemning the Government of the Republic of the Sudan for its attacks against innocent civilians in the impoverished Darfur region of western Sudan. (Referred to Senate Committee after being Received from House) [H.CON.RES.403.RFS]
36 . Whereas Lieutenant General William G. Boykin, United States Army, who is currently serving as Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and War-Fighting Support, has on several... (Introduced in House)[H.RES.420.IH]
37 . Condemning the punishment of execution by stoning as a gross violation of human rights, and for other purposes. (Referred to Senate Committee after being Received from House) [H.CON.RES.26.RFS]
38 . Condemning the repression of the Iranian Bahai community and calling for the emancipation of Iranian Bahais. (Introduced in Senate)[S.CON.RES.78.IS]
39 . Condemning the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison, urging a full and complete investigation to ensure justice is served, and expressing support for all Americans serving... (Agreed to by Senate) [S.RES.356.ATS]
40 . Condemning the crackdown on democracy protestors in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, in the People's Republic of China on the 15th anniversary of that tragic massacre. (Introduced in House)[H.RES.655.IH]
41 . Condemning the selection of Libya to chair the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and for other purposes. (Introduced in House) [H.CON.RES.27.IH]
42 . Condemning the selection of Libya to chair the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and for other purposes. (Ordered Held at Senate Desk after being Received from House)[S.CON.RES.13.HDS]
43 . Condemning the selection of Libya to chair the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and for other purposes. (Agreed to by Senate) [S.CON.RES.13.ATS]
44 . Whereas the United Nations General Assembly has requested the International Court of Justice to render an opinion on the legality of the security fence being constructed by Israel to... (Introduced in House)[H.CON.RES.371.IH]
45 . Condemning the selection of Libya to chair the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and for other purposes. (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)[H.CON.RES.27.EH]
46 . Condemning the selection of Libya to chair the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and for other purposes. (Referred to Senate Committee after being Received from House)[H.CON.RES.27.RFS]
47 . Prisoner of War Protection Act of 2003 (Introduced in House)[H.R.2224.IH]
48 . Commending the Prime Minister of Great Britain for his stalwart leadership and unwavering support of the United States in the effort to disarm Saddam Hussein of weapons of mass destruction... (Introduced in House)[H.RES.154.IH]
49 . Whereas execution by stoning is an exceptionally cruel form of punishment that violates internationally accepted standards of human rights, including those set forth in the Universal... (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by Senate)[S.CON.RES.26.ES]
50 . Whereas the United Nations General Assembly and United Nations Security Council have over a period of many years engaged in a pattern of introducing and enacting measures and resolutions... (Introduced in Senate)[S.RES.271.IS]


-- Bill Nelson (bnelson45-nospam@hotmail.com), June 24, 2004.