From: Nagikheir@aol.com 
To: undisclosed-recipients:; 
Subject: URGENT: CHRISTIANS IN SAUDI ARABIA UNDER SERIOUS THREAT 
Date: Mon, 23 Jul 2001 21:35:35 
EDT  From: Steve Snyder [mailto:iccsteve@att.net] 
Sent: Monday, July 23, 2001 12:29 PM 
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:; Subject: 

URGENT: PRESSURE ON CHRISTIANS IN SAUDI ARABIA   International Christian Concern  

URGENT: CHRISTIANS IN SAUDI ARABIA UNDER SERIOUS THREAT  

Last week International Christian Concern reported the arrest of Prabhu Isaac in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 

The Indian hospital worker is now facing charges for "proselytizing Muslims" and has been under severe pressure by the Ministry of Interior (MOI) to betray all the Christians by providing the names and addresses of all his Christian associates.  

In a conversation with Prabhu's wife, Socilia, last night, ICC sources in Saudi Arabia learned that the MOI is charging Prabhu of "converting Saudis to Christianity" and could face a lengthy prison sentence. Socilia wept as she apologized for her husband's betrayal of the other Christians. 

"He just couldn't take the severe pressure they were putting him through," she said. She also lamented that the authorities took her lifetime collection of photos and would like to have them returned.   

The charges against Prabhu stem from a Thanksgiving farewell celebration that was held on June 28 in honor of Prabhu, an Indian national, for his 17 years of faithful service in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

Prabhu worked in the hospital in Jeddah. His friends rented a public hall (Makkah Hall) where the celebration took place. Being a public hall, there was no way to control who was coming and going. The MOI was falsely informed that it was a Christian gathering with the intention of proselytizing Muslims. 

 ICC's Mark Daniels, in an appeal for action, said: "The question remains, will the U.S. government tolerate the Saudi's Gestapo-like tactics against a common Christian civilian who has worked 17 years for the people of Saudi Arabia, only to be treated in this manner by that same government? International Christian Concern is calling on the Christian community to protest this action and for the U.S. government to demand the Saudi government release Prabhu and offer an apology to the Christian foreign nationals working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

After all, Saudi Arabia is considered an ally of the United States, a country defended by American young men and women in uniform. Should we not expect that Saudi Arabia be tolerant and protective of Christians living peacefully within their country, no matter what their nationality? In a tearful plea to the rest of the world, Socilia Isaac pleaded, 

"Please, help my husband."   ICC is urging Americans to call the office of Secretary of State Colin Powell at: 202-647-4000 and request that the U.S. government take immediate action.  CONTACT INFORMATION: Mark Daniels International Christian Concern Washington, DC  
icc@persecution.org 
 (301) 989-1708  Human Rights |