Indian National Released and Deported to India

For several weeks, Christians around the world have been praying for Brian O'Connor, an Indian national arrested in Saudi Arabia under false alcohol and pornography charges, as well as charges related to Bible studies and preaching Christianity. On October 20, he was convicted on the alcohol charges and sentenced to ten months in prison and three hundred lashes; a sentence he was to appeal. The Voice of the Martyrs was pleased to learn that O'Connor was unexpectedly and unconditionally deported from Saudi Arabia on November 1 without any reason being given. He was taken to the Riyadh airport late Monday night, allowed to embrace friends who had gathered to see him off, and then put on a plane to India.

Speaking to Compass Direct, O'Connor reports that, during his seven months in prison, he was able to lead twenty-one fellow prisoners to faith in Jesus Christ. "I was there for a purpose," he testified. "And on the flight home today, I shared with another man who prayed with me to receive Christ."

Praise God for this sudden release. This is clearly a case where the power of prayer and international advocacy was demonstrated. Pray for O'Connor as he settles into life in India, which he left in 1998 to work in Saudi Arabia. Pray for those whom he was privileged to lead to Christ.

For more details on Brian O'Connor, as well as information on the persecution of Christians in Saudi Arabia, click here.

  • Country Information

    Population
    35,939,806 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Arab (90), Afro-Asian (10)

    Religion (%)
    Islam (official: 100)

    Leader
    King and Prime Minister Salman bin Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (2015)

    Government type
    Absolute monarchy

    Legal system
    Islamic (sharia) legal system with some elements of Egyptian, French, and customary law; note - several secular codes have been introduced; commercial disputes handled by special committees

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Saudi Arabia

    Please uphold the Christians of Saudi Arabia, who must secretly serve God in a country where intolerance and violence pose threats to their freedom of worship and personal belief in our Lord Jesus. May He personally take up their cause, working out His very best plans for their lives and future ( Jeremiah 29:11). Pray that He will touch the hearts of the country's authorities – and many others in Saudi Arabia and its surrounding nations – through the Internet and VOMC's evangelistic radio broadcast so that they may experience His wonderful plan of salvation as well.

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Saudi Arabia News

  • Christian Escapes the Country
    A road in Saudi Arabia - Photo: Unsplash / Abdulla Dhahri

    Over the past several months, Christians around the world have been following reports about a Saudi Arabian Christian referred to as "A" or "Adam." For more information, see our previously published reports, which are available at our country report.

    Read more...

  • Believer's Family Escapes into Exile
    Man praying with mosque in the background
    Pray that Christians will experience the Lord's peace and strength.

    A Christian believer in Saudi Arabia, who was identified in previous Persecution & Prayer Alert reports as "A" or "Adam," has been sentenced with a large fine for allegedly attempting to convert Muslims to Christianity, as well as assisting his sister to flee the country. The accused believer was given 30 days to pay the fine unless an appeal was granted. (For more details about this situation, see this page.)

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  • Believer Faces Hefty Fine for Assisting Others
    A man in the desert.
    Pray that Saudi believers will know they are never alone.

    A court in Saudi Arabia has recently imposed a hefty fine of 300,000 SAR (which converted equates to approximately $97,000 CAD) on a Christian man who can only be identified as "A" or "Adam" for security reasons. He has been given 30 days to pay the fine unless an appeal is granted within that time.

    Read more...

  • Christian Man's Wife Seized by Opposing Family
    Woman by a window
    Pray that "A's" wife and others like her will experience the compassion of our Heavenly Father.

    A Saudi believer identified only as "A" has been facing legal challenges after openly speaking about his conversion to Christianity, as well as assisting his Christian sister to flee the country (read more). While frivolous charges of theft against him were dropped in April (see report here), he continues to endure further court challenges and added personal concerns. His next court hearing is scheduled for May 30th.

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