Indian Christian calls on Saudi Arabia to recognize migrants' religious rights

January 04, 2013 - "Saudi Arabia should grant Christian migrants religious freedom as well as the right to build churches in the country. The public value of religion must be recognized as every human being's right to self-fulfilment," said Brian O'Connor in an appeal made through AsiaNews. In 2004, the Christian from India was held in a Saudi jail, in chains, tortured for seven months and seven days for alleged proselytising. Released after an international campaign on his behalf, he said that "recognising this right would be a positive change for the whole country." In a country that does not recognise or protect any religion other than Islam, "Indian migrants worship in the privacy of their homes," O'Connor said. "However, they are often victims of raids and arrests by the Muttawa, the dreaded religious police.” “It is urgent and essential that Indian Christians and Hindus, as well as other non-Muslim migrants be granted the right to worship freely without discrimination and persecution," O’Connor said. According to the Migration Report 2013 to be released next week by the Centre for Development Studies, Saudi Arabia continues to be the desired destination among low- and semi-skilled workers from India. In 2011, at least 289,297 Indians moved to Saudi Arabia seeking employment.