MEC (12.12.2002)/ HRWF Int. (16.12.2002) Website http://www.hrwf.net - Email info@hwf.net - Fernando Piedad Alconga, a Filipino national, is currently being detained at the Al Qusais Jail in Al Qusais, in Dubai by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) on charges of unlawful distribution of religious materials.
Rev. Fernando Alconga, who is an ordained minister of the Conservative Baptist Association of the Philippines (CBAP), is a pastor of the Redeemer and King Filipino Church of Ras Al Khaimah under the sponsorship of the Evangelical Church in the United Arab Emirates (CEC). His residence permit was issued on July 21, 2001.
On Monday, November 11, 2002, Rev. Fernando Alconga was going into the Al Bustan Center in Al Qusais, Dubai when he noticed an Arab man (this man was not an Emirati) sitting in his car by the entrance to the building. He approached the gentleman, held out a package containing "The God Story" in tape form, a Christian tract, and a New Testament Bible, then told him, "I have Christian materials in Arabic. Do you want one?" The man took the package, opened it, pulled-out the New Testament then began to read it. At this point, Rev. Alconga told him, "If you don't want it, please give it to me." To this, the Arab gentleman replied, "No, I want it!" so Rev. Fernando left the whole package with him.
Once inside the center, Rev. Alconga proceeded to give out more materials. To a young Russian boy, he gave two packages each containing "The God Story" in tape form and a tract both of which were in the Russian language. To a Filipina woman, he gave the same package but in Tagalog (the national language of the Philippines). Finally, to two of the Nepali security guards working there, he gave a Christian calendar.
The next day, Tuesday, November 12, 2002, Rev. Fernando Alconga was again at the Al Bustan Center in Al Qusais, Dubai. This time he wasn't distributing anything. Instead, he was simply sleeping in his car in the parking lot when two Arabs knocked on his window. The younger of the two asked, "Are you selling? Our friend said you have Arabic materials?" To this Rev. Fernando replied, "No, I don't have any more but if you want, I can bring some back tomorrow." The man then asked him, "What do you have right now?" Rev. Fernando told him, "Russian, Chinese, French, Indonesian . . ." The man then asked him if he could see these materials.
So Rev. Alconga went to the back of his car, opened the trunk and proceeded to show the two men the bag of materials he had. After he closed the trunk, the two men identified themselves as CID agents. After asking Rev. Fernando for some ID, the younger of the two told him to get in his car, sat down beside him, then instructed him to follow his colleague who at this time had gotten into his vehicle and had started to drive away.
They first took Rev. Alconga for interrogation to the CID General Headquarters beside the Dubai Police General Headquarters and across from the Al Mullah Plaza. Afterwards, they transferred him to the Al Qusais Jail where he is currently detained.
On Wednesday, November 13, 2001, two representatives of the Council of Evangelical Churches (CEC) went to the Al Qusais Jail and verified that Rev. Fernando was indeed detained there. They were also told that his case had been forwarded to the public prosecutor's office and that Rev. Alconga may be released by Saturday, November 16, 2002.
Representatives of the CEC have spoken with the public prosecutor on both November 16 and 18. The first time the prosecutor asked many questions about what a pastor's role is in a church and who is the head of the church in the United Arab Emirates. Then the public prosecutor said that he will need to interview witnesses and that the case would probably be forwarded to the court afterwards.
On November 18, a representative of the CEC went back to the prosecutor and was informed that he was to appear as a witness on December 1. The CEC representative then asked if Rev. Alconga might get a temporary release, but the public prosecutor said this was a serious, criminal offense and Rev. Alconga would not be released.
The morning before the December 1 hearing, the CEC representative was called and told that he did not need to come in as scheduled, as they were still doing investigation. However, the morning of the hearing the CEC found out that the hearing would take place, but at a different location. As a result neither the legal counsel nor the representative from the Filipino Embassy could attend the hearing.
At the hearing the prosecutor decided not to release Rev. Alconga on bail but to prolong his detention while the investigation continues.
Rev. Alconga is being treated with respect but his requests for legal council and a translator were denied and he felt pressured to sign documents in Arabic, a language that he does not understand.
The request is to petition the Emirati authorities for his release.
Please send your petitions to the following officials:
His Highness Al-Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al-Nahyan
President of the United Arab Emirates
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Manhal Palace
PO Box 280, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Telexes: 22220 PALACE EM
Telegrams: President Al-Nahyan, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Salutation: Your Highness
His Excellency Mohammad Nukhairah al-Dhahiri
Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Awqaf
Ministry of Justice Islamic Affairs & Awqaf
P.O.Box 260, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Fax : + 97126810680
Salutation: Your Excellency
Also send a copy of your petition to the Embassy of the UAE in your country and to Middle East Concern.
Middle East Concern
PO Box 2
Loughborough
LE11 3BG
UK
Phone: +44-1509-239400
Fax: +44-870-134-8312
Email: office@MEConcern.org
MEC is a co-operative effort by concerned Christians in the Middle East focusing on the need for Middle Eastern authorities to ensure the rights of all who choose to call themselves Christian |
