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| Dad fears sons death in Saudi Arabia | | |
Saudi Arabia: The father of an Australian man being held in a Saudi Arabian prison on terror charges has spoken of his fear that his son might die in jail. Graham Thorne gathered with his extended Noongar family in Perth to send a message of support to his son Shayden Jamil Thorne, who has spent nearly 18 months in prison on suspicion of terrorism offences. His younger brother Junaid is also in Saudi Arabia and is wanted for questioning by local officials.Mr Thorne, who has not seen his sons since they moved to the Middle East as primary schoolboys in 1996, said he feared for his sons' life.
'My main concern is that they are going to kill my kids over there,' he said.
'Dad loves them and there's a big family over here that all love them and we just want them to come home.'
Shayden, 25, has been in custody since November 2011.
Junaid, 23, is in hiding in Saudi Arabia, apparently wanted by authorities for questioning after having previously been detained for two months.
The brothers are still Australian citizens after moving to Saudi Arabia with their mother and stepfather 17 years ago.
Thorne's mother, who returned to live in Perth last year but has asked not to be named, says her boys are innocent.
She says authorities found terrorist material on a laptop Shayden borrowed from a mosque but he knew nothing about it.
She raised his case in the media after becoming frustrated with the lack of progress.
Foreign Minister Bob Carr says the government was doing all it can to help.
Senator Carr has defended his department against claims it's done nothing to help, pointing to more than 50 representations and six visits by embassy officials over 18 months. |
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