Canadian minister Bruce Balfour was arrested on July 10 and imprisoned in Lebanon—for the crime of visiting Israel, which, in Lebanon, means you have “collaborated with the enemy.” Such lovely people. Minister held 3 weeks in Lebanese prison for crime of visiting Israel. (Hat tip: Colt.)

Balfour is now being held at the suburban Roumieh prison northeast of Beirut. Canadian newspapers have reported that Balfour is a native of western Canada who was in the Middle East directing an evangelical project, Cedars of Lebanon, to help replant the biblical cedar forests in northern Lebanon.

News of his arrest only become known after Balfour managed to get a message out his cell to the Canadian Ambassador in Lebanon. In the message he wrote, “After 11 days of hell in Lebanese prisons, I am finally allowed to make contact with you. I have tried more than 100 times to make contact but nothing worked.”

He described the circumstances of his detention. “When I arrived at the Beirut Airport on Thursday, July 10th, at about 9:30 PM on British Airways flight 6703, I was arrested because a computer entry said that I have been in Israel at one time, which is true. But please tell me where the crime in this is. My freedom has been taken away and I have been treated horribly. This is against all international law and moral code of every civilized country in the world.

“I need to get out of here now. Every hour multiples the possibility of me being moved to another location and disappearing forever.”