Culture club burned down for second time for hosting female intellectuals and writers
The AlJouf club was burned down for a second time at the end of February 2010, after having announced its annual cultural activities agenda.
Advocate for Shia rights held without charge
Munir Jassas was arrested after the intelligence service ordered him to stop his internet writings criticising the government’s treatment of Shias.
Blogging about quest to treat comatose brother could land man in jail
Human Rights Watch calls on the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecutions to drop “cybercrimes” charges against Nasir al-Subai’i for writing about his bureaucratic ordeal.
Saudi operator Arabsat takes Iran’s Al-Alam network off air
The network has been critical of Saudi involvement in the insurgency in northern Yemen and Al-Alam personnel believe they were taken off the air for political reasons.
IFJ condemns boycott of Iranian television network by Arab satellite operators
The satellite operators must respect Al Alam’s editorial independence and allow pluralism in public information, says IFJ.
King overturns 60-lashes verdict against journalist
The king’s decision sends a message to the judicial system that it should not go after journalists for exercising free speech, says Human Rights Watch.
Television programme editors accused of facilitating the “expression of sin”
Two editors of a television programme that aired a show featuring the sexual exploits of a Saudi man have been accused of facilitating the “expression of sin”.
New university a chance to expand freedom
The opening of the new university will test whether the kingdom is prepared to expand academic freedoms and women’s rights, Human Rights Watch said.
Two human rights activists’ Twitter pages blocked
RSF is disturbed to learn that access to the Twitter pages of two Saudi human rights activists has been blocked, apparently because of the human rights content they had been posting on the micro-blogging webservice.
Authorities close two Lebanese television station offices
Saudi conservatives regard the programme “Bold Red Line” as shocking and immoral, and a violation of Islamic law.
Syrian blogger arrested by Saudi forces, detained in unknown location
According to AHNRI’s information, on 29 July 2009 Saudi security arrested Syrian blogger Raafat Al Ghanem and detained him in an unknown location.
Government pressure on television programme considered too liberal
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is concerned about the Saudi pro-government daily “Al Watan’s” attempts to interfere in the programming of MBC, a privately-owned, pan-Arab satellite television station based in Dubai. A recent column in the newspaper called one of MBC’s programmes “contrary to society’s customs.” “This quarrel between news media reflects strong pressure from […]
New security measures introduced for Internet cafés
The Saudi Ministry of Interior has imposed severe restrictions on Saudi Internet Cafés, requiring owners of Internet Cafés to install secret surveillance cameras inside cyber cafés, to register users’ names and identity numbers
Shia reformist Nimr Bakir al-Nimr persecuted by security forces for criticising government policies
(ANHRI/IFEX) – The following is a 22 March 2009 ANHRI statement: Saudi Arabia: Security Persecuting Shia Reformist Cairo 22 March 2009 The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) stated that Saudi security forces should stop their police campaign against Shia citizens and immediately release those they have detained for participating in a demonstration in […]
World Report 2009: Saudi Arabia
World Report 2009: Saudi Arabia
Political activist and writer Matrook Al-Faleh released from prison
(WiPC/IFEX) – The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN welcomes the release on 10 January 2009 of leading reformist and academic Professor Matrook Al-Faleh, who had been held without charge since 19 May 2008, apparently for his writings and activism in support of political prisoners in Saudi Arabia. He is said to be in […]