Blogger arrested after posting opinions, announcing his conversion to Christianity
(ANHRI/IFEX) – According to information obtained by ANRHI, Saudi authorities detained Hamoud Bin Saleh on 13 January 2009 and blocked his blog, Masihi Saudi – http://christforsaudi.blogspot.com , due to his opinions and the announcement on his blog that he had converted from Islam to Christianity. Based on information obtained by ANHRI, the Saudi authorities jailed […]
ANHRI calls for action in case of Egyptian Internet activist detained in Saudi Arabia
(ANHRI/IFEX) – On 21 December 2008, ANHRI said that the administrative judiciary court will review its recently filed claim on 20 January 2009. On 2 December, ANHRI filed a claim against the Egyptian president demanding the dismissal of the Egyptian minister of foreign affairs and the ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This action […]
Saudi blogger, director of Syrian media center prevented from traveling to free press forum
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: Beirut, Lebanon, 11 December 2008 World’s Press Condemns Travel Restrictions on Arab Journalists Authorities in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia and Syria have prevented four Arab journalists and human rights activists from attending the Arab Free Press Forum, an annual gathering in Beirut, Lebanon, that examines how independent […]
Blogger detained, beaten, arrested
(ANHRI/IFEX) – The following is a 9 November 2008 ANHRI press release: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Members of the Hisba apparatus arrest and beat up a blogger for a poem The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) reported today that blogger Roshdi Algadir was arrested by the Hisba apparatus in Saudi Arabia on 4th […]
Women’s rights website blocked by telecommunications authority
(RSF/IFEX) – The Saudi Telecommunications Authority has blocked access to the Voice of Saudi Women website ( http://www.saudiwomen.net ) for opposing government policy. Reporters Without Borders joins the Saudi Human Rights Commission and the Saudi Human Rights Association, as well as the website’s members and visitors, in condemning the measure. The Voice of Saudi Women […]
Egyptian Internet activist detained without charges
(ANHRI/IFEX) – The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) condemns the Egyptian security apparatus and their Saudi counterparts for co-operating in the detention of Egyptian Internet activist and programmer Yousif Al-Ashmawi for two months without trial or charge in Al Hayer Prison in Riyadh. Twenty-seven-year-old Al-Ashmawi traveled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in […]
Human Rights Watch calls for release of unlawfully detained political activists
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a 3 October 2008 Human Rights Watch press release: Saudi Arabia: Free Political Prisoners Many Criminals Granted Amnesty, but Activists Remain in Prison (New York, October 3, 2008) – The Saudi government should free unlawfully detained political activists, including Professor Matrook al-Faleh, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading advocates of reform, […]
Cleric issues fatwa against journalists and writers
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 22 September 2008 CPJ press release: SAUDI ARABIA: Cleric issues fatwa against journalists and writers New York, September 22, 2008 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about an edict issued Saturday by a top Saudi Muslim cleric, who said that writers who challenge or criticize religious […]
High-ranking official issues fatwa against media professionals for spreading “depravity”
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders has voiced its deep concern about an upsurge in fatwas (religious decrees) calling for the murder of journalists in the Arab and Muslim world. In the latest case, a high-ranking Saudi official, Sheikh Saleh al-Luhidan, president of the superior council of jurisprudence, issued a fatwa on 12 September 2008 calling […]
European satellite operator Eutelsat drops Saudi opposition TV station
(RSF/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders is concerned about French-based satellite operator Eutelsat’s decision to stop carrying Al Islah TV, the mouthpiece of a Saudi exile group, on Eutelsat’s Hotbird satellite on 22 July 2008. The Saudi opposition group, called the Movement for Islamic Reform in Arabia (MIRA), is based in the UK. Al Islah TV’s […]
Four IFEX members, other organisations call for release of three activists detained for speaking out
(CIHRS/IFEX) – The following is a joint statement by CIHRS, ANHRI, BCHR, EOHR and other organisations: Human Rights Defenders Persecuted in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Cairo 11 June 2008 – Arab rights organizations and civil society organizations, signatories to the present statement, call upon the Saudi authorities to put an end to their arbitrary […]
Human rights activist arrested after criticising prison conditions; two others imprisoned for supporting demonstration
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a 21 May 2008 Human Rights Watch press release: Saudi Arabia: Release Leading Human Rights Activist Secret Police Arrest Professor at University (New York, May 21, 2008) – The Saudi Interior Ministry should immediately and unconditionally release Matrook al-Faleh, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading human rights activists, Human Rights Watch […]
Web critic facing possible prison sentence, death threats flees country; Turkish barber sentenced to death for “cursing name of God”
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Saudi Arabia: Stop Trials for ‘Insulting’ Islam Charges Violate Precepts of Law, Freedom of Expression (New York, May 13, 2008) – Courts in Jeddah should dismiss cases against a Saudi web critic and a Turkish barber charged with “insulting” Islam, an unequivocal violation of […]
Blogger released from prison, his blog blocked by authorities
(HRinfo/IFEX) – On the morning of 26 April 2008, the Saudi government released the famous Saudi blogger Fouad Al-Farhan. Al-Farhan was released after spending 145 days in prison. His confinement commenced on 11 December 2007. Meanwhile, at the beginning of April, before releasing Al-Farhan, the authorities blocked his blog ( http://www.alfarhan.org ). “It is good […]
Annual Report 2008: The Gulf states
Annual Report 2008: The Gulf states
World Report 2008: Saudi Arabia
World Report 2008: Saudi Arabia