Resistance to press reform from religious and government officials, finds CPJ report
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: Princes, Clerics, and Censors A CPJ special report: In Saudi Arabia, resistance to press reform New York, May 9, 2006 – Despite domestic and international pressure for reform, government and religious authorities in Saudi Arabia employ a wide array of behind-the-scenes controls to curtail coverage of […]
Journalist, accused of un-Islamic writings, released after signing statement, barred from leaving country
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 20 April 2006 CPJ press release: Saudi journalist, accused of un-Islamic writings, is freed New York, April 20, 2006 – The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of Saudi journalist Rabah al-Quwai’, who was held for 13 days in retaliation for his writings about religious extremism. Al-Quwai’, a […]
Detained journalist taunted in police cell, his lawyer denied access
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Saudi Arabia: Al-Qa’ida Critic Arrested for ‘Destructive Thoughts’ Secret Police Ensnare Liberal Journalist (New York, April 12, 2006) – Saudi authorities in the northern city of Ha’il should immediately release Rabbah al-Quwai’i, a journalist for Riyadh’s al-Shams newspaper, Human Rights Watch said today. The […]
Journalist detained for writings about religious extremism
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: Saudi journalist detained for writings New York, April 7, 2006 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about the ongoing detention of a Saudi journalist who has been held for five days in retaliation for his writings about religious extremism. Rabah al-Quwai’, who writes […]
RSF and HRinfo appeal to King Abdullah about his government’s Internet policies
(RSF/HRinfo/IFEX) – Reporters Without Borders and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information have written to King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz asking him to intervene on behalf of Mohsen al-Awajy, who was arrested on 10 March 2006 for criticising the Saudi authorities, especially labour minister Ghazy al-Kosseiby, on the Wasatyah.com website. The letter also urged […]
Second Russian newspaper closes over cartoons, editor facing charges; Saudi authorities close weekly for republishing cartoons
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 21 February 2006 CPJ press release: RUSSIA: Second paper closes in wake of Danish cartoon controversy New York, February 21, 2006 – The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the closure of a second Russian newspaper that published religious cartoons related to the controversy over Danish drawings of […]
Teachers sentenced to prison, flogging, for open discussions
(HRW/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rights Watch press release: Saudi Arabia: Teachers Silenced on Blasphemy Charges Courts Again Punish Open Discussion by Teachers With Prison, Flogging (New York, November 17, 2005) – A Saudi court has sentenced a high school chemistry teacher to more than three years in prison and 750 lashes for […]
Saudi agency blocks access to weblog creation and hosting service
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has called on the Internet Services Unit (ISU), the agency that manages Web filtering in Saudi Arabia, to explain why the weblog creation and hosting service blogger.com has been made inaccessible since 3 October 2005, preventing Saudi bloggers from updating their blogs. “Saudi Arabia is one of the countries that censors the […]
PEN American Center hails release of Saudi reformers
(PEN/IFEX) – The following is an 8 August 2005 PEN American Center press release: PEN Hails Release of Saudi Reformers New York, New York, August 8, 2005: PEN American Center hailed the release today of Ali Al-Domaini, a leading Saudi literary figure who was one of three prominent intellectuals imprisoned for criticizing the pace and […]
Appeals court confirms harsh sentences for reformists
(Human Rights Watch/IFEX) – The following is a Human Rigths Watch press release: Saudi Arabia: Court Confirms Jail for Reformers Royal Pardon Needed to Free Constitutional Monarchy Advocates (New York, July 27, 2005) -The confirmation of harsh prison sentences against three Saudi advocates of peaceful reform will chill Saudi Arabia’s reform movement, Human Rights Watch […]
Poet sentenced to 9 years in prison, two other reform advocates also convicted
(PEN/IFEX) – The following is a 15 May 2005 PEN American Center press release: Writers Condemn Conviction of Poet, Two Other Reform Advocates In Saudi Arabia New York, New York, May 15, 2005: PEN, the international writers organization dedicated to defending writers and freedom of expression around the world, reacted with shock to the announcement […]
Human Rights Watch calls on Bush to press for Saudi dissidents’ release
(Human Rights Watch/IFEX) – The following is a 24 April 2005 Human Rights Watch press release: Saudi Arabia: Bush Should Call for Dissidents’ Release Credibility of President’s Call for Mideast Reform at Stake (Washington D.C., April 24, 2005) – U.S. President George W. Bush should call on Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Abdullah to immediately release […]
Writers Ali al-Domaini and Matrouq al-Faleh still in detention
(WiPC/IFEX) – On the first anniversary of the arrest and detention of Ali al-Domaini and Matrouq al-Faleh, International PEN’s Writers in Prison Committee renews its call for the writers’ release. Al-Domaini, a writer and poet, and al-Faleh, an academic, were arrested and detained in March 2004 for criticising the National Commission on Human Rights (NCHR) […]
Editor detained
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the arrest and arbitrary detention of Mohamed al Raouchan, editor-in-chief of the weekly “Al-Mouhaid” (“Neutrality”). Al Raouchan was arrested by security forces in Riyadh on 9 January 2005. “We strongly condemn the unfair detention of this journalist. If the Saudi authorities have good reasons to justify his detention, they should […]
Writer Ali Al-Domaini and academic Matrouq al-Faleh on trial
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned about the charges brought against writer Ali Al-Domaini and academic Matrouq al-Faleh, whose trial reportedly started on 9 August 2004 at an Islamic court in Riyadh. Al-Domaini and al-Faleh have been detained since 15 March for criticising the authorities. International PEN considers both men to […]
CPJ calls on authorities to apprehend perpetrators of attack on BBC cameraman and reporter
(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a CPJ press release: BBC CAMERAMAN KILLED IN SAUDI ARABIA Reporter critically injured New York, June 7, 2004-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) mourns the death of BBC cameraman Simon Cumbers, 36, who was shot to death yesterday by unidentified gunmen near Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia. BBC security […]