Saudi Arabia

(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/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 […]

(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 […]

(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/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 […]

(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) […]

(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 […]

(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/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 […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ statement: Deadly Saudi Attack on BBC Team Highlights Terrorism and Safety Challenge for Journalism The killing of a BBC cameraman and the wounding of a reporter in Saudi Arabia yesterday highlight the increasingly frightening choices facing journalists who report from the world’s most dangerous regions, said the International […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN has received information that journalist Faris Hizam Al-Harbi, who was reportedly detained on 21 April 2004, has been freed. However, an 8 March order banning him from practicing his profession remains in force. International PEN welcomes the journalist’s release, but is seriously concerned that he and many other […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 29 April 2004 letter to Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, CPJ expressed concern over reports that Saudi journalist Fares bin Hizam, formerly with the daily newspapers “Al-Watan” and “Asharq al-Awsat”, has been detained by Saudi authorities. According to press reports and CPJ sources in Saudi Arabia, Bin Hizam was […]

(RSF/IFEX) – Since early March 2004, Saudi authorities have blocked access to the website Gaymiddleeast.com, a news site for the Middle East’s homosexual community. RSF has called on the Internet Service Unit (ISU), the agency responsible for the Internet in Saudi Arabia, to lift the ban on this and other similar websites. The site was […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned about the arrests of writer Ali Al-Domaini and publisher Mohammed Said Tayib, who are believed to be among several leading Saudi intellectuals to have been detained since 15 March 2004 for criticising the authorities. Ali Al-Domaini and Mohammed Said Tayib are believed to be held […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The following is a Writers in Prison Committee press release: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 8 MARCH 2004 SAUDI ARABIA: Wajeha Al-Huwaider ‘We live in troubled times. The current situation and the challenges and dilemmas facing the country require a considered vision of the future and reform. The men and women of this country must […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF has condemned the dismissal of “New Straits Times” editor-in-chief Abdullah Ahmad on 21 November 2003, following the direct intervention of Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The prime minister said the editor-in-chief’s dismissal came as a result of a report about Saudi Arabian policies. “This case illustrates Saudi Arabia’s inability to tolerate […]