Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Saudi Arabia: Rights Activist, Bloggers Arrested



King Launches New Speech Restrictions as Crackdown on Critics Escalates

Human Rights Watch
May 3, 2011

"(Munich) - The Saudi interior minister should immediately release Fadhil Makki al-Manasif, a human rights activist arrested on May 1, 2011, in ‘Awwamiyya in the Eastern Province for taking part in peaceful demonstrations, Human Rights Watch said today. Al-Manasif's arrest follows amendments to the Press and Publications Law on April 29 that further restrict the right to free speech in Saudi Arabia, and days after the authorities arrested at least 20 peaceful protesters, including two bloggers.

"The latest arrests of peaceful dissidents brings the climate for reform [what reform??] in Saudi Arabia to the freezing point," said Christoph Wilcke, senior Middle East researcher at Human Rights Watch. "The Saudi ruling family has shown no signs that it might ease its iron grip on the right to express political opinions."...."

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