
Saudi activist lawyer Waleed Abu Al Khair was released on bail Thursday evening after he was detained overnight for hosting an "unauthorized" gathering at his house. Abu Al Khair’s wife Samar Badawi told AFP that her husband was taken into custody for setting up "an unauthorized diwaniah," or gathering place, and "due to his relations with the reformists and for hosting them in our diwaniah," she said. Human Rights Watch criticized the Saudi government for arresting the activist who is also on trial over two other cases. The government is accusing Abu Al Khair of disrespecting the judiciary and contacting foreign human rights organizations. "Saudi authorities have sunk to a new low by arresting Waleed Abu al-Khair for hosting people in his home to exchange ideas," said Joe Stork, acting Middle East director for HRW in a statement published online. "Saudi Arabia is putting itself forward to sit on the UN Human Rights Council in 2014, but it refuses to respect its citizens’ most basic rights." Shortly after his release, Abu Al Khair posted an update to Twitter to thank people who supported him. "This journey is not over. It is only one round that they have not won, and they are preparing for more rounds," he wrote. "I might be jailed soon as I was told, but freedom will never be jailed."
GMT 18:32 2018 Thursday ,11 January
Nearly 100,000 displaced by fighting in northwest SyriaGMT 18:54 2018 Monday ,08 January
Tunisian police disperse protests against price hikes, unemploymentGMT 18:38 2018 Sunday ,07 January
Imam inaugurates move back to the Prophet’s MihrabGMT 19:14 2018 Saturday ,06 January
Iran: opposition protests and pro-regime ralliesGMT 19:58 2018 Wednesday ,03 January
Polisario Threats MINURSO to Enter Restricted Zone of GuergueratGMT 18:19 2018 Monday ,01 January
Syria’s Assad names new defense and other ministersGMT 18:14 2018 Monday ,01 January
Abbas condemns Israeli ruling party vote for West Bank annexationGMT 00:20 2017 Saturday ,30 December
Makkah forum to boost innovation, leadership
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor