UPDATED ON:
Thursday, November 06, 2008
21:57 Mecca time, 18:57 GMT
 
News Middle East
Saudi hunger strike over detentions
Ten of the detainees were arrested on charges
of supporting terrorism [AFP] 

Scores of human rights activists in Saudi Arabia have started a two-day hunger strike to protest against what they term as illegal detentions in the kingdom.

The protest fast, which began on Thursday, aims to highlight the plight of 11 activists, being allegedly held on false charges.

One man was detained after writing a report on the poor conditions in Saudi jails.

The other 10 men were arrested in 2007 on charges of supporting terrorism, although human rights groups have said that they were only organising local gatherings calling for fair trials and political reform.

Nine of the 10 men are in solitary confinement.

Those on protest fast are demanding that the government grant the prisoners fair and public trials or set them free.

Mohammad Fahad Al-Qahtani, a college professor and one of the activists on hunger strike, told Al Jazeera that they had decided on the protest as a last resort. He said that their petitions seeking fair trials for the men and for improving conditions in jails had gone unheeded.

He said that freedoms of expression and assembly were not present in Saudi Arabia.

"So that is really the case. It is not a matter of speaking out, it is a matter of advocating human rights.

The 11 detainees include a former judge and ex-university professors.

 Source: Al Jazeera and agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 7
 
Mohamed Zarook
Sri Lanka
06/11/2008
Hunger Strike
At least be thankful that they permitted you to have a hunger strike. The problem is not only confined to Saudi Arabia, it virulent in the rest of the Arab world.

Richard
United States
06/11/2008
True Courage
God bless these people. Certainly doing this requires more bravery than protestors in the west have.

Aurengzeb
Sri Lanka
07/11/2008
Put these people also in detension
I think west trying to instigate another problem in Saudi. Have to check bank balances of people who are trying for hunger strike. Dear King, pls do not tolerate dirty games of west in your country.

M Kamel
United Kingdom
07/11/2008
Democracy
Mr Zarook, This is not an "Arab world" probmen, this is a "third world" problem which affects your country too !! Democracy is part of the dailt life of civilized societies & unfortunately we are not there yet .. Democracy does not come cheap & has never been granted by the ruler, it has always been taken by the people !

Umar
United Kingdom
07/11/2008
Champion of Islam?
Saudi Arabia mascarades itself as the true champion of global Islam, , but how shameful it is to see that it carries out crimes against humanity under the guise of traditional Islam. In Islam there are clear processes to try and convict criminals, however the Kingdom along with its subservient religious order oppress their people under the guise of 'war on terror'. These are the root causes of terror which the Saudi government and its allies add fuel to.

himayat
United Kingdom
07/11/2008
strong people
saudi arabia is doing nothing apart from immitating usa they have more guantanamo's in saudi kindom but no one in bush so called civilised society raise there concern.these tyrant should be brought to justice inshalla with the will of allah(swt)the day is near.may allah(swt) help these courageous people in there efforts.

NAZ
Afghanistan
10/11/2008
Freedom
Oppression of people, animals not Islamic. Saudi gov oppress women. Never was the veil enforced by law by the Prophet Muhammad. He gave women freedom of divorce, rights to property, education.The Quran states that all humans are equal before God the only difference is their good works for sake of humanity and God. A prophetic tradition says the side of head of Satan will rise out of Najd (in Saudi Arabia).Saudi gov erased this part in the book of traditions.

 
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