Saudi reformers face trial after 4-year detention

**Babur** · May 07, 2011, 01:45 PM

The crackdown on activists continues in Saudi Arabia, the interrogations were done in secret and perhaps torture was used too.Perhaps more pressure should be put on Saudi Arabia to reform.

Saudi reformers face trial after 4-year detention

DUBAI | Sat May 7, 2011 5:08pm BST

(Reuters) - Sixteen reform activists have been put on trial in Saudi Arabia on security and sedition charges after more than four years in detention, their lawyer said on Saturday.

The group of lawyers, professors, and activists were mostly detained in 2007 after they met in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah to discuss reform in the conservative Muslim kingdom, their lawyer Bassim Alim told Reuters by telephone from Jeddah.

The men were then held without charge for four years and interrogated without their lawyers, said Alim.

They had now been charged with attempting to seize power, incitement against the king, financing terrorism, electronic crimes, money laundering and trying to set up a party in the country where political groupings are banned, among other offences, Alim said.

Saudi Arabia, a major U.S. ally and the world's top oil exporter, is an absolute monarchy that does not tolerate any form of dissent.

A justice ministry spokesman was not immediately available to comment.

"Interrogations were done in secret. Lawyers were not allowed in. This is in violation of Saudi criminal procedures," said Alim, the only lawyer allowed access to the hearing, adding that lawyers would present their cases this week.

A verdict is expected within six weeks, Alim said.

The hearings took place in a villa outside Jeddah, guarded by security police in civilian clothes. A soldier in a van told a reporter no one was allowed to enter.

"This trial is invalid because its procedures violate regulations," said Ahmad al-Rashed, another Saudi lawyer.

Activists say thousands are held in Saudi prisons without charge or access to lawyers despite a law that limits detention without trial to six months.

Last month, a group of Saudi activists posted a 10-minute YouTube video protesting against the group's imprisonment, attracting over 9,000 hits in less then 24 hours.

Online activists called for a mass day of protest on March 11. Almost no one took part after Saudi security turned out in force and religious authorities issued an edict banning protests.

A Human Rights Watch report in April said Saudi Arabia had arrested more than 160 activists since February. Activists say the arrests continue.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/0...7461SD20110507

**Kanaric** · May 07, 2011, 04:54 PM

Saudi, America's favorite dictatorship.

You would think that with America changing its post-cold war image to supporting democracies before dictatorships was real until you see that they still support governments like this.

**MathiasOfAthens** · May 07, 2011, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by Kanaric

Saudi, America's favorite dictatorship.

You would think that with America changing its post-cold war image to supporting democracies before dictatorships was real until you see that they still support governments like this.

Well, thats tricky... Obama isnt condemning Saudi Arabia because they havnt done too much to be condemned for as of late... I believed Obama did speak about the troops sent into Bahrain... anyway SA is still a sovereign state and was an ally before Obama. He cannot simply break the alliance we have troops in the country. So on one hand no one likes what the kingdom does but on the other hand we cannot criticize them unless they really cross the line... like a crackdown on protests a la Syria.

**~~John ''True Grit'' Wayne~~** · May 08, 2011, 06:04 AM

Originally Posted by Kanaric

Saudi, America's favorite dictatorship.

You would think that with America changing its post-cold war image to supporting democracies before dictatorships was real until you see that they still support governments like this.

Spot on

REp

**Dr Zoidberg** · May 07, 2011, 06:55 PM

Everytime I try to articulate my feelings on Saudi Arabia, I find myself having to fall back to this West Wing clip. Summarises it perfectly.

**Babur** · May 07, 2011, 07:59 PM

well I still think that US should pressure Saudi Arabia to reform

**Thanatos** · May 07, 2011, 08:03 PM

Originally Posted by Babur

well I still think that US should pressure Saudi Arabia to reform

Not when there's all that delicious oil that the US needs.

**Babur** · May 07, 2011, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by Thanatos

Not when there's all that delicious oil that the US needs.

a shame really

**Jaketh** · May 09, 2011, 02:49 AM

Originally Posted by Thanatos

Not when there's all that delicious oil that the US needs.

we need the oil not the natives controlling the oil

**~~Exarch~~** · May 07, 2011, 08:14 PM

soon, my pretties, sooon
i promise you, when the house of saud falls, there'll be literally blood in the streets
it may even look like this when the islamofascist terry wrists take over:

such an awesome game, i fell in love with america after playing it.

**(s)AINT** · May 07, 2011, 08:40 PM

The analogy that the USA suck's Saudi dick is largely over exaggerated.

We get our oil form all over the world - not just Saudi Arabia.

**Imperial** · May 07, 2011, 08:50 PM

We get the majority of our oil from Canada, which theoretically means we should be sucking their ducks. But instead, we treat them like a red-headed step child.

**skh1** · May 07, 2011, 08:54 PM

Originally Posted by Imperial

… sucking their ducks.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

**Dr Zoidberg** · May 08, 2011, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by Imperial

...sucking their ducks.

I love a good duck sucking...

**Pyrich** · May 08, 2011, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Dr Zoidberg

I love a good duck sucking...

Here here!! Though my duck hasnt returned from its winter migration, frankly, im begining to worry...

**Denny Crane!** · May 07, 2011, 09:25 PM

Yeah but we invaded Iraq, not because there was weapons of mass destruction was a lie, but because removing evil dictators is good.

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Unless they agree with us.

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Or don't like people we don't like

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Or sell us something we like

Kudos on the west wing clip. Never tire of that show. One of my favourites and always will be despite its ludicrous optomism.

**Dr Zoidberg** · May 07, 2011, 09:35 PM

Originally Posted by Denny Crane!

One of my favourites and always will be despite its ludicrous optomism.

Oh, it's ludicrously optimistic for sure, but that's part of its appeal. What public discourse could be, as opposed to what it is.

**Denny Crane!** · May 07, 2011, 09:49 PM

Originally Posted by Dr Zoidberg

Oh, it's ludicrously optimistic for sure, but that's part of its appeal. What public discourse could be, as opposed to what it is.

Indeed. The problem is what it is, is what it always will be.

**Eikki** · May 07, 2011, 10:38 PM

Apart from the oil, as long as the Saudis keep opposing the 'evil' and heretic Shias of Iran the Americans will do nothing about changing anything in the KSA.

**Tiberios** · May 08, 2011, 02:14 AM

Not surprised that the Saudi authorities have done so. I don't think reform will ever happen in Saudi Arabia, not significant reform anyway. This oppressive regime will probably live on. The US isn't going to pressure SA either, which is a shame really.