Saudi authorities detain Islamic Reform’s activists
DUBAI: Saudi authorities detained a member of the Movement of Islamic Reform in Arabia who was helping to organise a rare street protest in the conservative kingdom, a Saudi dissident said on Sunday. "Saud al-Dughaither was arrested at home on Saturday evening because he was one of the main people liaising for Thursday’s demonstrations," said London-based opposition figure Saad al-Fagih, whose rights group is organising the planned marches.
"The arrest is a pre-emptive measure to abort the success of the demonstrations," he told Reuters by telephone. Saudi officials in Riyadh said they were not immediately able to confirm the arrest.
Police last year broke up a rare street protest by Fagih’s group, Movement of Islamic Reform in Arabia, in the capital Riyadh. Authorities arrested 33 people and released them after two months. Protesters called for the release of political prisoners and for greater political participation in the absolute monarchy.
Fagih’s movement posted on its Web site a recording of what it said was a telephone call from Dughaither as police came to detain him. A man could be heard asking to see an arrest order, cursing and accusing police of opening fire on his home.
Street protests are extremely rare in Saudi Arabia and last year’s demonstration was seen as a challenge to the royal family, which is mounting a crackdown against militants loyal to Saudi-born al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
DUBAI: Saudi authorities detained a member of the Movement of Islamic Reform in Arabia who was helping to organise a rare street protest in the conservative kingdom, a Saudi dissident said on Sunday. "Saud al-Dughaither was arrested at home on Saturday evening because he was one of the main people liaising for Thursday’s demonstrations," said London-based opposition figure Saad al-Fagih, whose rights group is organising the planned marches.
"The arrest is a pre-emptive measure to abort the success of the demonstrations," he told Reuters by telephone. Saudi officials in Riyadh said they were not immediately able to confirm the arrest.
Police last year broke up a rare street protest by Fagih’s group, Movement of Islamic Reform in Arabia, in the capital Riyadh. Authorities arrested 33 people and released them after two months. Protesters called for the release of political prisoners and for greater political participation in the absolute monarchy.
Fagih’s movement posted on its Web site a recording of what it said was a telephone call from Dughaither as police came to detain him. A man could be heard asking to see an arrest order, cursing and accusing police of opening fire on his home.
Street protests are extremely rare in Saudi Arabia and last year’s demonstration was seen as a challenge to the royal family, which is mounting a crackdown against militants loyal to Saudi-born al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
posted by Casey Britton | 10:48 PM
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