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Saudi Arabia: Remove conditions on royal ‘pardon’ of reformists
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sandy
Jan 16, 2013, 7:47:14 AM1/16/13
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Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry has reportedly told the 16 men that for the pardon to be carried out, they must first sign pledges to not repeat their offences or engage in public activism, and to thank the King.
Placing such ludicrous conditions on a pardon defeats the very purpose of issuing one in the first place,” said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International.
So far, six of the reformists have reportedly said they refuse to sign the pledge and continue to be detained. They include Dr Suliaman al-Rashudi, Dr Saud al-Hashimi, Saif al-Din al-Sharif, Dr Musa al-Qirni, Abdul Rahman al-Shumayri and Abdul Rahman Khan.
“The six men still detained are prisoners of conscience who were imprisoned solely on the basis of their peaceful activism – they must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said Luther.
The 16 men, many of whom are professionals, include prominent reform advocates who attempted to set up a human rights association in Saudi Arabia.
Most of the group were held in pre-trial detention for up to three and half years before even being officially charged.
At least two of the men were alleged to have been tortured in detention. Many of the men had been held in prolonged solitary confinement, at times in incommunicado detention.
Placing such ludicrous conditions on a pardon defeats the very purpose of issuing one in the first place,” said Philip Luther, Middle East and North Africa Programme Director at Amnesty International.
So far, six of the reformists have reportedly said they refuse to sign the pledge and continue to be detained. They include Dr Suliaman al-Rashudi, Dr Saud al-Hashimi, Saif al-Din al-Sharif, Dr Musa al-Qirni, Abdul Rahman al-Shumayri and Abdul Rahman Khan.
“The six men still detained are prisoners of conscience who were imprisoned solely on the basis of their peaceful activism – they must be released immediately and unconditionally,” said Luther.
The 16 men, many of whom are professionals, include prominent reform advocates who attempted to set up a human rights association in Saudi Arabia.
Most of the group were held in pre-trial detention for up to three and half years before even being officially charged.
At least two of the men were alleged to have been tortured in detention. Many of the men had been held in prolonged solitary confinement, at times in incommunicado detention.
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