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The Saudi Machine of repression in the face of courageous activist
Police threats against Walid Abu al-Kheir
Cairo in July 13, 2009.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) announced today its absolute solidarity with the Saudi human rights activist, Walid Abu al-Kheir, who is facing a fierce campaign launched by the Saudi Ministry of Interior, because of his success in filing a case accusing the ministry of violating the law. The case comes after illegally imprisoning the reformist Dr. Abdulrahman Al Shamiri for almost thirty months, without trial. What happened to Al Shamiri can only happen in a country that does not know the law or care about justice, such as Saudi Arabia.
The lawyer and human rights activist Walid Abu al-Kheir, who works for "Human Rights Watch in Saudi Arabia," has succeeded in the prosecution of the Saudi Interior Ministry for its violating the law and putting Al Shamiri in prison without trial for more than two years, despite the fact that the Saudi law prevents the action of pre-trial detention for more than two months. But the fact that the Ministry of the Interior that got used to waste law without facing any one who dare to challenge its practices- has turned the success of this courageous lawyer in the prosecution of the Ministry into a challenge to its oppression. And made the lawyer a target for threats and persecution, which did not exclude his family or the reformist prisoner Dr. Shamiri himself. Al Shamiri have been investigated in prison for his relationship to Walid Abu al-Kheir, and after the investigation Al Shamiri was told that; "Abu al-Kheir, will soon be with you in jail"
It is known that since he has took his post, the Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdulaziz, has been used to imprison reformists without trial, which made the officers of this Kingdom expand their role in sending innocent people to jail, without distinction between Saudis, Arabs, Asians, or Africans.
In addition to the climate of fear created by the Ministry among Saudi citizens, it became so rare to find an activist or journalist or citizen who raises his\her voice against this oppression. More over, the ministry also depends on its tights control over many of the local and Arab media, which is trying to mislead the national, regional and international public opinion, through neglecting the reality of the dire police- driven situation in the kingdom.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights said; "staying silent on the crimes of this ministry has become unbearable, the Saudi citizens deserve better conditions and more decent life. Whatever the strength and power of this Minister, it is time that for the public opinion to be aware that Saudi Arabia has a repressive Minister of Interior of who does not respect the law."
ANHRI declared that it will work diligently with all the Arabic and International human rights institutions to protect Walid Abu al-Kheir, and detect the crimes of this minister, who controls, with iron and fire, the reins of government in the richest Arab state.
The website of Human Rights Watch in Saudi Arabia on facebook;
http://www.facebook.com/board.php?uid=40258229626#/group.php?gid=40258229626
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