MaxShimba
JF-Expert Member
- Apr 11, 2008
- 35,772
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Kingdom silences convert, prohibits him from leaving country.
LOS ANGELES, (CDN) In a surprise move, a Saudi Christian arrested in January for describing his conversion from Islam and criticizing the kingdoms judiciary on his blog site was released on March 28 with the stipulation that he not travel outside of Saudi Arabia or appear on media.
Hamoud Saleh Al-Amri (previously reported as Hamoud Bin Saleh), 28, reportedly attributed his release to advocacy efforts by the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI). The Cairo-based organization had campaigned for his release along with other rights groups, reported Christian advocacy organization Middle East Concern (MEC).
Gamal Eid, director of ANHRI, told Compass by telephone that he believed his organization had nothing to do with Al-Amris release. Rather, he said he believed officials were loath to keep a person of questionable mental stability in prison.
He is mentally not stable, because he had the courage to say in his blog that he is a Christian, Eid said. Anyone in his right mind in Saudi Arabia wouldnt do that.
The countrys penalty for apostasy, or leaving Islam, is death, although in recent years there have been no known cases of kingdom citizens formally convicted and sentenced with capital punishment for the offense.
This was not the first imprisonment for Al-Amri. He was detained in 2004 for nine months and in 2008 for one month before he was re-arrested on Jan. 13 of this year, and Eid said the young blogger was tortured during the first two incarcerations.
Al-Amris treatment during this latest imprisonment is unknown. After his previous releases he had contacted Eids office, but the ANHRI director said he has not done so since being released from Riyadhs Eleisha prison, known for its human rights abuses.
He was mistreated the first two times he was imprisoned, but this time I dont know, because he hasnt contacted me, said Eid. In the past he was mistreated with sleep deprivation, prolonged solitary confinement and a continuous barrage of physical torture and insults.
The advocate added that it is likely Al-Amri was mistreated during his recent imprisonment.
I consider anyone who declares his religion to be anything than Islam to be extremely brave and courageous, but this extreme courage bordering on carelessness is madness, because he knows what could happen in Saudi, Eid said. Im not a doctor, but I find this extreme.
Al-Amri has become isolated from his family and lives alone, Eid said, but he said he was unable to comment on the converts current situation.
Blog Blocked
Following Al-Amris latest arrest, MEC reported, Saudi authorities blocked access to his blog inside Saudi Arabia. Google then locked it, claiming there was a technical violation of terms of service. On Feb. 5 it was reportedly restored due to public pressure after his March 28 release, Al-Amri had credited his release to ANHRIs efforts on his blog, www.christforsaudi.blogspot.com but yesterday Compass found the site did not work
LOS ANGELES, (CDN) In a surprise move, a Saudi Christian arrested in January for describing his conversion from Islam and criticizing the kingdoms judiciary on his blog site was released on March 28 with the stipulation that he not travel outside of Saudi Arabia or appear on media.
Hamoud Saleh Al-Amri (previously reported as Hamoud Bin Saleh), 28, reportedly attributed his release to advocacy efforts by the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI). The Cairo-based organization had campaigned for his release along with other rights groups, reported Christian advocacy organization Middle East Concern (MEC).
Gamal Eid, director of ANHRI, told Compass by telephone that he believed his organization had nothing to do with Al-Amris release. Rather, he said he believed officials were loath to keep a person of questionable mental stability in prison.
He is mentally not stable, because he had the courage to say in his blog that he is a Christian, Eid said. Anyone in his right mind in Saudi Arabia wouldnt do that.
The countrys penalty for apostasy, or leaving Islam, is death, although in recent years there have been no known cases of kingdom citizens formally convicted and sentenced with capital punishment for the offense.
This was not the first imprisonment for Al-Amri. He was detained in 2004 for nine months and in 2008 for one month before he was re-arrested on Jan. 13 of this year, and Eid said the young blogger was tortured during the first two incarcerations.
Al-Amris treatment during this latest imprisonment is unknown. After his previous releases he had contacted Eids office, but the ANHRI director said he has not done so since being released from Riyadhs Eleisha prison, known for its human rights abuses.
He was mistreated the first two times he was imprisoned, but this time I dont know, because he hasnt contacted me, said Eid. In the past he was mistreated with sleep deprivation, prolonged solitary confinement and a continuous barrage of physical torture and insults.
The advocate added that it is likely Al-Amri was mistreated during his recent imprisonment.
I consider anyone who declares his religion to be anything than Islam to be extremely brave and courageous, but this extreme courage bordering on carelessness is madness, because he knows what could happen in Saudi, Eid said. Im not a doctor, but I find this extreme.
Al-Amri has become isolated from his family and lives alone, Eid said, but he said he was unable to comment on the converts current situation.
Blog Blocked
Following Al-Amris latest arrest, MEC reported, Saudi authorities blocked access to his blog inside Saudi Arabia. Google then locked it, claiming there was a technical violation of terms of service. On Feb. 5 it was reportedly restored due to public pressure after his March 28 release, Al-Amri had credited his release to ANHRIs efforts on his blog, www.christforsaudi.blogspot.com but yesterday Compass found the site did not work
