Monday, March 28, 2011

DUBAI: A Saudi human rights organization has urged authorities to release two people who were arrested last week after raising questions about imprisoned family members.

Mubarak bin Saeed al-Zuair, 45, was arrested last Sunday when he went to the Interior Ministry to inquire about his father Saeed, and brother Saad, who have been in prison for over five years, said Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) in a statement received Sunday by AFP.

ACPRA said that bin Zuair had met Assistant Interior Minister, Prince Mohammad bin Nayef, the day before and said after the meeting that the prince has “promised good.”

The unauthorized group condemned his arrest, saying that the university lecturer had a scheduled appointment at the ministry when he was arrested.
Saeed bin Zuair was arrested in 2004 and sentenced to prison for justifying violent acts in the kingdom. He was released in a royal pardon in 2005, before being arrested again in 2006.

His son Saad, a lawyer, was also arrested in 2006. Authorities did not disclose the reasons behind his arrest.

ACPRA also called for the release of Jihad al-Khader, 17, who was arrested at the Interior Ministry last Sunday after asking about his brother, Thamer, who has been in prison for over a year without any charges.

The group also condemned the detention of dozens of women who gathered outside the ministry last Sunday demanding information about family members who are in prison.
“The association strongly condemns the humiliation of female citizens and demands an official apology,” it said, without specifying how long the women were detained.

Dozens of family members, mainly women, of detainees in Saudi jails held a gathering outside the interior ministry last month, despite an official ban on demonstrations.
Those detained were arrested in 2003-2004 during a security sweep against Al-Qaeda suspects amid a wave of attacks on oil installations and foreign targets in the kingdom. – AFP, AP