Human Rights Watch slammed on Monday Saudi courts’ sentencing of prominent reform advocates, activists
Human Rights Watch slammed on Monday Saudi courts’ sentencing of prominent reform advocates, activists, and writers to lengthy jail terms, and even death, on vague charges related to the peaceful exercise of free expression. Most recently, on December 21, 2015, a Saudi court sentenced Zuhair Kutbi, a peaceful critic who called for domestic political reform, to four years in prison, a five-year travel ban, and a 15-year ban on media appearances, Human Rights watch said on its website. It added that it is only the latest in a series of harsh judgments against peaceful advocates during King Salman’s first year. “Human rights advocates hoped that Saudi king would rein in his country’s repression of peaceful dissidents, but the authorities harass and jail people for peacefully expressing reform-oriented opinions,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director. She went on saying that the king should put an end to this sustained assault on free expression and release all peaceful activists and writers.
