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Rights Group Calls on Saudis to Release Activist

   VOA News  May 03, 2011

   A rights group has asked the government of Saudi Arabia to release a
   rights activist, saying a recent wave of arrests is jeopardizing any
   chance of reform.
   The U.S.-based [1]Human Rights Watch asked the Saudi interior minister
   to immediately release Fadhil Makki al-Manasif, who was arrested May 1
   for participating in peaceful demonstrations calling for government
   reform.
   His arrest came two days after the government enacted tighter media
   laws that the Human Rights Watch said further restrict free speech in
   the kingdom.
   Al-Manasif has written about human rights violations in Saudi Arabia. A
   spokesman for Human Rights Watch says his arrest and others has brought
   the climate for reform in Saudi Arabia to a freezing point.
   The rights group says it has confirmed the arrests of some 140 people
   since demonstrators began demanding reform two months ago.
   Saudi Arabia's interior ministry told Reuters news agency that joining
   or calling for demonstrations is banned and those violating the ban are
   dealt with in accordance with Saudi regulations.

   Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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References

   1. http://www.hrw.org/
   2. http://twitter.com/VOAMiddleEast
   3. http://www.facebook.com/pages/VOAMiddleEastVoices/124360240958667?%20%20%20%20v=wall

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