Cairo on January 30, 2013

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), denounces the arrest of the lawyer “Asim Almeshaly” and a large number of Shiekhs and scholars of Saudi Arabia by the authorities, on the background of going to the Emiri Diwan to talk with the officials and advise them.

The emergency forces on Wednesday, arrested “Almeshaly” the activist in defending the rights of the detainees in addition other scholars, Shieks and figuers of the Kingdom, among the Shiekh “Atyah El-Silami” from Mecca, 95 years old and “Abdullah El-Ghamdi”, who went to the Emiri Diwan to speak with the officials. They were taken to the emergency cars by forces and they were all taken to the criminal investigation, despite they didn’t carry any banners or chant any slogans while they were going to the Diwan.

The activist “Almeshaly” on twitter said that that “he went to the Diwan to submit some documents related to some detainees but the security refused to let him in and he added “the detainees were taken to the Alsahafa police station in which their phones were confiscated. The decision of release them was made on condition of singing a declaration saying they won’t come back to the Diwan, but they refused to sign then after a while they were released without conditions with the confiscation of their phones, which was refused also by the detainees therefore, some of them were arrested for five days and the others; their fate is not known until this press release.

ANHRI said “the arrest of the lawyer and his companies of Shieks and scholars in the Kingdom without permission or reasons are a serious violation to the basic human rights which guaranteed by the international treaties and charters in addition to violate the Article no. 43 of the Basic Law of Governance which stipulate “that the council of the King and crown prince council are open for every citizen and open to whoever have complaint or grievance”, which proves that regime fear any assembly calls for democracy and rights regardless of the form, whether demonstration or peaceful expression of opinion on the social networks”.

ANHRI calls on the immediate release of all detainees without warranties or conditions, and to don’t prosecute them in addition to provide  a space for freedom of expression, which faded in the light of the Saudi regime that hears only his own voice.
For more information

Also available in : العربية