Amnesty condemns proposed Saudi anti-terrorism law
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, July 22, IRNA -- Amnesty International has condemned Saudi Arabian proposals for an anti-terrorism law that would allow the kingdom's authorities to prosecute peaceful dissent as a terrorist crime.
“This draft law poses a serious threat to freedom of expression in the Kingdom in the name of preventing terrorism,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty International’s Deputy Middle East and North Africa Director.
“If passed it would pave the way for even the smallest acts of peaceful dissent to be branded terrorism and risk massive human rights violations,” Luther warned.
The London-based human rights organisation said it had obtained copies of the Draft Penal Law for Terrorism Crimes and Financing of Terrorism, which also extends detention without charge or trial and carries a minimum prison sentence of 10 years for just questioning the integrity of the monarchy.
The proposal is being linked with pro-democracy demonstrations being repressed across the Arab world, which have included Saudi troops being sent to Bahrain, but Amnesty said it did not know when or if the proposal will be passed.
“At a time when people throughout the Middle East and North Africa have been exercising their legitimate right to express dissent and call for change, Saudi Arabian authorities have been seeking to squash this right for its citizens,” Luther said.
“King Abdullah must reconsider this law and ensure that his people’s legitimate right to freedom of expression is not curtailed in the name of fighting terrorism,” he said.
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