Human Rights Watch has urged Saudi Arabia to drop charges against a Saudi man, Nasir al-Subai, who was using the Internet to complain about the official red tape as he tried to get state funding for the medical treatment of his brother.
Subai has been charged under a law issued in 2007 to prevent libel and other violations linked to information technology and to protect the public interest and morals. His brother is in coma after a traffic accident in Saudi Arabia in 2007. Since then, Subai has been blogging about the lack of support from Saudi officials as he was trying to arrange for treatment of his brother. He has also spoken to the media regarding this matter.
“Saudi prosecutors are trying to silence legitimate complaints, which Saudi citizens have the right to make public,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, HRW’s Middle East director. “Public criticism of the government’s alleged failures (is) an important check on its performance and a good tool for accountability.”
The improper use of information technology is punished by up to one year in prison and a fine of up to 500,000 riyals ($133,300). The HRW also reported that anything that “contests public order…or the inviolability of private life” carries a sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to 3 million riyals.
Saudi officials and media have not yet reacted to the issue.
source: Middle East Global Thoughz
