Amnesty wants 15 Saudis held at protest released

The Daily Star, AFP, November 29, 2012

In this photo released by Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Royal family and other
prominent Saudis prepare to give the oathes of loyalty to New Saudi crown
 prince Nayef bin Abdel-Aziz, unseen, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Saturday,
Oct. 29, 2011. (AP Photo)

                              

RIYADH: Rights watchdog Amnesty International urged Saudi authorities to release or charge around 15 men held during a protest they staged in Riyadh to call for the release of their Islamist relatives.

Saudi "authorities must release all those detained on Tuesday's protest or charge them with recognisable criminal offences if there are legitimate reasons for doing so," said Amnesty's regional director Philip Luther in a late Wednesday statement.

The rights group said that police have detained 15 men outside the offices of the Human Rights Commission in Riyadh. Some 22 women and eight children also detained for taking part in the protest were later released.

On Tuesday, police dispersed dozens of protesters gathered in Riyadh calling for the release or immediate trial of imprisoned Islamist relatives.

"Participating in a peaceful protest or appearing to criticise state authorities for the treatment of detained relatives would never be a legitimate reason for arrest and detention," said Luther.

Demonstrations are banned in Saudi Arabia -- an absolute ultra-conservative monarchy that has remained relatively untouched by the Arab Spring uprisings.

Riyadh warned in October it would deal "firmly" with demonstrations.

The warning had been slammed by Amnesty which urged the authorities to "withdraw their threat."