NOVANEWS
“The Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA) holds the Interior Ministry … responsible for the deterioration of Mohammad Al Bajadi’s health, who has been on an open hunger strike since March 11 and since Saturday morning has stopped drinking water, causing him to faint four times and putting his life at risk,” Reuters quoted the group as saying in a statement on Monday.
Al Bajadi, leader of Saudi Civil and Political Rights Association (ACPRA), was detained in March 2011 for supporting families gathering outside the interior ministry in Riyadh to demand the release of detained relatives. His trial on various charges, including the tarnishing of the state’s reputation, has been suspended as he refused to recognize the court.
“There is no direct contact but we get messages from visitors of other inmates … We are getting messages from people who have indirect contact with him that he is still on hunger strike and last night we received a message that he stopped drinking water,” said Mohammad al-Qahtani, a Saudi activist.
Activists say there are more than 30,000 political prisoners held in jails across Saudi Arabia, who, the Saudi-based Human Rights First Society says, are being subjected to both physical and mental torture.
According to rights activists, most of the detainees are being held without trial or legitimate charges and have been arrested on grounds of mere suspicion.
Saudi Arabia has been witnessing anti-regime demonstrations since March 2011. Several people have since been killed and many others injured or detained by regime forces.
