JEDDAH: Saudi authorities have freed prominent activist Waleed Abulkhair on bail after arresting him for holding “unauthorised” gatherings with reformists in the absolute monarchy, he said.
“The authorities have released me on bail,” Abulkhair, a lawyer, said late on Thursday.
He added that new accusations could be added to previous charges of disrespecting the judiciary and having contact with foreign organisations.
His wife Samar Badawi saide on Wednesday Abulkhair was taken into custody for setting up “an unauthorised diwaniah” or gathering place, and because of his ties with reformists “and for hosting them in our diwaniah”.
In June 2012, he was accused of “disrespecting the judiciary system... contacting foreign organisations and signing a petition demanding the release of detainees”, some of whom were suspected of having links to terror, his wife said at the time.
Abulkhair has created a group on Facebook — Monitor of Human Rights in Saudi — which has nearly 7,000 members.
AFP
