Liberal Saudi writer detained over tweets on Islam
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 25 December 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Liberal Saudi writer detained over tweets on Islam, 25 December 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/50ed343728.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
December 25, 2012
A liberal Saudi writer has been detained on charges of making insulting comments about Islam.
Family members said Turki Al-Hamad was arrested on the orders of Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Nayef bin Abdel Aziz on December 24.
Al-Hamad recently attacked radical Islamists on his Twitter account.
He accused them of twisting the message of Prophet Muhammad.
In a recent tweet he characterized Islamic extremism as "a neo-Nazism which is on the rise in the Arab world."
The comments prompted a fierce debate between his supporters and opponents on social networking websites in Saudi Arabia.
Authorities and conservative clerics have criticized Al-Hamad many times before for his outspoken liberal views in the conservative country.
Based on reporting by AFP and dpa
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
