Arrest of Journalists Increases in Era of Bin Salman!

Human rights organizations indicated that the number of detained journalists in Saudi Arabia has increased three times since 2017, when the Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, took power in the kingdom.

Human rights organizations stated that many journalists detained in Saudi Arabia were subjected to psychological or physical torture, or to continued detention in solitary confinement. The organizations added that the Saudi authorities, like the rest of the prisoners of conscience in their prisons, practice physical torture, health negligence, and prevent or monitor communications against journalists. In the same context, they are also denied the right to appoint lawyers and are subjected to secret trials, as well as to solitary confinement and detention without charges or trial, and severe penalties.

Meanwhile, violations against journalists in Saudi prisons are considered clear violations of the provisions contained in the Saudi Code of Criminal Procedure. The Saudi regime claims to abide by public and international laws, which is belied by the continued detention of 31 journalists in its prisons without charge or case.

Activists, preachers, academics and human rights defenders are tortured in the regime’s prisons.

This is reflected in the low rating of the Kingdom, which ranks 170 out of 180 countries worldwide on press freedom (according to International Reporters Without Borders).

Saudi Arabia did not advance in the press freedom index, on the contrary, it declined in an unprecedented way, and the world witnessed the most heinous murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside his country’s embassy in Istanbul.

The crimes of the Saudi regime exceeded that of Khashoggi, so he poisoned journalist Saleh Al-Shehi inside the prison, a matter that did not give him long until he died in mysterious circumstances. The Saudi regime carries out massive online campaigns to target dissidents on social media.

In addition to the intensive censorship of web users and the non-stop hacking attempts, in addition to the decisions to block websites belonging to parties and bodies that take an opposing position on the Saudi regime and criticize its increasing violations against human rights.

According to Saudi Leaks, 31 journalists have been detained in the prisons of the Saudi regime so far.

An international human rights organization accused the Saudi regime of continuing its policy of threats and repression against journalists with dismissal, imprisonment, or even murder.

The European Saudi Organization for Human Rights indicated that the Saudi authorities set world records by detaining 31 journalists in prisons.

The human rights organization said that the Saudi regime continues to shade the news and prevent individuals and journalists from accessing information, which is a major obstacle for them to carry out their mission of transmitting information and creating public opinion. It added that the blackout and lack of transparency in Saudi Arabia’s dealings are in addition to the direct violations against journalists and bloggers.

Detained journalists suffer ill-treatment in prisons. The Saudi regime still prevents the work of any media outlet that is not directly affiliated with it at home, and imposes restrictions on websites.

The human rights organization indicated the lack of accountability with regard to what journalists are exposed to and the generalization of the policy of impunity.

The organization cited an example of this, the case of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was killed in October 2018 in his country’s consulate in Turkey.

Also, despite the fact that 7 years have passed since the killing of photographer Hussein al-Faraj in February 2014 while covering the demonstrations in the Qatif region, no investigation was opened to assign responsibility.

The European-Saudi Organization for Human Rights indicated that the continued targeting of journalists in Saudi Arabia is the result of an approach that is completely hostile to press freedom.

Source: Websites.