Saudi Journalist Jailed 12 Years for 'Disobeying Ruler'
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
A Saudi court sentenced a journalist to 12 years in prison Tuesday for "disobeying the ruler" and accusing the kingdom of creating terrorism in televised remarks, state media reported.
The convict, identified by local media as Wajdi al-Ghazzawi, was also accused of "contacting an enemy of Saudi Arabia at the time (in 2009) and receiving a suspicious sum of money from it," the SPA news agency reported.
The news agency did not name the country but local media had reported that Ghazzawi stands accused of receiving money from Libya's now-slain leader Moammar Gadhafi in 2009, when tensions were running high between Tripoli and Riyadh.
The criminal court in Riyadh on Tuesday handed the journalist a 20-year travel ban and banned him from appearing in media.
It convicted him of "disobeying the ruler on a television program, inciting sedition... discrediting the kingdom and claiming that terrorism and al-Qaida were created by Saudi Arabia."
He was also charged with spreading excerpts of the program over the internet and accusing the kingdom "of insulting residents and denying them their rights," according to SPA.
Gadhafi's regime was known for its stormy relations with Saudi Arabia during his four-decade rule, which ended with his killing by NATO-backed rebels in 2011.
In June 2004, articles in U.S. and Saudi newspapers accused Gadhafi of allegedly plotting to assassinate Saudi King Abdullah, who was then crown prince.
04 February 2014, 21:27
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They are retarded indeed but he will likely have his sentence commuted at one point to show the ruler's mercy and he will not be liquidated in jail like in Assad's Syria. Retarded and outright criminal nonetheless.
04 February 2014, 21:28
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I think that's not part of the article.. But I have to agree with you.
If they only stopped blaming each other (Syrian government & and the others) & seeked a seize fire.
After the seize fire then only then they should sit down & talk.
Away from the influence of the west & east (US/SAUDI) & (RUSSIA/IRAN).
A proxy war which the only loser are the innocent lives being lost.
Dragging the whole region towards an avoidable conflict. Prior to the Iraq war all Syrians had one of the best livelihood compared to the capitalist west.
Syria under EU & west sanctions was able to control the economy with what ever it had to maintain good economic standards.
(away from the idea of capitalism).
04 February 2014, 21:49
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هات لي نص واحد قالت فيه المملكه إنها تريد إقامة الديموقراطية في سوريا، المملكه طريقها واضح وشعبها مقتنع بمسارها وهي لا تتلاعب ولا تكذب، وشرحت موقفها لنا وللعرب في ما يخص سوريا بإن الأسد في سبيل تمسكه بالكرسي ضحى بالأمن القومي العربي وأدخل قوات إيرانية لتحتل سوريا وهذا ماسنتصدى له. ورجائاً لا أحد يقولي إسرائيل، إسرائيل لو قدرنا عليها ما كان قصرنا، أما والله لأن عندنا عدو قوي فسنسمح لكل عدو غيره ياخذ وجه فهذا ليس منطق، وأصلاً إيران لم يجرأها إلا هزيمتنا فيما يخص فلسطين فظنت أم العريف أنها ستأتي بما عجزنا عنه وهاهي اليوم تستسلم وتقول التوبه وترجوا المجتمع الدولي يرضى عليها.
و كأنكم عميان ياقومي، ياريت عندكم ربع أمن وإستقرار الخليج العربي، مشكلتكم إنكم مثل الغراب إلي ضيع مشيته وعجز عن تقليد مشية الحمامه. حاولتوا إقامة الديموقراطية وحرفتوها ومسختوها وصارت جزء من المشكله لا الحل، ومن ناحية أخرى ضيعتوا قيمكم فمن متى كان العرب يهاجمون النساء والأطفال ومتى كانوا يغدرون ومتى كانوا يقتلون القتيل ثم يعزون أهله..ولكن صبراً جميلاً والله المستعان.
04 February 2014, 22:05
01
"It convicted him of "disobeying the ruler on a television program, inciting sedition... discrediting the kingdom and claiming that terrorism and al-Qaida were created by Saudi Arabia.""
Claiming that terrorism was created in saudi?! How dare he make such a ridiculous claim.. where did he dream up such a notion? :)
05 February 2014, 04:31
00
Well in another country.... I won't mention the country for censorship reasons....
He will be convicted & executed (hanged) for going against God.
At least Saudi Arabia is more lenient towards protesters and who ever goes against the state or government compared to #### which hanged its protesters
05 February 2014, 07:11
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No not every ruler is oppressive
Guess again its a country Lebpatriot246!
