Media Watchdog Urges Saudi to Release Journalist

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called Thursday for Saudi Arabia to release a journalist and blogger held for more than a year without being charged or tried.

A journalist with local online media outlet al-Sharq, Saudi Alaa Brinji was arrested in May 2014 for "critical comments he posted on Facebook," the press freedom watchdog said. 

He "is being held arbitrarily, in violation of international legal standards," it added.

"The Saudi authorities cannot silence all independent voices and critics by detaining them illegally and leaving them with no way of defending themselves," said Alexandra El Khazen, RSF's Middle East and Maghreb desk chief.

"This is a grossly unfair and appalling procedure."

Last week, RSF said Saudi Arabia was holding eight journalists in jail -- one professional and seven citizen journalists.

They include Raif Badawi, 31, co-founder of the Saudi Liberal Network Internet discussion group, who was arrested in 2012 and has been sentenced to 1,000 lashes and 10 years in jail for insulting Islam.

Saudi Arabia ranks 164th out of 180 on the media watchdog's World Press Freedom Index.