Latest Data on Saudi Political Prisoners Released
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Prisoners of Conscience Twitter account, which reports on political prisoners in Saudi Arabia, has released the latest figures of scholars, intellectuals and human rights activists detained by the Riyadh regime.
According to the Prisoners of Conscience Twitter account, as many as 60 preachers and scholars, 50 university professors and more than 10 lawyers have been arrested by the Saudi authorities.
As many as 20 human rights activists are still detained for defending human rights.
The account noted that 25 journalists and 40 writers are in detention, while the number of detained PhD holders has reached 60 people.
The Saudi authorities have not issued any official charges against most of the detainees, but newspapers and media outlets close to the Saudi regime have accused the detainees of working on behalf of foreign parties and seeking to destroy the country, the Middle East Monitor reported.
“We confirm the increase of the number of conscience detainees in Saudi Arabia to 2,613, including prominent lawyers, judges, academics, scientists and journalists,” the account had said on September 16.
Since taking office in June 2017, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has launched a large-scale arrest campaign against several human rights activists, journalists, and moderate preachers.
International human rights groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have demanded that the Saudi authorities immediately disclose the detainees whereabouts, allow them to contact their families and lawyers, and release them immediately.