Long Sentences For Saudi Reformers

A Saudi court on Sunday sentenced three reform advocates to jail terms of up to nine years, prompting a human rights activist to call the trial a "farce" and describe the sentences as too harsh.

The trial, which began last year, was seen as a response by the country's authoritarian rulers to the modest pro-reform movement's attempts to encourage political openness.

The three reform campaigners were found guilty of sowing dissent, disobeying their rulers and sedition, said their lawyer, Sheik Ibrahim al-Mubarak. Ali al-Dimeeni was sentenced to nine years, Abdullah al-Hamed to seven years and Matrouk al-Faleh to six years.

"The sentences were very surprising to us. They were unexpected, considering that all they did was offer advice, a point of view," al-Mubarak said, adding that the defense team will be appealing the verdict in 10 days. He said time already served would be included in the sentences.

A human rights activist who tried to attend the session but was reportedly prevented by police criticized the proceedings of the trial and the verdict.

"The sentences are too harsh and they are very unfortunate. There is no logic behind them," said Ibrahim al-Mugaiteeb, who heads an independent Saudi rights group, Human Rights First. "This is a farce."

Al-Mugaiteeb complained about mistreatment by security forces.

"I was taken by ambulance to the hospital because policemen were harsh and impatient," al-Mugaiteeb said from his hospital bed after collapsing outside the court building.

Judges initially promised the trial would be an open one, a remarkable breakthrough in conservative Saudi Arabia where trials are normally conducted privately. Reformists had hoped the public first session was part of a slow, limited government trend toward more openness.

Two-hundred people attended the first hearing last year, staging a rare display of public dissent by holding a sit-in and shouting "Long live reform," disrupting courtroom proceedings. In subsequent hearings, however, family members, observers and journalists were barred.

On Sunday, the court's three-hour session was attended by lawyers and family members, and "was more open than previous court sessions," lawyer al-Mugaiteeb said.

But a Saudi-based Japanese diplomat, Akio Kawai, told The Associated Press he had been barred from attending.

"Policemen kept shouting "move, move" all the way to the street outside the court building," said Kawai, a political attache in the Japan Embassy in Riyadh.

The three defendants are the last remaining detainees of 13 reformers who were arrested in March 2004 after openly criticizing the strict religious environment and slow pace of reform in the kingdom. Some of the reformers had signed a letter to Crown Prince Abdullah calling for political, economic and social reforms, including parliamentary elections.

The other 10 reformers were released on condition that they do not speak to the media or engage in activities that could be viewed as subversive.

The 13 reformers hold a variety of political views, from progressive to conservative. None are Islamic fundamentalists.

The Saudi royal family has absolute power. Saudis may not hold public gatherings to discuss political or social issues.

However, the onset of terrorism in the kingdom has initiated an unprecedented public debate. Some Saudis argue that the lack of democracy has made the kingdom a breeding ground for Islamic extremists, such as those who carried out the May 2003 suicide attacks in Riyadh in which 35 people, including the nine Saudi attackers, were killed.

Last year, the United States called on authorities in Saudi Arabia to recognize the right of freedom of expression in the conservative kingdom and urged them to hold an open trial for the reformists.