SAUDI ARABIA: Internet writer Amad Fouad Al-Farhan released

Update #1 to RAN 03/08

The Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN welcomes the release of internet writer Amad Fouad Al- Farhan, on the morning of 26 April 2008, after spending 145 days in prison. The Saudi authorities have not made any statement about the case and Al-Farhan is not thought to be facing charges.

Background
According to PEN's information, Al-Farhan was detained by Saudi security agents on 10 December 2007 at his place of work in Jeddah. It is thought that Al-Farhan was held for his online comments in support of political prisoners detained in the kingdom. Although the Interior Ministry acknowledged Al-Farhan's detention, it did not give any details of the charges against him.
In an email sent to friends before his arrest, Al-Farhan stated that he had been warned by the Saudi Interior Ministry that he would be "picked up in the coming two weeks" and questioned. In the same email he speculated that he could be questioned about comments he had recently made on his weblog in support of the rights of political prisoners in Saudi Arabia.
After his detention, fellow Saudi bloggers launched an internet campaign demanding Al- Farhan's release (http://en.freefouad.com/?p=49 ), and formed a group in the online social network Facebook.
For Al- Farhan's blog http://www.alfarhan.org/

Thank you to all who sent appeals on his behalf.

For further information please contact Cathy McCann at International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, Brownlow House, 50/51 High Holborn, London WC1V 6ER, Tel.+ 44 (0) 20 7405 0338, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7405 0339, email: cathy.mccann@internationalpen.org.uk