Update on Saudi Arabia

Recently in Saudi Arabia the freedom of speech has been restricted and because of this process many people have been arrested. Human Rights Watch says that two human right activist bloggers among 20 protestors who live in the eastern province were arrested on May 1st and were only doing a peaceful demonstration. Even before the arrest of these 20 people about 120 people have been arrested before the amendment to the Press and Publication Law for peaceful protests and assemblies. Human Rights Watch demands or urges the Saudi interior minister to release this people in that these arrests are in violation against the human right to freedom of speech. This Press and Publication Law that was passed on April 29, which restricts the freedom of speech, maybe passed due to all that is happening in the Arab world currently. It might be that the government wants the limit what is said in order to control the people and keep Saudi Arabia from having an uprising itself. Human Rights Watch states in its article “The decree prohibits publishing anything that ‘contradicts rulings of the Islamic Sharia [law] or regulations in force,’ anything that ‘calls for disturbing the country's security, or its public order, or services foreign interests that contradict national interests,’ anything that ‘causes sectarianism or that spreads divisions between citizens," and that "damages public affairs in the country.’ New restrictions also include a prohibition on violating the ‘reputation, dignity, or the slander or libel’ of the chief mufti, members of the Council of Senior Religious Scholars, or any other government official or government institution, and publishing without official consent proceedings from any investigations or court trials.” With Saudi Arabia being an absolute monarchy the limits for human rights for the Saudi Arabia people is very restricted itself.