Widgetized Section
Go to Admin » Appearance » Widgets » and move Gabfire Widget: Social into that MastheadOverlay zone
Saudi blogger held for “blasphemy” released after almost two years in jail
Hamza Kashgari was detained for 625 days for tweeting a mock conversation between himself and the prophet Mohammed.
By Milana Knezevic / 29 October, 2013
Saudi journalist and blogger Hamza Kashgari, detained for 625 days on blasphemy charges, has been released.
The news was confirmed by Saudi human rights activist Walid Abulkheir, who told AFP: “The authorities freed Kashgari at 6.30 am (0330 GMT)”
This morning, Kashgari himself tweeted: “Mornings of hope…souls that live and never die. Thanks to God.”
The 23-year-old writer was arrested in 2011 when he tweeted a mock conversation between himself and the prophet Mohammed which sparked furious responses, including death threats.
He tried to flee Saudi Arabia, but was detained in Malaysia and deported following a request by Interpol on behalf of Saudi authorities.
Blasphemy is punishable by death in Saudi Arabia.
Tags: blasphemy | free speech | Hamza Kashgari | Saudi Arabia
One Response to Saudi blogger held for “blasphemy” released after almost two years in jail
Leave a Reply
Index on Censorship magazine
Current issue: The war of the words
The spring issue of Index on Censorship magazine. Our special report of 15 articles and essays, starts with WWI where the current use of the term propaganda was invented and looks at poster campaigns, and propaganda journalism in the USA, but our writers, who include Lyse Doucet, David Aaronovitch, Rana Mitter, and serving army officer Ric Cole, also look at WWII, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.
More: Winter 2013 | Subscribe | iPad App
Index on Censorship: Who we are
Index on Censorship is an international organisation that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression.
Learn more about us.
Find us on: Twitter | Facebook | Google +
IFEX Network
- - Arrest, release, repeat: An interactive timeline of Bheki Makhubu and Thulani Maseko's case in Swaziland 22 April
- - Radio journalist gets death threat in relation to protests in Venezuela 22 April
- - Democracy, double-crossed: How private actors in the West serve foreign dictators 22 April
- - A tribute to Burmese journalist and prominent rights activist U Win Tin 22 April
- - Saudi blogger and activist sentenced to 15 years in jail 22 April
Jonathan Moremi
30 October at 18:09
You shouldn’t continue to tell a story that is not true. Interpol did NOT request the deportation of him. It was a lie by Malaysia who wanted to please the friend Saudi Arabia and made up this story. Interpol at the time reacted swiftly assuring that they had NOT put out such a request and that it was in fact made up by Malaysia. Don’t transport the lies of Malaysia on and recreate it thus in the net. Please stick to the facts that have been established at the time. News reporting should be prudent and not carry false reports.