Religious scholars start strike in Saudi prisons

SANAA, Feb. (YPA) – Saudi prisons have witnessed the first hunger strike after nearly two years from arrests of religious scholars and rights activists.

In a statement from inside the prison, Saudi Sheikh Abdullah al-Hamid announced the hunger strike and demanded that prisoners of conscience are freed, according to “Prisoners of Conscience” account on Twitter, which covers latest news of prisoners of conscience in the Saudi kingdom.

Al-Hamid attributed the decision of the strike to protest against ill-treatment in prisons, calling for the immediate release of all peaceful activists and prisoners of conscience.

Several other scholars joined the open hunger strike inside Saudi jails to press on authorities to release them all.

Tweets campaign on this topic continued on Monday for the second day in a row without comment from Saudi authorities, which usually say they provide care for all detainees in their custody.

“The battle of the empty intestines is very difficult, it could lead to death, but it is inevitable when it comes to human freedom and dignity,” said Turki al-Shalhoub via his Twitter account.

“The strike also draws attention to systematic violations against all detainees and female activists,” said Abdullah, son of the arrested Sheikh Salman al-Awda, who is a resident abroad.

Sheikh al-Awda was arrested by Saudi authorities on September 10, 2017, as part of a campaign of arrests involving several scholars and writers.

b@m