Saudi and international human rights activists blast a proposed “counterterrorism” Saudi law http://www.islamtimes.org/vdcfeedc.w6dvva7riw.html

The human rights activists say that the proposed law, which would give Saudi Arabia's interior ministry extensive powers, would allow prisoners to be held either without trials or with trials and appeals that are held secretly.The activists have explained that the law was first proposed in 2003, but was put on hold, and has now been revived due to the sweeping anti-regime rallies across the region.

The law would also allow the Saudi interior ministry to tap phones or conduct house searches without permission from the judiciary.The definitions of terrorism-related crimes in the proposed law have also been described as vague.“Ninety-nine percent of the law has nothing to do with terrorism, it has to do with political dissent,” said defense lawyer Bassem Alim.“Every single thing we criticized them about in the past is going to be legitimate,” he added

[f#c% hrw and ai... the torture has been documented and exposed by real human rights organizations for decades...