Saudi authorities have arrested a cleric after his criticism of the kingdom's rulers for prolonged detention of political prisoners without trials http://www.abna.ir/data.asp?lang=3&Id=252483

Activists say Sheikh Youssef bin Abdallah al-Ahmed was detained on Friday in the city of Dammam while he was visiting his father. They said al-Ahmed wanted the release of political prisoners in response to appeals for help by their families. He has reportedly posted a YouTube video on the Internet in which he blames King Abdullah, Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz and his deputy for instituting lengthy jail terms without trials.

Thousands of people are behind bars in Saudi Arabia merely for their political views. They inmates have been held for long periods without charges and with no access to lawyers, contradicting a Saudi law that limits detention without trial to six months. Rights organizations have long censured Riyadh for persistently violating basic rights of prison inmates.