"As Riyadh intensifies its clampdown on dissent, a court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a young activist and blogger to 15 years behind bars for his anti-regime activities.
The Special Criminal Court in Riyadh convicted Fadhel al-Manasef of attending anti-regime demonstrations and defaming the kingdom by contacting foreign judicial and media outlets and publishing articles against state security on the Internet, his lawyer Waleed Sulais said on Thursday.
Sulais also said that the Riyadh court had fined the 26-year-old activist 100,000 riyals (USD 26,700) and imposed a 15-year travel ban on him once his jail sentence ends.
However, Manasef has denied the charges, said his lawyer, adding that he plans to appeal the verdict."
The Special Criminal Court in Riyadh convicted Fadhel al-Manasef of attending anti-regime demonstrations and defaming the kingdom by contacting foreign judicial and media outlets and publishing articles against state security on the Internet, his lawyer Waleed Sulais said on Thursday.
Sulais also said that the Riyadh court had fined the 26-year-old activist 100,000 riyals (USD 26,700) and imposed a 15-year travel ban on him once his jail sentence ends.
However, Manasef has denied the charges, said his lawyer, adding that he plans to appeal the verdict."
