Riyadh: A founding member of banned association was sentenced to nine years in jail in a libel suit.
The criminal court convicted founder of ‘Hasm’ association for defaming members of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars and questioning their probity and religion.
The court also indicted him of inciting the public for protests and banned him from travelling abroad for nine years on serving his jail term.
The convict refused a court order to dissolve the banned association and continued chairing it for one year.
The court also convicted him of printing and distributing incriminating leaflets defaming members of Saudi Council of Senior Scholars, questioning their religion, and disparaging the authority of the Saudi judiciary.
He sought to instigate the public opinion and accused security authorities and senior officials of repression, torture and assassination without evidence, reported local Arabic daily Okaz.
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