30 Arab rights groups urge Riyadh to free blogger

Cairo: Leading Arab human rights groups have criticised the Saudi government for human rights abuses and demanded that the kingdom halt actions against pro-reform activists in the country.

In a statement, 30 Arab groups from across the region have urged Saudi Arabia to free Matrook Al Faleh, a Saudi human rights activist who was detained last month for advocacy of constitutional reform. The groups also warned that the health of Al Faleh, who went on hunger strike after his arrest on May 19, might be deteriorating.

Saudi officials have not commented on the arrest. The rights groups said it came after Al Faleh publicly criticised conditions in a prison where two other human rights activists are serving jail terms.