Saudi Journalist Jailed for Internet Writings

(Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) Saudi authorities are questioning a journalist about writings he posted on an Internet forum four years ago. His faith in Islam is being doubted.

From ArabNews.com:

Saudi journalist Rabah Al-Quwayi, 24, has been detained by Hail authorities in connection with his writings posted on Internet forums, which they allege place his Islamic faith in doubt.

Al-Quwayi, a reporter for the Riyadh-based daily Shams, has been in Hail police custody since Monday.

"They asked me about topics I wrote on the Internet four years ago," Al-Quwayi told Arab News from his detention center.

Hail police chief Gen. Nasser Al-Nowaisser said Al-Quwayi is detained under a warrant requested by the Commission for Prosecution and Investigation.

Apparently, Al-Quwayi can be detained for six months before charges must be filed. Right now it's not exactly clear what he is guilty of nor is it clear who the plaintiffs are.

And, here's a interesting twist. Al-Quwayi's car was vandalized last November and he filed a harassment complaint which led to his current detention.

Police told him they had discarded his complaints of harassment and opened a new investigation into his Islamic faith.

"They told me that if I didn't complain to the police in the first place they wouldn't have suspected my beliefs," said Al-Quwayi.

So now he gets to call a jail cell his home while being tested on his religious knowledge.

Naturally, it would be nice to know what he wrote on the web four years ago. However, I doubt it's as inflammatory as some of the extremist sludge put out on the Internet on a daily basis. I also wonder if Reporters Without Borders and the mainstream media will come to his defense.